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Are painful swollen hands and fingers a PMR flare?
I got off prednisone for PMR after almost 3 years in April. In February I had woken with swollen painful hands and fingers. Because of how I sleep it was diagnosed unseen as carpal tunnel. Finally saw my rheumatologist and she thinks it could be a PMR flare,didn’t look like carpal tunnel. That makes sense to me but she has put me back on only 3mg. of prednisone. I have no strength in my hands and can’t make a fist. Very limited in what I’m able to do.
When first diagnosed with PMR and in terrible pain this same rheumatologist started me on 5mg. of prednisone which did nothing.
Finall got up to 20mg. And got some relief.
Has anyone else had issues with your hands during or after being on prednisone for PMR? I also just found out there is osteoarthritis in my hands.
Thanks!
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Welcome @kevinburdick1 and @rachel77, Happy to see that you both found Connect and hoping you will find some answers to help you manage PMR, GCA and all of it's autoimmune buddies. Dealing with the symptoms while trying to taper off of prednisone can be difficult to say the least but you are not alone and hopefully can connect with others to learn what has helped them.
Have you seen this discussion started by @dadcue? It has been helpful for a lot of members.
-- How to Slowly and Safely Taper Off Prednisone but ... no set rules.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/how-to-slowly-and-safely-taper-off-prednisone-but-no-set-rules/
Another good one to learn more about biologic medications that you may want to discuss with your doctor if you are dealing with other autoimmune conditions.
-- Biologic Medications-Video about how to decide what is right for you.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/biologic-medications-video-about-how-to-decide-if-it-is-right-for-you/
A year and a half after successfully tapering off prednisone, I sanded and sealed another portion of my deck and went into a flare. Instead of my shoulders and hips, it was my knees and hands, which swelled up and became useless. The rheumatologist said I had a rare form of PMR called RS3PE. If you Google that, that’s what my hands looked like. He put me on 15 mg of prednisone and the swelling and stiffness are almost gone 3 weeks later. Now I have to taper again… Good luck!
Yes. I've had swollen hands since being off prednisone since the end of July. Was off of it for nearly two weeks, but noticed pain and stiffness gradually returning. I'm also on my 9th week of methotrexate, so I wanted to see how well I'd do without the prednisone. My hands were so swollen and a little red. No grip strength. Could not write. Could not make a fist. My wrists hurt. My elbows hurt. Over this past weekend, I had to use some leftover prednisone, it was so bad. Had enough for 3 days at 20mg. By Monday, the swelling was down and I felt much better. Messaged my doctor through the patient portal about the problem. She called in a new prescription for prednisone. I'm grateful for the relief but hate to think that I may have to rely on prednisone to have my hands back.
My feet swelled up too over this same time period. It was so bad I felt like I could not walk short distances. I had to ice them down to relieve the pain. Again, after the prednisone dose, the swelling subsided.
Thank you. Would like to know if anyone else has had these problems after long term steroids?
My inflammation markers are normal and am I correct in thinking my aches and pains will get better once my body adjusts and produces its own cortisol?