New Diagnosis of Polymyalgia Rheumatica (Husband)

I am happy to find this group and would like to know how to manage my PMR which after several months, a week in the hospital and many doctors. My primary care doctor is the one who diagnosed me. I had so many different diagnoses while in the hospital seeing a number of different doctors with different specialties. When released, I was released with a diagnosis of Inflammatory Arthritis. The first Rheumatologist I went to stated that I needed a hip replacement and needed it right away. This without an examination. I did see another one after a few months of frustration and suffering with pain that would not go away. After being diagnosed, I went on Prednisone starting with 15 mg and gradually reducing the amount until I was at 2-1/2 and after being on that mg for about three weeks. I had been doing well and now find that the pain is starting in my left arm and the muscle above my elbow feels like it has electrical current going through it. I am also experiencing problems with other areas of my body. I will be seeing my doctor in the next few weeks and likely start on Prednisone again. While I know there is danger in taking steroids; as a 79 year old female soon to be 80, I will take my chances on side effects to have relief. I too, noticed almost immediate relief after starting the Prednisone. I would be interested in hearing how others are effected with this awful pain and how they get relief without being on Prednisone.

Hi @frane1939, I've had 2 occurrences of PMR which is now in remission. The only relief I had for both occurrences was the prednisone. The first time I was able to taper off in 3 years. Then it came out of remission 6 years later and I was able to taper off of prednisone in about a year and half. I know that exercise of some sort plays a big part in helping control the PMR. I think a healthy diet is also part of controlling it. The key thing for me when tapering off of prednisone was going slow and accepting a small amount of pain during the tapering process....but if it hurt too much I bumped up the dosage to the previous one for a few days. My rheumatologist was a big help with the tapering schedule and tips. I also had some pain in my arm that felt similar to what you described. I'm a side sleeper and chalked a lot of it off to compressing a nerve when laying on the arm or having it under my pillow. I also have carpal tunnel which I think may also cause similar symptoms.

Here's a few ideas that may help...

What to eat if you have polymyalgia rheumatica
-- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321683.php

3 Strategies for Coping with Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR)
-- https://www.arthritis-health.com/blog/3-strategies-coping-polymyalgia-rheumatica-pmr

John

I am fairly new to this disease, diagnosed last December, SED rate 57. After 2 months of prednisone it was down to 26, My doctor wants it below 20. I started on 40mg of prednisone for 3 days and then down to 20mg. I have been tapering down since then. I found that the unpleasant things happening to my body were not just from the disease, but also side effects of the prednisone. I concentrate on diet, no sugar, extremely small amount of processed food, 2 slices of good bakery bread for morning toast, lots of fresh vegetables and fruit (organic) and anti-inflammation herbs and spices. I had no direction on tapering. I went down fairly fast to 10mg. After that I have tapered .5mg periodically, depends how I am doing. Two days ago I started on 3mg., 2 in morning 1 in evening. Morning stiffness and some incipient early morning leg cramping, but nothing unbearable, not like the original pain. Don't know if any of this helps you, as we are all different, especially in what we conceive as "pain." I can live with a certain level of discomfit, If I can stop taking prednisone, which is definitely not good for my eyes and heart. Lots of luck on your research and treatment. Maggie T :).

@noosat1...I too am fairly new to PMR...diagnosed last Oct. been on Prednisone, starting at 20 mgms, then on 30, now down to 10. Could you tell me some of the ‘unpleasant’ things that were/are happening to your body. I have fallen twice and now my balance is ‘the pits’. Can handle the hair loss, the weight gain, personality change, etc., but seem to be in a brain ‘fog’ most of the time! I have glaucoma as well and my vision has deteriorated. All in all, I guess I just want to know if I’m on the right track. John has been very helpful, but I have not been back to him lately. Sorry, John. Will try to do better!!

My name is @beryl and I empathize with everything you are saying it's all very frustrating and it isant like most things that just get better after a while you have to work at it and try to keep your chin up .....attitude helps a lot .....if you can only think to yourself that you are not the only one going through this PMR fight there are lots of us .....that's why it is good to talk to others that are going through the same thing .....well I am not suffering from glaucoma but have GCA in remission .....
John is very good and kind to help us in the way he does and we are all I am sure very grateful to him .....so keep talking it unfreaks you ....ha ha ......so good luck .....Beryl

I also have glaucoma or high eye pressure, that is one of the reasons I want to get off prednisone.. My balance was very shaky, some better now. I am not sure whether it was the disease or the prednisone. The less medicine I had to take the better I felt. The same with that foggy feeling. I have not had weight gain, but not lost the 10lb that I know would help me feel better. I do concentrate on healthy diet, lots of organic vegetables and fruit, preferably heirloom. I eat very little meat, can go weeks without it. I do eat seafood. Also put anti-inflammatory spices and herbs in my food. The worst thing for inflammation is sugar. I found that out when I had my birthday in January and ate pieces of very, sweet, rich cake. .I get fatigued each day (don't know whether that is because of illness or medicine) Sometimes I lie down for a couple of hours in the afternoon, others I just push through it. I am down to 3.5mg taking 2 in morning and the rest in evening. This low dosage, I do find some beginning cramps in a leg during night, but if I get up, take a some water, go back to bed it is gone. In the mornings I have some stiffness, but it gradually disappears. My past staggering around I really believe was due to Prednisone. It is such a nasty medicine, but a necessary one. I hope you get to feeling better and do try to have positive attitude. I set small goals for myself and celebrate, usually a glass of good wine, when I have achieved each one. A very hot shower in the morning with the spray concentrated on my lower back (osteoporosis) helps me. After working at it each morning, I can now touch my toes while in shower. This is such a long reply, hope something in it might be of help. Maggie 🙂

I too have PMR. Have had trouble Weaning off Prednisone. My Rheumatologist added Meloxiczm to help.

Hi! Also new to the group and grateful that there is a place to learn more from others! I am a healthy 67 year old female - active, power walker, pickleball player, enjoy strenuous activity. Other than a strange event in 2017 (Segmental Arterial Mediolysis - an uncommon form of aneurism) and osteoporosis (diagnosed in 2020) I have been very lucky. My symptoms of PMR came on gradually, with stiff shoulders and neck first. I attributed my aches and pains to over exercising and hotel beds (we were on holiday). The day after we got back, I couldn't get out of bed. My CPR was 141. I am on prednisone, 15mg/day. I didn't notice improvement until about 8 days, and my CPR is now 27. I am now at 18 days of meds and feel like I have plateaued. Upon waking I'm not too bad, but start to stiffen up badly an hour later. My best time of day is between 9pm and bed time. Ugh. So my query is regarding safety of exercise. Is it ok to exercise when CPR levels haven't dropped lower?

In your situation with osteoporosis it is a catch 22 if you
don’t do some activity. Stretching, Tai Chi or yoga with low impact should not be a problem as tolerated.
With your high CRP you need to clear activities with your rheumatologist. Ask them about topical diclofenac.
I used calcium antacids and D3/K2 while on steroids.
If you can do easy walks in the sun as allowed it’s also
good for our spirits. You will find good supporting information in this group. Keep moving forward.