Progression and Regression?
My still formally undiagnosed "PMR" started as thigh pain in January '24. Since then, I've gone the exhausting route of seeing rheums, ophthalmologist, my GP, communicating with my cardio on portal mainly re: inflammation levels and Advil. I kiss his ring, but he's changed so much over the last couple of years, I barely get 2 words out of him and boy, I really need his advice. I saw him a few months ago but we didn't discuss PMR as it hadn't reached its full potential yet.
In a few wks, I have an appt w/a cannabis clinic connected to a huge rheum practice to see about taking CBD. I can't deal with weed, so don't want even a whiff of THC involved. Apparently, this stuff can help with inflammation and pain. We'll see. If that's a no go, I will try LDN.
So that's a rough status of where I stand w/treatment.
My reason for this post is that sometime in March, I believe, when this thing was in full bloom and everything hurt, I started taking 1 Advil per day. I asked the cardio and he said "1 month at the most." I had already gone past that when I asked. What to do? Tylenol doesn't touch it for me. He used to offer alternatives, etc., the kind of things docs do. But for few yrs or so, he does not. It's disappointing and quite scary.
So, I continued the Advil as I had no choice. Rheum told me to take *6* per day! I said, "Even with the cardio, kidney and other dangerous side effects?" He said, "Yes!" I stayed on 1.
About a month ago, my body began to magically feel better. I have had this happen but only for a day or two. However, this was lasting. Even the upper arms and shoulders. I started doing gentle Tai Chi and walking 1/2 hr per day which I had been doing anyway. All good! Had a few muscular aches that seemed like regular muscular pain from activating unused muscles. My pain was there, but a shadow of the past.
One morning I had a tachy run. I was really upended because I've struggled mightily with SVT in the past, went on nasty, nasty beta blocker for 2 yrs till it broke through again. FINALLY had an ablation over a year ago. It worked, but it can return in another cardiac pathway. The run was not as fast as an SVT which can go 200 bpm or more for some people and last for hours or more. And it stopped in about 2 min. I sent a portal msg to my cardio and told him I had been taking the Advil, one per day, but now I would stop it. Asked if I should make an appt.
I stopped the Advil. Next day, I felt fine. I was glad my body still seemed to be feeling better. Read that Advil does not accumulate in the body, so felt like I guess I really am better! The next day, all the pain was back. Now I even have it in the crooks of my elbows and fingers. Hard to close my hands...never had hand issues before except the tiniest bit of arth.
I'm so down. Has anyone experienced anything like this? A few wks or more of almost feeling normal on so little medication, only to go back to the hellish past? I don't know if it's stopping the Advil or not. And I'm afraid to go back on due to the tachy.
Sorry this is a book. Thank you.
Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) Support Group.
That's been a long and frustrating battle, where trying to manage other things like heart risks has made Polymyalgia Rheumatica treatment more difficult. If this was an audio comment, you would hear my long groan of solidarity and understanding. It's just one thing after another, isn't it. When finally there seems to be some improvement in one thing, another thing appears, then the old thing comes back. I don't know the answer.
Thank you for commiserating, meg. Though I'm sorry you are going thru similar....
I feel your groan and you're not alone - look at that, a poem.
I wish I could laugh.
Wishing you complete remission soon and great health for years and years to come!!!!
With this crazy thing, ya' never know!
I sympathize. Even on Prednisone, I have my good days and bad days. Never know which it will be since I wake up in a new world every morning. It's hard to make plans. I'm on my 3rd attempt at a taper or going off Pred completely. The last two tries I crashed and burned with a HUGE flare at about 6.5 mg a day. Praying the third time really is a charm. Hope you get the treatment you need soon.
I so hope the taper works this time, hope.
I so hear you on not being able to make plans. Either I hurt or didn't sleep and when I don't sleep, it's a wasted day of life, imo.
It's getting to where I don't want to make plans, and that's not a good thing. I've cancelled out so much on people and gatherings, I just stopped making the plans at all.
Anyway, thanks for posting! And of course, I hope full success if on the way for you soon and pain will not darken your doorway again.