PMR's effect on my hands

Posted by zkeith @zkeith, May 25, 2025

Has PMR affected your hands? In February, I noticed my legs and arms were often sore and stiff (no pain in my neck or shoulders). I lived with the pain for three weeks before seeing my doctor. He diagnosed my situation as PRM and put me on prednisone with taper. I am now down to 1.25 mg a day. My legs have been pain free for several weeks, and my arms are also mostly pain free. I don't know whether the soreness in my arms is due to doing something I shouldn't be doing (age 83) or whether it is a residual of PRM. Maybe 6 weeks after I was first treated, I noticed quite a bit of pain and stiffness in my hands. We didn't increase the amount of prednisone once it began affecting my hands. The pain sometimes feels like i stuck my hands in a very hot pot of water. Other times, it feels like many bee stings on my hands. My hands are also often numb or "asleep," especially when I wake up in the morning. Within 10 minutes or so after getting up, the pain/sensations are generally gone for the day, although at times, my hand still go to sleep and become numb during the day. I really shouldn't be complaining when I read about what some of you in the group have gone/are going through. I see my doctor in a couple of weeks. I'll see what he suggests but am wondering whether any of you have had significant hand pain.

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wrenn1939 | @wrenn1939 | Jun 6 8:48am

In reply to @sbbbb "Could be something totally different from PMR. Carpal Tunnel in your hand?? Your doc should be..." + (show)

@sbbbb It is arthritis that had been bad before starting prednisone. The rheumatologist told me when the prednisone dose was lowered, I would probably start hurting again. I do not want to go back to 10mg of prednisone, so I am wearing a thumb brace that helps and taking tylenol.

gwl | @gwl | Jun 7 6:41am

68 year-old male now experiencing bad hand pain. I began taking 15 mg of Prednisone in Nov 2025 for PMR. Both shoulders and both hips were painful. Hip and shoulder pain went away within a couple days. I tried an aggressive tapering schedule and was down to 10 mg by 9 Feb, 7.5 mg by 24 Feb, and 5 mg by 4 March. On March 21, the pain in my shoulders was back along with severe pain in my hands and fingers so I took 5 mg in the morning and 5 mg before bedtime. Within a week (at 10 mg) everything felt much better. On 4 Apr i went from 10 mg to 7. On 1 May, I went to 5 mg. By 6 May, I really felt like I had rounded the corner and was down to 3 mg by 15 May. Shoulders were still pretty good but hands hurt in the mornings. I went to 2.5 mg on 29 May. By 5 June, morning pain in my hands was unbearable and continued for several days. It hurt to pick up a cup of coffee. Finally, on 7 June, I went back to 5 mg. We'll see how this works. I really want off the Prednisone and my doc does as well. I have to admit, I'm a little frustrated with the two major setbacks I've had. Throughout the tapering process, I"ve become fatigued as well. In summary, my aggressive tapering has been hit and miss. Ironically, my shoulders are doing well but hand and finger pain are often unbearable.

cheraloha | @cheraloha | Jun 7 3:38pm

I'm down t 3 mgs of Prednisone and also on Kevzarra. Unfortunately, my hand pain remains excruciating. The tapering makes it worse. From what I understand, 30% of PMR sufferers experience hand pain. I'm not positive, but I don't think it is Carpal Tunnel or RA as there seems to be a direct link to tapering. It's constant, though worse at night and in the morning. I don't want to increase the dosage of prednisone, so trying to tough it out.

rebeccaheard | @rebeccaheard | Jun 8 8:31am

I have recently had numbness in my fingers, but it's sporadic, so I can't complaint. It just feels weird.
I hope yours resolves quickly.

terryartist | @terryartist | Jun 9 12:04am

In reply to @rebeccaheard "I have recently had numbness in my fingers, but it's sporadic, so I can't complaint. It..." + (show)

@rebeccaheard Interesting....I have had numbness in fingers and toes. It is as if I am feeling everything with light gloves or socks on. Starting to fumble things as well. Not sure if it is prednisone or PMR.

rebeccaheard | @rebeccaheard | Jun 9 8:03am

In reply to @terryartist "@rebeccaheard Interesting....I have had numbness in fingers and toes. It is as if I am feeling..." + (show)

@terryartist
I agree - it's hard to know which is causing it.

stonewheel | @stonewheel | Jun 9 8:13am

In reply to @gwl "68 year-old male now experiencing bad hand pain. I began taking 15 mg of Prednisone in..." + (show)

@gwl
I thought I was reading something that I had written. Same time frame, same pains and same age.
I’m not increasing my prednisone because of my hands, I’m at 3.5 mg/day.
Best wishes.
Keep us informed.

stonewheel | @stonewheel | Jun 9 8:19am

In reply to @cheraloha "I'm down t 3 mgs of Prednisone and also on Kevzarra. Unfortunately, my hand pain remains..." + (show)

@cheraloha
You and me both. I feel the same way. My hands hurt in the morning and slightly get better by evening. My rheumatologist told me to stop Kevzara (and come back in 6 weeks) because of low wbc and anc. Not sure how that’s going to work.

I think there is more unknown about PMR than is known.

sandiw77 | @sandiw77 | Jun 9 9:08am

I have had a rough time on and off with my hands for the past few years. My rheumatologist told me initially that the hand pain was not PMR but was just osteoarthritis. That may or may not be the case but I still think that PMR affects the hands by way of the shoulders. My hip pain has always been worse but when my shoulders flare I have noticed increased hand pain. That said, I massage them and rub essential oils into them almost daily and left hand pain is much more persistent. I recently read that copper jewelry helps inflammation and arthritis so decided to purchase a bracelet. My new bracelet was delivered about an hour ago and I opened it and put it on. It was $20 on Amazon but is pure copper. My hand pain has diminished considerably just since I put it on. Praying it last but thought it was worth a try! I don’t have any copper stock but it might be worth a try for you too. ❤️

bettebaldwin | @bettebaldwin | Jun 9 9:28am

I have the same - worse in right arm/hand. My physio is working with me to help release the nerves affected by the shoulder pain so significant in PMR. The ulna, median and radial nerves get pinched and each feed specific fingers in the hand. If all are affected the whole hand and fingers are affected with numbness, tingling, loss of motor control etc. For me - sometimes it’s all and I struggle to pick things up, hold things, type, eat etc. Other times it’s not so bad and maybe just my middle fingers involved. Physio has given me exercises to help. Nerve Glides (you may need to look that up) also help. Both work on he nerves from the shoulder, dii of em the arms and into hands. PS often worse in morning where my sleep position has caused dreadful morning shoulder pain.