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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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Male, 63, second go-round with PMR (first at 55 y/o).
Pain primarily in hands and shoulders. Currently only hand pain, but managing it fairly well.
Tapering prednisone (4mg) @ 1mg/2wks. and injecting Kevzara every other week. Started at 20mg prednisone in early January after 2+ months of substantial pain.
So what's helped my hands besides prednisone...
Occupational therapy gave me various exercises and a hot wax dip. Pretty simple, but it helps. I find myself doing the exercises all the time when hands start bothering me.
Acupuncture has helped a great deal. Hands actually gripping better than I have in years at times, since my first PMR bout -- usually the few days after a session. Not sure it helps with other parts of my body, but it has been notable on my hands.
That's about it, but so far so good. Hands are definitely the first to feel it when tapering. Determined to take it slow through the summer and be off the prednisone.
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1 Reaction@stonewheel I agree! I pray you get some relief!
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1 ReactionI’ve had pmr since 03/2022, initially affecting upper arm’s & shoulders. Started on prednisone, tapered slowly to zero and started Kevzara. I also got severe wrist & finger pain (felt like on fire) and weakness, and eventually was diagnosed with RA. RA is in remission now, but I now have inability to grip or make a fist without finger triggers, which are painful to ‘untrigger’. Pain is worse in middle of night..stinging & burning. Trying physio to help get grip back, it helps. Do people get better with the hands? I’m 64 and I’m trying to avoid hand surgery, the pain can be managed, but I’m not ready for no ability to grip. Advice/experience anyone?
Having read all the replies it seems a tricky one for the medical members of our care management teams to deal with. It might be OA or RA pain in hands but most of us know it feels like something different. It might be linked to carpel tunnel but again - the nerve involvement is from the shoulder where the PMR pain is.
The morning ‘worse’ scenario indicates PMR not OA.
So tricky 😳
I’m just about the listen to a webinar on the new PMR Treatment Protocols to be introduced in UK. I’ll pass on anything interesting 👍