1. < Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR)

PMR with hand/wrist pain and swollen veins?

Posted by ldingwall88 @ldingwall88, Aug 23, 2022

Hi, I've been struggling with PMR since May '22. Most of my symptoms are typical though apparently unusually stubborn; I'm currently on 40mg/day prednisone and hoping to begin a taper soon. (I started out at 20mg but nothing touched the flare til they bumped me up to 40) One uncommon symptom is severe pain in my wrist/hand, and when it's particularly bad the veins in my hand, wrist, and lower arm get very large. Has anyone else experienced this? It's kind of freaking me out.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) Support Group.

katiepea | @katiepea | 6 days ago
In reply to @ropnrose "I began taking Prednisone in July 2024 for PMR/GCA. 60 mg. for 6 weeks. My voice..." + (show)
@ropnrose

I began taking Prednisone in July 2024 for PMR/GCA. 60 mg. for 6 weeks. My voice was affected. I don't know if it was the Prednisone or the disease. Once, I tapered down to lower dosages, the voice issue went away. During those 6 weeks, I also had chest pain and a dry cough. Those eventually went away, too. I really think it was the Prednisone. It's the drug that keeps giving (although you don't want what it gives you). At 60 mg. I had no body ache (other than an occasional headache). I'm down to 6 mg. now (thanks to monthly Actemra infusions). I had wrist, shoulder and knee aches prior to Actemra. The aches would usually subside by mid day. They weren't dibilitating. I still have very mild wrist aches, but it's barely noticeable

Good luck with your journey.

What doseage of Prednisone are you taking?

Jump to this post

Thank you for your reply, much appreciated. They only started me on 15mg in October by January everyone noticed the change in my vocal cords. I thdn had to reduce down by 1mg per month. I am down to 8 mg at the moment which does not seem to be working have got terrible lower back pain affecting my walking . Last month I had phlebitis of the legs , treated in hospital followed by picking up the norovirus . So it has been a tough few weeks with more added drugs like blood thinners etc. I am coeliac , have osteoporosis and under active thyroid but until this was very fit , I do not drive but I walked everwhere and am only a small lady, but this has taken its toll on my body and also on my moods which are all over the place, which do not seem to settle in the same place. For having something I had never even heard off I am well aware now of not taking the life we have for granted .. a lesson learned there any way .

REPLY
centralflorida | @centralflorida | 5 days ago

I was experiencing heartburn too -- pretty severe-- until I read a hint somewhere that said if you take your prednisone with 10 ml. of Mylanta, it helps prevent heartburn later. So I still do this every morning, and only once or twice a month do I have heartburn, which is quickly stopped with another 10 ml. of Mylanta.

REPLY
1 reply
ropnrose | @ropnrose | 5 days ago
In reply to @elizabethannr "I have had severe heartburn at least once per week." + (show)
@elizabethannr

I have had severe heartburn at least once per week.

Jump to this post

Since, I've been on Prednisone, my primary ordered pantoprozole. I haven't had heartburn issues, unless I eat too late in the evening.

REPLY
1 reply
elizabethannr | @elizabethannr | 5 days ago
In reply to @centralflorida "I was experiencing heartburn too -- pretty severe-- until I read a hint somewhere that said..." + (show)
@centralflorida

I was experiencing heartburn too -- pretty severe-- until I read a hint somewhere that said if you take your prednisone with 10 ml. of Mylanta, it helps prevent heartburn later. So I still do this every morning, and only once or twice a month do I have heartburn, which is quickly stopped with another 10 ml. of Mylanta.

Jump to this post

thanks, good idea!

REPLY
elizabethannr | @elizabethannr | 5 days ago
In reply to @ropnrose "Since, I've been on Prednisone, my primary ordered pantoprozole. I haven't had heartburn issues, unless I..." + (show)
@ropnrose

Since, I've been on Prednisone, my primary ordered pantoprozole. I haven't had heartburn issues, unless I eat too late in the evening.

Jump to this post

Thanks, thus far I take 2 tums and one alkaline seltzer with some water and it does the trick right away. It's just that I never now when its going to hit. When I am driving it is especially nerve wracking as I know I need to take something right away.

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.