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Has anyone had steroid shots in their shoulders for PMR?
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: 21 hours ago | Replies (33)Comment receiving replies
Eating an anti-inflammatory diet has helped me as well. Sugar is bad news. I have been dealing with PMR for 10 months. An ER doctor started me out on 40 mg. Rheumatologist said I never should’ve been put on such a high dose and lowered me to 20. She currently wants me at 5 mg and I can’t move at five.. Doing good at 6 1/4. For three months I was put on methotrexate and that did not work for me. They now have me on Kevzara, so far it is not relieving the PMR symptoms. The entire year I have had left shoulder pain that has never completely went away. Over the past few months, had different shoulder pain in the top of my shoulder versus the mid shoulder. Rheumatologist was telling me all along that the pain was due to PMR, but recently suggested an orthopedic, now thinking its something mechanical. Went to the orthopedic walk-in clinic and they gave me a Cortizone shot in my upper shoulder just a few days ago. Feeling much better all over my entire body. It’s interesting to hear so many people say they had shoulder pain and then develop PMR. I wonder if there is a correlation there. The orthopedic doctor told me I have osteoarthritis in my shoulder and until I get tired of the pain and the shots. I should look forward to shoulder replacement. I just turned 61. I wanted to mention that I have found strangely that taking my prednisone at bedtime works best for me. I take it about 9 o’clock at night. I’ve tried splitting it that didn’t work for me, both times I ended up back, just taking it once. I wake up stiff for a few hours, take a couple of arthritis. Tylenol’s prior to getting the shot. I was doing that twice a day. So far this Cortizone shot seems to be helping me a great deal. I’ve always wanted to know if anybody ever found out what their underlying cause of PMR is. I wish you all the best, this is an awful experience. Just a year ago I was walking 5 miles, doing yoga every day, I want my life back. I do swim a couple times a week and that is my most favorite thing to do. It allows me to move and no other way I still walk just not as much, recently signed myself up for a 5K walk. Wish me luck.
Replies to "@boomermeg Eating an anti-inflammatory diet has helped me as well. Sugar is bad news. I have..."
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@gin3
One big caution re shoulder surgery. You're younger than I am but my NP (she's great and very knowledgeable) said she's seen so many bad outcomes from shoulder surgery on older people. You're more than 10 years younger than me, but she said that as we are older and hsve thinner tendons, muscles skin etc, the repair can tear after surgery and then you're even worse off. PT, swimming, maybe Acupuncture and anything else that's non-invasive may be worth considering before you ever think about surgery. Believe me, I know how hard it is to tolerate chronic pain. I've had it for at least 15 years or more. 2 neck fusions and a lot of Osteoarthritis etc etc etc along with sleep apnea. But, finding other means if at all possible would be my suggestion. Sometimes we end up worse off, or at least with a whole other set of problems after surgery!!
As for PMR and shoulders, it definitely does have a huge component in PMR. I found a diagram on the Cleveland clinic website with good article too. There's others out there too. One showed the Upper body "girdle" and hip area "girdle"
highlighted to show us where most symptoms are.
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/25215-polymyalgia-rheumatica
They did ultrasound of my shoulders to confirm the PMR diagnosis so it definitely is key.
Something about the bursa inflammation.
I've read a lot and continue to search info online every time a question comes to my mind so I keep learning. Also, this support group is invaluable for supporting eachother and information.
My sleep isn't good now with the 20mg and now going to try 25mg to resolve last symptoms and pain on left side and upper back but if doesn't work in 2 weeks she wants imaging of shoulder to look for other injury. I'm going to try switching from Magnesium Citrate to Magnesium Glycinate to see if it helps. Melatonin can raise our glucose more than Prednisone already does so that's out for me.
PMR still isn't well understood from what I've read. We're dealing with a very serious disease and each person's symptoms can be different and in different degrees of pain intensity etc. Mine was brutal and incessant. That's best way I can describe it. I do want to get down on Prednisone ASAP because I feel it affecting me in many ways. My eyes at 20mg are very sensitive and already have very strong RX glasses. Having sleep apnea already has me tired so the added fatigue makes me want to chug caffeine in the am and early day but I've read that's not such a great idea due to the cortisol effects of Prednisone and high blood pressure. But I have to have some in the am. I wait at least an hour after Prednisone before drinking more than a sip or two because I read to wait. Can't remember why right now. Anyway, I hope you feel better soon too and get more relief and can get off Prednisone too. From everything I've read here in this group, it's not a fun process to say the least.
May God help us all as we try to help eachother and ourselves. Blessings.