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How were you diagnosed with PMR ? How are you currently managing?
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: 18 hours ago | Replies (42)Comment receiving replies
Greetings from Dunedin, New Zealand. My name is Carol and I have lived with Polymyalgia Rheumatica since March 2024. I was formally diagnosed by Doctor Susan Grindley (my GP and her colleague Dr Fran Templar) following CRP tests and symptomatic indications including near full bodily stiffness and a pain level of 7.5-8.5/10. My CRP levels showed 150 which shocked me to the core as it was unknown to me. From then on I was put on Predisone 20mgs for nearly four weeks to get the symptoms under control and me pain free. Since then I have been on Predisone attempting to reduce under the guidance of my GP and plus my background as a Retired Nurse with knowledge of both medications and treatment protocols. Since 2024 my quality of life has decreased somewhat with constant pain dealt with by taking "As necessary" Codeine 15mg 1-2 tabs. Frequent attacks of fatigue and tiredness occur. Recently I manifested headaches along one side of my head in the region of the right temporal artery and referred to the Rhumetologist at Dunedin Hospital who ordered a full ultrasound scan of both temporal arteries. The results came back clear (much to my relief) but if anything should arise in the future I will be in the system. I am aged 73 but behave as a young at heart 60. I have days however where l cry and mourn out of frustration at the loss of my quality of life. I am at present recovering from a major break through attack of pain 5-5.5/10.
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@tauca838
Greetings from the USA. I actually did a trans-Pacific cruise to Australia last year. We were supposed to stop Tauranga, NZ but we had to stay in the harbor and couldn't go ashore because of the weather. I heard and could see that New Zealand is beautiful so I would like to return someday. I liked Sydney, Australia and the surrounding area. I want to return to Australia too. Maybe a cruise from Australia with port stops in New Zealand would be nice. The fact that I did the trans-Pacific cruise was monumental. It was the first time that I was in the southern hemisphere.
Very good account of things. I can tell you were a nurse. I can relate to everything you have said. I don't know about the codeine though. Nothing wrong with it but I have never known it to be prescribed as an adjunct to prednisone to control PMR pain.
I like that you are "young at heart." Sometimes I think a 1-10 pain rating scale doesn't capture the "quality of life" aspect of PMR. I used to tell my rheumatologist that I'm only 60 years old but I felt more like a 150 year old person with rigor mortis. On an age related scale that would be off the chart.
People often describe the onset of PMR symptoms as, "I feel like I have suddenly aged." I wasn't screaming in agony which was what a 10 on the 1-10 pain scale is supposed to be. I couldn't lift my arms without a lot of pain in my shoulders. However, my doctor could lift my arms for me and that did not cause that much pain. Passive range of motion was okay --- It was more like I couldn't move myself without a lot of pain.
I'm now 72 and was originally diagnosed with PMR at the age of 52. I took Prednisone daily for 12 years. There was the initial aging effect from PMR. After I took Prednisone, I felt younger than my age of 52 ... maybe 40. That would equate to twelve years younger on the age scale.
The feeling of being young again went away when I developed cardiovascular side effects from Prednisone. Frequent attacks of fatigue and utter exhaustion crept in. My very first somatic complaint other than pain was "exercise intolerance." That was a shame because I used to enjoy anything that required a lot of endurance and stamina.
I used to consider myself "better than average" for my age. Now I'm 72 years old. I feel like an average 72 year old person with more than my fair share of medical problems. Most of my medical problems are attributed to "decades" of prednisone use along with rather severe osteoarthritis. Fortunately, after I switched to a biologic about 7 years ago -- I started to feel a lot better. The last 5 years have been "reasonably good" years since I tapered off prednisone.