Hi @charlena, I think it takes an experienced rheumatologist to actually diagnose PMR (my non-medical training opinion). When I had my first occurance of PMR I let it go for too long and was barely able to walk. My wife had to drive me to my doctor appointment. The doctor setup an appointment with the rheumatologist who actually diagnosed the PMR and put me on 20 mg prednisone with a taper off schedule after a few months. Took me three years to get off of the prednisone.

My second occurance I had to tell my primary care doctor I thought it was PMR not carpal tunnel when I started having arm and hand pain come back. I was wrong...I found out after meeting with the hand doctor at the clinic I have carpal tunnel in both hands, as well as my PMR is back. After reviewing my medical history/diagnosis for PMR she put me on prednisone and as part of her exam, she brought in some interns and did a show and tell on PMR and carpal tunnel. So, I'm guessing a lot of doctors just plain don't have the "elderly health issues" experience. (NOT saying you are elderly! PMR just likes us more normally).

Happy Friday! Hoping for a PMR pain free day for all of you.

John

absolutely. i think the practicing mds are not in the research specific areas and mostly go by what is taught. and by the way, has the medical field changed enough with educating the doctors? this is not meant to demean in any way. why can't we develop SPECIFIC blood tests for diagnosing as an example? i am sure there are other patients that have many good ideas in this area and not just me. i am referring to rheumatologists as well

i think when your immune system identifies threats and not just medically but EMOTIONALLY AND MENTALLY, your body responds to activate a protective mode and thus brings on the overreactions such as the swelling, pain and etcs. so, perhaps diagnosis such as PTSD, and other related EMOTIONS that are happening to the body on a fairly constant level can contribute to the immune system reactions. i really, really would like feedback on this please.

it sounds like you have just started to "do the dance" with trying to properly diagnose your medical problems. you must have patience and continue to believe in yourself. there are many doctors with many different personalities. they would be this way even if they were not doctors. we are here, and with you. keep writing.

Absolutely - I am sure that my body responded violently to a period of severe stress that I went through just prior to being diagnosed with PMR. I asked my doctor about that probability but she didn't think it had anything to do with it, but I'm not so sure. Since then I have been very careful not to get too emotional and overactive about issues, and so far so good.