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PMR symptoms worse in winter? Seasonal?
My PMR was finally diagnosed in January 2024 after my having what I now know were classic symptoms starting in November 2023. Symptoms started slowly, I was not sure what was causing my inner thigh, pelvic, hip, upper arm and shoulder pains. I was OTC meds with little relief. Long story shorter, I was diagnosed, have been treated with prednisone and Tylenol since first diagnosis and am continuing to taper, now on 2 mg which requires lots of Tylenol to help symptoms. BUT, this past week the same initial symptoms that I first noted are again present in increased levels…..almost exactly to the time of year that they first started last fall. Are the symptoms seasonal? Anyone else have this?
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I was wondering about the same issue this week with a
an unusual flare of arthritis. Many physicians find patients complain of winter weather flares.
It is not well studied but the consensus is that weather
is not a major factor in PMR and arthritis. There is
some correlation with weather for temporal arthritis
which is often seen with polymyalgia. It is obvious that
PMR is common from the prevalence of posts here.
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3 ReactionsThere are quite a few of us affected by the weather. Here is a link to other discussions and comments that might be helpful - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/discussions/?search=PMR%20weather.
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2 Reactions@laurapmr
Hello! I really understand how you feel and how both PMR and arthritis are affected by the weather!
I have both PMR and reactive arthritis (a form of inflammatory arthritis that is similar to rheumatoid arthritis). I do have to warm up my clothing before going outside if it is cold. I have lived in California my whole life, so I’m used to and prefer the warmer climate!! It may sound weird to people on the east coast, but cold to me is anything under 70 degrees, especially if it is windy too!
I keep my indoor temp around 79 degrees in the winter.
One of the things I would be careful of is your Tylenol consumption—no more than 3000-4,000 mg in a 24 hour period. It can be very toxic to your liver.
Wishing you all the best in this cold winter season!
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2 ReactionsI am very careful with my Tylenol and have used very little…think using a bit more will help me. Seasonal or not! Thanks.
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3 ReactionsI live in Florida so cold to me is under 70 also. I have noticed since I have PMR which is about a year and a half that the cold weather puts me in a lot of pain. I do take Tylenol 3 but usually only once a day.
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6 ReactionsI go in winter plunges 2-3 times a week I think it help with my arthritis! Crazy I know! I’ve had PMR a long time but at 78 it makes me feel happy also!
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3 ReactionsWe keep on going the best we can. Nobody told me what I was young, but it would be like to be old. But like you, I enjoy life
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4 ReactionsI too go for ocean swims and they are very restorative! I live on Vancouver island so the water can be quite cool but it really feels wonderful!
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2 Reactionsnancy334
I guess we are all different in what makes us feel good!! Warm/hot showers for me!! I dream of getting a nice warm jacuzzi hot tub one day—heaven!
Here in Iowa, I consider myself lucky if we have high temperatures in the 30-40 (F) range in December. I don't mind some snow for Christmas but then I look forward to going somewhere warm in January and February. Somewhere warm is usually Florida for 4-6 weeks but we might try Arizona this year for 2 weeks before going to Miami for a few weeks.
It isn't any warmer in Iowa when we return home but the temperature is usually trending higher in March and April. They say it is cold in Florida during January but relative to Iowa it is pleasant. It is too hot and humid for most of the rest of the year in Florida. I like cooler temperatures rather than it being too hot.
Our problem in Iowa are the cold Canadian air masses from the north and the hot air masses from the Gulf of Mexico out of the south. When those two air masses clash things can get violent quickly.
Except for the temperature changes we otherwise have great weather. For PMR, a constant 70 degrees (F) would be ideal for me. Any temperature change +/- 10 degrees isn't that good.