PMR Diet: Foods to eat and avoid

Hi Alan @alanbruce, thank you for starting this new discussion. It is a great topic. Notice I changed the title of your discussion a little to give it a little emphasis. I started looking at diet and lifestyle changes for helping with my autoimmune diseases after reading Dr. Terry Wahls book - The Wahls Protocol. She has an amazing story about how diet helped her MS symptoms - https://terrywahls.com/about/about-terry-wahls/

Here is a good article on Medical News Today that offers some suggestions.
What to eat if you have polymyalgia rheumatica: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321683

I've mostly focused on reducing or eliminating processed meats, sugar, fast food, and fried foods. Have you found anything that helps you?

John, I eat lots of fruit especially berries, vegetables and fish. I limit carbs and meats. I rarely eat fast food and fried foods. At times I eat too many sweets, my wife's fault. I walk nearly every day which I think is a great help.

I know this is only anecdotal, but i “cured” my severe PMR with diet in 40 Days. My CRP went from 26. 3 to .6 in that time. I used the “Paddison Program” for Rheumatoid Arthritis, though I think any whole food plant based diet might have worked, so certainly worth a try, but you need to be strict with NO ADDED OIL. I have been 3 years vegan now with no PMR symptoms, no meds, and never felt better.

Hello @ghsmith, Welcome to Connect. Thanks for sharing what helped you get rid of your PMR symptoms. While I do think diet and lifestyle play a major part in our health I think we still have to be a little careful and do our own research finding reputable information and data. I was not able to find anything other than a rebuttle of sorts and a lot of ad type sites for the Paddison Program. Eating healthier and limiting sugar, alcohol and red meat has helped keep my PMR in remission.

-- The Paddison Program for rheumatoid arthritis: An unproven treatment that provides only the illusion of control: https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/the-paddison-program-for-rheumatoid-arthritis-the-unproven-illusion-of-control/
-- The Paddison Program For Rheumatoid Arthritis: https://www.paddisonprogram.com/

Are you able to share how you found Connect, what you were searching for?

New to blog, but have been reading a lot and I’m wondering if there is diet/ way of eating that can lessen pain even when taking Pred.

Hello @tonituin, Welcome to Connect. My PMR has been in remission since 2018 and I like to think diet and exercise play a large part in holding PMR at bay. If you haven't already seen my post earlier in this discussion, it has a couple of links you might find helpful - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/309728/

Here is some more information that might help --- 3 Strategies for Coping with Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR): https://www.arthritis-health.com/blog/3-strategies-coping-polymyalgia-rheumatica-pmr

Have you done any research or tried any diet related changes to see if they help?

I make Turmeric lattes in the morning and so far I find they are really making a difference both with pain and lowering my CRP. there a lots of recipes online but make sure you add a little bit of black pepper to facilitate the turmeric working I use oat milk and also chocolate oat milk which is delicious

Foods that can be included in this diet are omega 3 fatty acids as they have anti-inflammatory properties which will help to reduce the effect of PMR.

Hi @jennifer488, Welcome to Connect. Thanks for the reminder for the omega 3 fatty acids foods. Have you also been diagnosed with PMR?

I am happy that you cured your PRM in 40 days. I tried to find any independent study that would support such an amazing recovery. I could not. I do not doubt that you cured your PMR. I only wish I could find some independent data about the Paddison Program. I will keep looking for some clinical studies.