Physical therapy

Yes. I went to see an orthopedist specializing in sports medicine during the early workup for my pain and decreased range of motion. He advised me to "prepare to include a rheumatologist in your life," and ordered another round of testing for inflammation markers. But he also prescribed PT. It was very helpful, and included a good bit of patient education because I was accustomed to being active and going to the gym. My PT taught me how to manage an exercise program while dealing with systemic inflammation, as well as giving me a strength training program (and how to transition that to my gym), and a pool -based stretching program along with my usual Tai Chi. When I got to the rheumatologist and diag used PMR, he made a few changes but overall, the PT was very helpful - it kept me walking! For the months of waiting to see the Rheumatologist.

After six months of shoulder pain and guarding due to PMR, I started to have some significant stiffness in my left shoulder. My rheumatologist assigned it to rotator cuff issues and prescribed PT. The PT was very helpful in loosening up the shoulder, and I regained the range of motion that I had lost. Now I have a set of exercises that I do on my own at home to maintain those gains.

Same here. My range of motion has not been a problem but the exercises I got from my Physical Therapist significantly reduce the inflammation in my shoulders.

I was prescribed pt before I was diagnosed. After the first week, I was much worse and in agony. They adjusted my pt but it didn’t do me much good. After prednisone gave me my life back, I took the PMR sheet my rheumatologist gave me to them. It was news to them. They are used to treating people with injuries and recovering from surgery. I still do the stretching exercises they gave me and it helps a lot now that I am almost tapered off prednisone.

Luckily my PT therapist was up on PMR. Lots of stretching with some light resistance work. I’ll be dismissed from PT this week but will continue my PT at home. Still tapering down with the Prednisone.

Hello @ddr My situation sounds a bit similar to @54pontiac - I was doing PT for knee pain, one morning I had so much stiffness and pain in BOTH thighs I cancelled my appointment and went off to Urgent Care -my concern was Lyme disease. The doctor who saw me drew blood for Lyme tests, but to this day I am annoyed that he did not do a work-up for CRP and ESR - He just murmured to me that I'd probably need a rheumatologist. When I was diagnosed with PMR I asked for referral for pool- PT. You said you are tapering down, did your pain and stiffness respond quickly to Prednisone and are you free of that morning ( I assume ) stiffness? I took a leave of absence from work and then retired 9 months into my PMR /Prednisone tapering. Exercising in the pool and walks to our pond for birding really helped.

I already had PMR but the doctor I saw (and I) knew nothing about that. She sent me to PT for my rotator cuff, although the pain had spread by then. She did not know to check my CRP and ESR. I was sent to the rheumatologist for my osteoporosis, which is obvious in my hands. He put it all together in 5 minutes, took blood, and put me on prednisone. I did not respond immediately because it was such a low dose (10mg), but within weeks I was pain free. I am tapering down to .5 mg now and I am stiff in the morning. Ironically, the PT stretching exercises that did nothing for my PMR now help me with the stiffness. I also do weights for the bone loss from prednisone and supplements.

The Prednisone was a lifesaver for me. I had my original flare up while we were on vacation. I immediately went to my Doctor when we got back because of intense pain in my hand and shoulders. She prescribed 60 mg for 5 days which worked immediately. When my bloodwork came back the PMR was diagnosed. I started at 20 mg and have now tapered down to 10. My Physical Therapy sessions were geared more for the arthritis in my shoulder than the PMR , however I do find that the stretching exercises help reduce the inflammation. My goal is to get my Prednisone dosage as low as possible even if it means a little pain and stiffness in the mornings.