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PMR's effect on my hands
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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@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.
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.
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1 ReactionI'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.
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.
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2 Reactions@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.