HI! I am new to the board. I am 71 and I was diagnosed last June 2nd with PMR.
I had no idea what happened. I woke up that morning and couldn't move my arms or legs. After a struggle and with help from my husband, I was able to get out of bed and took 800 mg of ibuprofen. I tried getting hold of my Dr. but because of Covid, I could only schedule a virtual appt., he sent me for bloodwork and put me on 40 mg of prednisone. When the results came back my SED Rate was 40. He suggested that I see a rheumatologist. Two weeks later I saw a rheumatologist and she weaned me down to 20mg. The pain was gone. I didn't want to do it. I didn't understand the ramifications of the high dosage of prednisone. I was feeling great! I was up at 4am cleaning, washing windows, cleaning out closets, etc. I was scaterbrained, never able to finish a Sentence, it was as if I was high! She (my Dr.) brought me gradually down to 10mg. I have been able to drop it lower to 6mg at present. On January 1st I developed Covid. I received the monoclonal antibody infusion on the 4th. It kept my symptoms to aches and pains. My problem is that I can't stop the aches and pains. It is mostly in my arms, back of my legs, wrists and sometimes fingers. I dont want to up the prednisone. Has anyone had Covid with this PMR? Has it brought back the pain? I am also loosing my hair. I am trying to find out if this a side effect of the PMR, COVID OR THE INFUSION I HAD. I am scheduled to get my first vaccine on April 6th but I am hesitant to do so because I feel I am in antibody overload now. MY rheumatologist never heard of anyone loosing their hair from PMR or steroids. As I am reading through the posts, it looks as if others are having ups and downs with their symptoms.
Do I have to resign myself to the fact that I will always have some form of pain? Thank you for any comments!