Lyme Disease and PMR

Anyone with diagnosed with PMR should see an Ophthalmologist not an Optometrist.

My blood work did NOT show indications of PMR, but my doctor says he now has 2 patients who have PMR but it did not show up from the blood panel.

Welcome @dstuber, You aren't alone being diagnosed with PMR having normal blood panels. From what I've read there are no specific tests that diagnose PMR and there are other conditions that mimic PMR symptoms. Here's an article on the topic:

-- Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) with Normal Values of Both Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) and C-Reactive Protein (CRP) Concentration at the Time of Diagnosis in a Centenarian Man: A Case Report: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6313638/

Have you been diagnosed with PMR?

My Bloodwork also did not give a clear answer. On discussion and examination my specialist diagnosed me. Prednisone is helping the pain .I have been diagnosed with Polymyalgia rheumatica, fibromyalgia and have had arthritis total body for many years. I have learned to cope . Take advantage of better days and rest on not great days. Best of luck with your diagnosis!

Just watched an interesting video on PMR that I think would be beneficial for a lot of us with PMR.

Polymyalgia Rheumatica: A Rheumatologist explains
https://youtu.be/QsHIle6u0BY

Thanks for this! I found it helpful.

I haven't ever heard of a direct link between Lyme and PMR but it wouldn't surprise me if it was the trigger in some cases. I've read that there's a high percentage of people that feel that stress, loss of a loved one, an accident or medical issue was the "final straw" that triggered their PMR. The immune system was already fragile for some reason and needed the final push to trigger the PMR and inflammation. For myself I have absolutely no doubt that a period of very extreme stress triggered my PMR. Even now, 6 years later, I've had a couple periods of high stress that I believe caused flare ups that I controlled by upping the prednisone dose for a short while.

Great video. I also listened to several more she made. I thought the one on the side effects of prednisone was very helpful.

Thank you for your reply, and helping all of us out.
My doctor was actually excited to find another (he has 1 other) who had normal blood panels and had PMR. He gave me 20 mg of pred for 5 days - said if I was better fast, then he would assume it was PMR. I was pain free in 1 day. Dr is very strongly wanting me to get off Pred in 2-3 months. I am trying doses of 5 or 10 mg a day, trying to find my sweet spot. As I read information here, it seems some are on low doses of Pred for years.
I can't find any articles on whether to put heat or cold on the front of my thighs, as the back pain radiates there. As you see in my profile (can you see my profile?) I have had a fusion of L3,4,5.

I've used heating pads on my feet but not on the thighs. Hopefully others may be able to share their experience of hot vs cold. If it were me, I would probably try them one at a time to see if either one helped with the pain.