Exercise

@tuckerp

I see a urologist annually to monitor multiple uric acid kidney stones in both kidneys. I think she is sadistic based on the things she says that I should have done. She can see on my annual abdominal CT scan that my prostate is enlarged. Since my PSA is normal, I think my prostate should be left alone. She also said that microscopic blood in my urine isn't normal even though the microscopic blood has been detected for years when I was still on warfarin with kidney stones. There was no way I was ever going to do the work-up she said I should do to see why there is blood in my urine even though I can't see any blood in my urine visually.

My kidney stones aren't getting any bigger since the treatment of my uric acid level with allopurinol was initiated. Potassium citrate is shrinking the size of some kidney stones and others have disappeared. My prostate, on the other hand, gets bigger every year. I might not have the urine stream that I used to but hey ... that is the end of the world.

@stonewheel Yes. For purposes of these conversations i refer to my corticosteroid as prednisone. However I was taking dexamethasone. I used the conversion factor of 5 to 1. So I started with 4mg tablet which I call 20mg prednisone. I found within the first 2 wks i could move my dosage rather quickly without issues. I settled on half a tablet of 4mg dex or about 10mg of prednisone. I tried several times right from the beginning to go to a quarter of a 4mg tablet or about 5mg prednisone and could not do so. These 4mg tablets are small. you get to a quarter tablet and you think how could this little speck make so much difference. At month 5 I moved to quarter tablet without much pain. I stayed there for a couple of weeks and then moved to every other day for a week then stopped. I contribute it to the fact that my PMR had burned out. Why? IDK? But I do think that I refused to stop my daily exercise and refused to stay on steroids. I also had no other issues. PMR had come out of nowhere however i was under extreme stress. As I mentioned the fatigue was a huge problem. My testosterone once i checked was 300. I use a daily cream and keep it at about 600-650. Any higher and my estrogen climbs and that takes another pill. Although my story is my story. I have learned so much from this site and none of us are the same. I stay on the site to offer my support . I feel that my PMR journey was a fairly quick recovery and maybe can offer some encouragement.

@tuckerp I appreciate you staying in the site to offer help and support. Thank you.
PMR is a crazy disease.

Hi to both of you. While my situation is a bit different than yours, I am going to respond. I am 77, female, in good physical condition and an exerciser (hiking, walking, golfing, yoga and work outs with a PT.) Diagnosed with PMR about 18 months ago. As an aside I attributed the onset to a very strenuous bout of snowshoeing in very deep VT snow for 2 hours, what was I thinking). The rheumatologist prescribed prednisone for the pain. Of course I researched the side effects but I absolutely needed relief. With the pain gone I was able to continue my exercise routine although I did read that extreme exercise was not helpful for keeping the PMR at bay. Also, I really tried to subscribe to an anti inflammatory diet, mostly the Mediterranean diet without any salt or sugar. Fast forward, since June I have been off prednisone but my hip joint stiffness has come back, not with a vengeance but it’s always there. I have been told it can take up to 6 months for the adrenal glands to get working again. So I exercise, take advil, and try to avoid inflammatory foods. It truly does’t seem fair that you all who are in tip top physical shape have to deal with the pain of PMR. Unfortunately, life is not always fair and we just have to find support (Mayo Clinic!) and motor on. I have found this site to be extremely helpful and supportive. Good luck. Liz W.

@tuckerp

I see a urologist annually to monitor multiple uric acid kidney stones in both kidneys. I think she is sadistic based on the things she says that I should have done. She can see on my annual abdominal CT scan that my prostate is enlarged. Since my PSA is normal, I think my prostate should be left alone. She also said that microscopic blood in my urine isn't normal even though the microscopic blood has been detected for years when I was still on warfarin with kidney stones. There was no way I was ever going to do the work-up she said I should do to see why there is blood in my urine even though I can't see any blood in my urine visually.

My kidney stones aren't getting any bigger since the treatment of my uric acid level with allopurinol was initiated. Potassium citrate is shrinking the size of some kidney stones and others have disappeared. My prostate, on the other hand, gets bigger every year. I might not have the urine stream that I used to but hey ... that is the end of the world.