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Are painful swollen hands and fingers a PMR flare?
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Jul 4, 2024 | Replies (158)Comment receiving replies
I just want to clarify that i’m not challenging you for the sake of it. I am hoping for you there’s a path to a diagnosis of RA rather than PMR. One - you avoid a lifetime of challenges associated with Prednisone. Two - there is a larger number of effective treatment paths with RA. And transitioning from one to another is fairly straightforward compared to stopping Prednisone.
I have some osteo. Almost all of us do. I don't have noticeable swelling in my hands. Other than symptoms that could be related to age and drugs, like fatigue and pain and weakness, if I wasn't positive for RA Factor you might be justified in questioning my diagnosis. But the week before my infusion of Remicade and the week after tells the story.
I wish you all the luck as you go forward!
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I diagnosed myself with PMR in Apr 2021. No other issues. Healthy 68. I have genetic cholesterol. I pulled my blood tests after being steroids for 4 weeks. So not a true test. My wife has GBM and I see first hand the ravages of steroids. The brain is not an easy place for excess inflammation. I was off steroids in 6 months. I went 2 yrs clean no issues. This last year I am on my 3rd flare. I stay on this site to learn more about others long term. I had hoped once and done. I also hoped to advocate that it is not the PMR that is necessarily causing the PMR symptoms. Its the steroid. I also would like to learn about others dealing with flares. I mean a true flare. Not a flare when reducing steroids. I know what causes that flare. I have dealt with my PMR flares with a 5 day pack of steroid. Similar to what they would prescribe for asthma. I am not interested in taking any additional medications if I can help it. For every action there is a reaction. Even that 5 day pack increase my BP and I always gain 4-5 pds. Many on this site understand what the steroids do to your body and how it affects PMR. Many just take the drug. I hope to help. If they every designed a disease to fit the drug it was PMR and steroids. The steroids are almost like taking Heroin. Not that I every have.