1. < Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR)

Can PMR progress to inflammatory arthritis?

Posted by DadCue @dadcue, Sep 2 6:51am

The doctor in this video thinks PMR can progress to inflammatory arthritis. I think chronic systemic inflammation has no boundaries so it can progress to anywhere it wants to.


----------------------
How does a diagnosis limit where the inflammation can be?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) Support Group.

DadCue | @dadcue | Sep 5 7:05am
In reply to @kerriihart "As a PMR patient who has had three flares of GCA in the last six months..." + (show)
@kerriihart

As a PMR patient who has had three flares of GCA in the last six months I can assure you PMR proceeds the GCA flares. The last one was serious as it affected my eye sight. Large doses, 60 MG of prednisone brought the artery inflammation under control.

Jump to this post

I would absolutely agree that PMR precedes GCA flares in some people.

That would happen to me with uveitis which is "associated" with reactive arthritis. If left untreated, uveitis can affect a person's vision too and can lead to vision loss.

I would generally have the accompanying arthritis pain first before a flare of uveitis. I would be seen immediately by an ophthalmologist because uveitis is considered an emergency.

I once showed up to my rheumatology visit with a red eye. My rheumatologist noticed it immediately and asked me if I was aware of it. I was aware but hadn't called the ophthalmologist yet. My rheumatologist called the eye clinic for me and postponed my rheumatology visit. She sent me directly to an ophthalmologist and convinced me that she thought it was serious. My rheumatologist said that my eye needed immediate attention.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/uveitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20378734
Prednisone doses anywhere between 60-100 mg brought my uveitis flares under control.

REPLY
DadCue | @dadcue | Sep 5 7:26am
In reply to @tuckerp "I was taking 2000mg a day of Vitamin C. I had done that for 20 years..." + (show)
@tuckerp

I was taking 2000mg a day of Vitamin C. I had done that for 20 years and fought kidney stones. Last year after suffering that nasty one I cut out vitamin C. I try to drink lots of water. I also add some lemon juice. I limit my salt and do not take calcium supplements. But I dont follow much else on the list. I probably need to. Thank you.

Jump to this post

I was told to drink plenty of water to clear the kidney stone that was in my ureter. That seemed like a bad idea because the stone was causing a "significant obstruction." That excess water I was drinking needed to be expelled somewhere and the water didn't have an unobstructed pathway out. I couldn't pee easily so that was very unpleasant.

REPLY
1 reply
tuckerp | @tuckerp | Sep 5 8:01am
In reply to @dadcue "I was told to drink plenty of water to clear the kidney stone that was in..." + (show)
@dadcue

I was told to drink plenty of water to clear the kidney stone that was in my ureter. That seemed like a bad idea because the stone was causing a "significant obstruction." That excess water I was drinking needed to be expelled somewhere and the water didn't have an unobstructed pathway out. I couldn't pee easily so that was very unpleasant.

Jump to this post

Yeah, I am not sure that helps when the ureter is blocked. That 9mm stone had everything backed up. Fortunately I have only had 4 episodes since 2010. I prefer to not have any more. I quit drinking beer in about 2005. They say beer drinkers dont get them. I guess I can see where that might keep them flushed from the system. A mild sedative plus plenty of fluid.

REPLY
hopeinal | @hopeinal | Sep 20 4:27pm
In reply to @dadcue "That's what I think too. The doctor in the video doubled down and said PMR can..." + (show)
@dadcue

That's what I think too. The doctor in the video doubled down and said PMR can progress to GCA. I don't think that is true either.

Maybe just terminology but to say it "progresses" doesn't seem accurate. PMR and GCA are "associated" but so are reactive arthritis and uveitis. Uveitis sometimes happens with reactive arthritis but not always. Sometimes uveitis happens all by itself.

I struggled with "what if" scenarios like the following:
What if I didn't take enough Prednisone -- will I have a relapse?
or
What if I discontinued Prednisone -- would I have an adrenal crisis.

I'm not sure there are any clear cut answers.

"Just what my immune system serves up" is a good way to say it. My immune system gets overactive and needs to chill out.
-------------------
I haven't been diagnosed with gout but I have a high uric acid level. My rheumatologist said my uric acid level might be "contributing" to my problems. However, I can't say I have ever had a flare of gout.

I have multiple kidney stones and I passed one once. Passing the kidney stone was painful. The kidney stone was composed of 80% uric acid. I was treated with allopurinol, cholchicine along with potassium citrate to shrink my kidney stones. Everything was stopped but my kidney stones got bigger.

I'm just on potassium citrate to shrink my kidney stones again. Now my uric acid level is high again. Do you think I should go back on allopurinol?

Jump to this post

Have you tried eating sour cherries 5-6 a day or drinking the juice? My son had a terrible time with gout and I read about the cherries and started canning pints for him. No more gout attacks.

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.