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3 1/2 years of chronic pain~ Still looking for solutions~please help
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: May 27 10:56am | Replies (27)Comment receiving replies
I can’t add much, except that I had similar symptoms years ago when in my 40’s. Much pain and muscle weakness, 2 frozen shoulders at same time, stiff leg muscles, stubborn muscle knot in back, etc.
All happened within 1-2 years. Saw neurologist, rheumatologist, orthopedist, primary, endocrinologist, etc. Rheumatologist finally, after viewing tests results, labs, EMG, MRI, etc. wrote that it appeared to be PMR, except I was too young. She was stumped, as were the other doctors. So, I got cortisone injections into the areas, except not in my legs. Got PT, trigger point therapy, heat therapy, electrical stimulation, and eventually I improved. Pain pills didn’t help nor muscle relaxers. No oral steroids.
It hasn’t returned, thank goodness. I have various issues now…some from long covid, but not like the PMR symptoms. Last year I had ITBS, but it cleared. And, I just got over tennis elbow. I’m working out every day, so hope to keep things working well.
I hope you find something that helps. Have you explored getting treatment to settle things down?
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Good morning Celia,
Thank you so much for your response and information and all of the details regarding your symptoms and situation. It sounds incredibly difficult. I am so happy for you that you were able to find relief for most of the symptoms through your cortisone injections.
It sounds like I have had a similar journey. And I have to also add that I did see two different cardiologists after going off of simvastatin, and they did a calcium score scan which concluded that there's no reason for me to be on a Stantin in the first place. There is nothing in my arteries at all. It's high cholesterol, but he said I'm protected by the good high cholesterol. I've always had high cholesterol, even when I was a vegetarian.
You gave me some good ideas, I've never had an EMG which I'm trying to have done, because my daughter has a very serious neuromuscular disorder called charcot Marie tooth. 36 years ago they said it was not hereditary because they tested me with an EMG. I don't think that what I have now is that but I'm trying to get into a neuromuscular doctor here at the University of New Mexico but it's an 11-month wait! And they won't pay for me to go to Mayo Clinic out of state. It's just awful, waiting and being in pain like this and trying to be proactive and figure out everything on your own.
Thank you, I did have trigger point therapy with saline, lidocaine, as well as cortisone but those didn't really help. I've also tried the TENS unit and pain pills and muscle relaxers, and those did not help either.
The prednisone epidurals into my back helped but only with the hip pain and the relief lasted a couple months.
I'm very leery of going on oral steroids. So many issues with my adrenal gland now that they just want to give me more steroids for when they said that the insufficient adrenal gland is most likely due to being on steroid injection therapy.
Thank you so much for your help and your insight and I hope you have continued relief on your journey!
Kate 😊