1. < Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR)
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PMR-GCA

Posted by chitown26 @chitown26, Sep 2 6:16am

I started this journey about one year ago my first seven months were all issues with my legs. It was always both flakes same spots, but about every three weeks it moved to another area. It was stiffness at times felt like rubber bands were restricting the movement, the knees were the worst. I had to literally manually bent them or unbend them. Went to the doctor over seven months getting blood work monthly and different MRIs to figure it out. It wasn’t until the balance issues and losing weight. They did a CAT scan followed up by another CAT scan and then a CAT scan to diagnose GCA. I started immediately and 60mg prednisone in February and ACTEMRA in March. The good news is last pet scan showed no inflammation in all five areas of GCA. subclavian carotid, aorta, femoral and iliac. But that being said my head is just not right, don’t trust my balance. Since I had balance issues before the prednisone am I correct in thinking this is the PMR?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) Support Group.

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chitown26 | @chitown26 | Sep 2 6:18am

Sorry PMR-Gca and early symptoms mostly legs

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Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Sep 2 7:26am

Hello @chitown26, welcome to Connect. You will notice that we changed the title of your discussion for you. I've had PMR twice but don't have any experience with GCA. GCA was always on my mind though as my doctor was always asking me if I had any of the GCA symptoms - vision, head/temple pain, etc.. There is another discussion started by @dadcue that you might find helpful for providing some answers for questions you have.
-- Is progress being made in understanding PMR/GCA?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/is-progress-being-made-in-understanding-pmrgca/
You might find it helpful to scan through the many different discussions on GCA. Here's a search with links to the discussions - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/discussions/.

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seniormed | @seniormed | Sep 2 8:25am

PMR doesn’t usually cause balance issues unless there
are muscle weakness or mechanical restrictions issues
that should resolve in remission.
GCA is known to affect balance organs.
Have you checked blood pressure sitting and standing.?
Orthostatic hypotension can result from autoimmune damage as well.

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