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My PMR symptoms began this past June, 3&1/2 months into a very stressful time for me. The most stressful I can remember in decades. I have this unconfirmed idea that some of us with a genetic predisposition for autoimmune/ rheumatic diseases may have PMR "laying low" in our bodies and the stress gives it what it needs to present itself. Now medical information to reference, just my idea!
Replies to "My PMR symptoms began this past June, 3&1/2 months into a very stressful time for me...."
@kayept
I developed after death of my husband and having surgery on my fingers after a fall so I think stress has a lot to do with it.
I have been on Actemra over 1 yr & it helps
I was already diagnosed with a couple of autoimmune conditions when PMR was diagnosed. Being diagnosed with one autoimmune condition "predisposes" people to having other autoimmune conditions.
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I was chronically "stressed out" because my face was electrified. I was diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia before PMR was diagnosed. They said trigeminal neuralgia was congenital in my case.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/trigeminal-neuralgia/symptoms-causes/syc-20353344.
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When I told my ophthalmologist about the electrical pain around my eye, he said it wasn't an eye problem and referred me to a neurologist.
My rheumatologist asked me about facial pain when she screened me for GCA. I told her, "only the electrical facial pain." Ironically, trigeminal neuralgia was a vascular problem combined with inflammation but not GCA. Mostly it was a nerve problem.
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@kayept, I agree with you.
PMR and GCA afflict Europeans, especially Northern Europeans, and Caucasians at a higher rate than people of other races. I read that Minnesota has the highest incidence of PMR/GCA in the US.
GCA was identified as far back as the 10th Century by a physician in Baghdad who observed swollen arteries concurrent with vision loss.
My maternal aunt had both PMR/GCA, and I got both about 5 years ago. Both of us experienced the onset of symptoms after physical injuries. My aunt hurt her back moving furniture and I hurt my ankle walking backwards. Ironically, my mother-in-law came down with it after a family reunion that involved a road trip from Ontario to Florida, probably very stressful for her. She was in her 80s at the time and had a tough time getting it diagnosed. A doctor she was referred to and some family members thought she was malingering.
I think there's a trigger which causes the immune system of a person predisposed to go into overdrive. I often think PMR/GCA was waiting in the wings to get me.