Are painful swollen hands and fingers a PMR flare?

I'm symptom free right now... Taking 1000 mg Mycophenolate Mofetil and 15 mg prednisolone down from 20mg. I suffered mostly from shoulder and hip pain, however some days my wrists and hands were also so painful that it was hard to do anything until around noon, when the Tylenol and prednisone kicks in. However, I was diagnosed with Carpel Tunnel and Peripheral Neuropathy prior to my PMR diagnoses. I firmly believe that the combination of the Mycophenolate , Prednisolone and focus on a Anti-Inflammatory diet is the primary reason for the PMR being gone. I also exercised in the pm's by walking 2-3 miles per day, exercised with light dumb bells and pushups. I wasn't able to do anything in the mornings except wait for the pain and inflammation to subside.
The next hurdle is to see how my body reacts to the lower doses of prednisolone, hopefully I will be pain free and off the prednisolone. It would be great to not have the side effects of the prednisolone i.e. swollen face, gut etc.

@deborahinmaine, you just described my past year. Last February, I awoke with bilateral very painful, swollen and stiff hands. I'd been off prednisone for about 6 months, because my rheumatologist told me I didn't have PMR and I had RA. (She was not the one who diagnosed it; that rheumy retired). She did, however, refer me to a hand doctor, who decided I had carpal tunnel and needed surgery. All of this was distressing to me, as I am a classical pianist. I had the surgery and then PT afterwards. But the fingers never stopped hurting, I still can't get anywhere close to making a fist and I can no longer stretch an octave. The PT people gave up on me. The rheumatologist is no help. And I'm now getting bilateral shoulder pain. So I have a feeling another bout of PMR is on its way. And the hands are part of it, even if the doctor doesn't think so. I really hope you get relief; it's so distressing. We don't realize how much we use our hands for until we cannot.

PMR for 2.5 years, on Prednisone for 2.5 years, initially 30 MG, 6 mos. later 25, six months later 20, then an attempt to replace Prednisone with Kevzara, did not have desired result so ended after 3 months. Currently on 7 Mg daily, and dealing with swollen hands, bilateral shoulder pain. My Rheumatologist suggested we up Prednisone to 15 mg /daily to combat hand swelling and finger stiff/pain. I am reticent to up intake of Prednisone based on discussions with other doctors.

It's been a week of gardening, house cleaning and walking little Miah and my knees are still not in pain!! I've felt a few very mild twinges but that's all.

I've been on 5MG of Prednisone for years. It's just the last 6 months or so that I'm waking up with stiff hands and difficulty making a fist. it goes away in a few hours. It could be that the Tramadol +acetominophyn is taking effect.
The first doctor that recommended it said his father had been on it for years without any major effects.

I'm interested in hearing more about the negative effects just in case I start having them.

Hi @vandyms1974, I have developed HFpEF in my heart that my cardiologist tells me is from the long term Pred. I started at 20mg on January 21st and today tapered to 11.25mg. My resting diastolic heart rate has high pressure which means it doesn't properly relax. She told me it could also cause Afib. Now I have to taper as fast as safely possible to get off of it before it does more heart damage. Not sure what I'm going to do when the pain returns, but I do know I have to get off Pred asap.
Terri

i was diagnosed with PMR last april, 2024. Was on Preg. 15 mg until Feb, 2025 , and at the same time in Oct. 2024 was put on Methotrexate. In April, my wrists were on fire. The rheumatologist says i have Rheumatoid Arthritis now and put me on low dose preg, and Leflunomide and i am still on the Methotrexate. My blood tests showed negative for RH.
This is getting confusing. has anyone else had these symptoms? thank you

I had some pain yesterday in my knee but it's gone today. It so mild that I can't really complain. I hope this keeps up.

Yes, this sounds familiar. When I started to complain about hand and wrist pain and all-day stiffness about six months after PMR diagnosis, my rheumy decided I had seronegative rheumatoid arthritis. I have since changed rheumatologists and had more workup, and she concurs. She says either I was initially misdiagnosed, or have both (overlap syndrome). Late-onset RA (after age 60) usually hits the larger joints first, so is easily confused with PMR. I’ve been on methotrexate for about eight months now and it seems to be helping.

I have wrist/hand and knee pain or stiffness most days. My dr gave me a prescription for Gabapentin in addition to the 15mg Prednisone I was taking but it makes me lightheaded so I stopped taking the Gabapentin. I'd rather have a little pain and feel okay to drive. I was diagnosed about 6 weeks ago. The slight swelling in my wrists has not gone away but it isn't bad enough to affect my activity.