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Hello Tucker! I've been feeling a bit sad and depressed this past week after recently being possibly diagnosed with PMR. I've been spending a lot of time researching the condition as well as discovering forums like this one to help me better cope and accept. After reading your response, I found a lot of encouragement because we have traveled similar journeys. At an early age, I had two lower back discs ruptured two years in a row. I decided to take an aggressive action plan and dedicate myself to a life of fitness and health. For the last thirty to thirty-five years, I have become a fitness enthusiast ... weekly bootcamp classes, HIIT classes, heavy gym workouts, rowing marathons, running, sprinting, jumping rope -- you name it, and I probably tried it and / or still do it. A month ago I was at a really good peak of conditioning as I was training for an indoor rowing marathon. A week after the marathon, my body completely shut down and became immobile. It truly scared me. How could I be at the height of my conditioning and then become frail and weak? I visited many doctors and all of them simply felt I had overexerted myself and sent me home with new pain killers (none of them worked). Everything was a physical struggle for me ... walking, getting in and out of my car, getting dressed, picking things off the floor, writing on the whiteboard (I'm a teacher), raising my arms, sitting, standing, putting on shoes ... I went from being able to easily perform 15 to 20 pull-ups and 50 push-ups to not even being able to hold my body weight in plank position or hang on the pull up bar. Last week a doctor suggested that my symptoms might be related to PMR, so like many other people on this site, he prescribed Prednisone. I did regain a lot of mobility quickly, but after reading all the information about Prednisone, I returned to that place of fear and worry again. Perhaps what worries me the most is that fitness and exercise have been my safe place to escape my workaholic lifestyle. I've tried to be very cautious about returning to exercise (especially since I am now 61 years old). Your story honestly gave me a source of hope that I too will be able to once again rejoin the fitness community and the exercise regime that I once enjoyed a few weeks ago. I'm even a certified NASM personal trainer, so all of this is very humbling to me and all the goals I have tried to achieve by aging with a healthy lifestyle. Thank you for sharing your story online, and thank you for being an example of hope for me as I learn to battle and deal with this possible diagnosis. I could really use a friend right now, so I hope my words reach your heart as well. In sincere appreciation!!
Replies to "Hello Tucker! I've been feeling a bit sad and depressed this past week after recently being..."
Hi to both of you. While my situation is a bit different than yours, I am going to respond. I am 77, female, in good physical condition and an exerciser (hiking, walking, golfing, yoga and work outs with a PT.) Diagnosed with PMR about 18 months ago. As an aside I attributed the onset to a very strenuous bout of snowshoeing in very deep VT snow for 2 hours, what was I thinking). The rheumatologist prescribed prednisone for the pain. Of course I researched the side effects but I absolutely needed relief. With the pain gone I was able to continue my exercise routine although I did read that extreme exercise was not helpful for keeping the PMR at bay. Also, I really tried to subscribe to an anti inflammatory diet, mostly the Mediterranean diet without any salt or sugar. Fast forward, since June I have been off prednisone but my hip joint stiffness has come back, not with a vengeance but it’s always there. I have been told it can take up to 6 months for the adrenal glands to get working again. So I exercise, take advil, and try to avoid inflammatory foods. It truly does’t seem fair that you all who are in tip top physical shape have to deal with the pain of PMR. Unfortunately, life is not always fair and we just have to find support (Mayo Clinic!) and motor on. I have found this site to be extremely helpful and supportive. Good luck. Liz W.
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You reached me. Brought a tear to my eye. Medical community has no idea why we got PMR or what causes it. But it does seem to be trigger by some event. Such as over training. Covid shot. Stress. Death of a loved one. Everyone seems to recall some event but who knows. I damaged my knee in high school football. I had 2 reconstructive surgeries. By the age of 50 I had to have it replaced. so you are much more of an athlete than I ever was. My weight lifting and jogging gave me some purpose. I ran one 5k. 17.25. But mostly just for conditioning. I also lifted 3-4 days week. I worked 2 jobs , went to school, and built 5 of my own houses while raising a family. So like you I kept myself busy. I was barely able to get out of bed when PMR hit. Once I diagnosed it data says its not a muscle wasting disease but inactivity can be. I went to daily workouts and tried to work every muscle a little bit. The steroid for me took most of the pain. But I could feel that my muscles were not responding as well. At 70 years old I had also started to slow. I was still bench pressing 225 - 10 reps at 70. I had days that I could barely get the bar off the bench. My wife was on steroids. I know steroids. So I was determined to be pain free but quickly manage my steroid intake. This takes some work. Google prednisone and cortisol. Prednisone becomes a lot more of a monster than the PMR. Many on this site are excellent sources of information. I personally think now that PMR has struck you may need to try and not be all that you were. I was 70 yrs old. Your still a pup. But I can see a future where everyone looks up to you in your old age and wish they had kept themselves as well as you have. PMR is not a death sentence.