Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR): Meet others & Share Your Story

John, he was on a dose pack of steroids, 5 days worth which relieved his pain almost completely. After the steroids were completed the pain came back almost immediately. He has tried Motrin which as helped a little. We are grasping at straws for anything else until he sees the rheumatologist at the end of the month. We are trying limiting sugar in the diet but that doesnt seem to do anything. The GP has tried to help but does not feel she is qualified to treat this.

It sounds like he needs to be on prednisone. It would be very difficult to wait another 3 weeks. I have learned to be more assertive. Some ideas would be to call the rheumatologists office and talk to a nurse who could help facilitate an earlier visit, call GP’s office and push for the GP to push the rheumatologist office for an earlier appointment or consider an emergency room who often can push you to a specialist. I am on my 3rd bout of PMR and have tried other methods of relief, but to date only the prednisone has relieved symptoms. Accupuncture, which can stimulate immune system, actually made it worse for me.

Hi, I was diagnosed about 5 days ago, though my symptoms started on May 22. My dr prescribed 15mg prednisone daily in addition to tramadol for pain. Symptoms began in my shoulders and have traveled, 2 days ago it moved into my hips and now I can barely walk. My question is about prednisone. I've noticed a little bit of relief within a few hours of taking it, but not to a major degree. I'd say it takes my symptoms from a 7.5/10 to a 5.5, and it only lasts a few hours. Is this normal? I have other chronic illnesses but this is really awful. I'm 56. I'd appreciate any tips you might have. Thanks!

So much unnecessary suffering! The fact that prednisone eased the pain should be enough evidence for your GP to assume your husband has PMR. The treatment for PMR is prednisone and none of the other solutions you mentioned will help. I would go back to your GP and request a prescription (generally 15-20 mgs. to start) that will last until you see the Rheumatologist. I experienced the same thing with my GP before I was diagnosed by my rheumatologist. I was crippled in pain for six week. My rheumatologist prescribed 15 mgs. and within a few days I was pain-free. He then had me stop prednisone to see if the pain returned which it did. I went back on prednisone and have been slowly tapering for several years. I have difficultly getting below 10 mgs., but keep trying. Please continue to do research and then use that to inform your GP. Your best source for information is from people who have the disease, so this site or healthunlocked.com/PMRGCAuk are helpful.

Thanks so much! This is so helpful, and I'm so grateful for your empathy. My family is having a hard time taking this seriously. I'm seeing my GP tomorrow and am hoping she'll be able to speed up the referral to the rheumatologist.

Thank you for your kind words. I, too, hope your GP can speed up the process AND provide prednisone relief in the interim. Also, it's not uncommon for a disease like PMR (and possibly many other chronic pain diseases) to be misunderstood by friends and family. Even for me, if someone shared they had back pain, I had limited empathy until I experienced back pain myself. Living with PMR for three years has increased my empathy significantly.

Hi @kbuzard, a dramatic response to steroids with a cessation of symptoms is used to confirm the diagnosis of PMR. (Cecil and Goldman's Textbook of Medicine). It's about three weeks until your husband can see the Rheumatologist, Can you ask his physician to keep him on the steroid til then, maybe with a slight taper after a couple of weeks? Was he on prednisone? Since PMR is an autoimmune disorder, you don't want to stimulate the immune system further. I read somewhere that acupuncture can do that. I was not diagnosed for a year and lived with the pain and stiffness of PMR everyday. I purchased an infrared heating pad (Thermotex Platinum - made in Canada) and that relieved my pain while I used it. I moved it to different parts of my body as needed. The last time I saw my Rheumatologist, I told him there is nothing like the pain of PMR. It would ease up a little in the evenings, but the pain and stiffness returned every morning with a vengeance. I feel for him, and you, as you are feeling his pain and trying hard to help him. I wish you the best.

Thank you for the information. I didn't know how PMR was diagnosed so now I know for sure that is what he has. Within 24 hours on steroids he was 100% better!
He has used a heating pad and a TENS unit which helped a little bit.
Hoping to make it thru the next few weeks until he sees the rheumatologist

I agree with kmeikle 100%. I suspect that the gp doesn't want to "muddy" the waters for the rheumatologist, and that's why she doesn't want to give him the prednisone. I have a suggestion. What about asking the gp to order the blood work - at least the CRP and the ESR - before he takes the prednisone she would give him. Because the rheumy would probably want to see the results of those tests before your husband is on prednisone. Perhaps that would make EVERYBODY happy!! (Especially your husband!)

He did have CRP and ESR about 1 month ago and both were slightly elevated. The past few days he has been taking an NSAID am and pm and limiting his sugar intake. This has helped a little so the pain is at least tolerable. Going to contact the GP and discuss this situation with him. We still have 3 weeks to go before seeing the rheumy