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Sed Rate still elevated, but pain much improved
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Oct 27 11:01am | Replies (18)Comment receiving replies
Hi Dadcue
My PMR Rhumo says “I only treat people, symptoms and not numbers” and that’s exactly what he does. And it works for me , keeps me well without unnecessary doses of damaging steroid medication.
My inflammatory markers fluctuate ( sometimes upwards) and don’t necessarily follow my much improved, almost non existent PMR symptoms.
I’d say you’re correct in thinking high inflammation markers can be caused by a lot of other underlying conditions besides PMR, and if high inflammation persists without increasing PMR symptoms it’s warranted to investigate other possible underlying causes /diagnoses as well , such as your osteoarthritis or many other illnesses / diseases that raise inflammation.
Replies to "Hi Dadcue My PMR Rhumo says “I only treat people, symptoms and not numbers” and that’s..."
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I had those conversations with my rheumatologist too. For the most part she always believed me when I told her how much pain I had. I wasn't one to complain too much about PMR pain. I took very high doses of prednisone intermittently to control painful flares inflammatory arthritis, uveitis and trigeminal neuralgia long before I was diagnosed with PMR. I actually said PMR was was a "blessing" to me. I was given a legitimate prescription for daily prednisone for as long as I needed it.
There was one time when I told my rheumatologist that 25 mg of Prednisone didn't seem like enough because of how much pain I felt. I suggested 30 mg but she looked at me in disbelief and said she better check my inflammation markers. After my inflammation markers were checked she said I should increase my dose to 35 mg.
My inflammation markers were always elevated no matter how much Prednisone I took. My rheumatologist would ask me if I was sure I was taking enough prednisone because my inflammation markers were always elevated. I would have to tell her that my pain was controlled in spite of my elevated inflammation markers. Eventually my inflammation markers were deemed to be "unreliable" and we went strictly by my symptoms.
When I started on Actemra (tocilizumab) my inflammation markers were very low. I had never seen my inflammation markers within the "normal range" before this time. I was concerned and asked if my inflammation markers were "too low." They were nearly zero and I wasn't sure if very low inflammation markers were normal.