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PMR Flare up
Having bad wrist and hand pain. PMR Diagnosed Aug/ 22 starting dosage was 15 mg. Was tapered down to 10 after 2 months. Started having the hand and wrist pain and swelling at 10mg. I am back up to the15 mg. and the pain and swelling is not subsiding. Any suggestions on what to do?
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Welcome @bevletsgethealthy, The hand and wrist pain with swelling could also be carpal tunnel. Is it both hands and wrists that have the pain and swelling? Have you discussed it with your doctor/rheumatologist?
It is both hands. Th hand that bothers me the most had surgery for carpal tunnel just over a year ago.
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2 ReactionsI haven't had the surgery for my carpal tunnel but did have one cortisone shot when it was bothering me a lot on my left hand. When mine was really bad and it made it harder to sleep I found some gloves that immobilized the wrists which helped some. I was also told to try and keep them elevated when I could. It might help to talk with your hand doctor if possible to find out if something else besides the PMR is going on.
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1 ReactionBefore PMR, I had osteoarthritis in my hands with minor inconveniences, but no consistent pain. I have had hand and wrist pain that kept getting worse after PMR was diagnosed. I could barely use my hands due to swelling and pain, especially in the morning. My rheumatologist says it is inflammatory arthritis and put me on hydroxychloroquine in addition to the prednisone. His thinking is there are better meds to deal with arthritis than prednisone, and the hydroxychloroquine will help with the arthritis as well as help with the tapering of prednisone. I was not happy to add another med to the mix, but it seems to be working, and I am tolerating it well. I began this journey in April of this year and came home on 30 mg of prednisone. I am now down to 8 mg and am currently tapering by .5 mg every two weeks. I am hopeful.
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3 ReactionsHi John. Thank you for your reply. Saw the Rheumatologist today. Definitely a Pmr flare up. He has given me a Rx for methotrexate as well as B9 and Furosemide to help with the pain so l can taper off the prednisone. Looking for info from people who have taken this drug. Thanks Bev
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1 ReactionFurosemide is lasix (a diuretic) and B9 is folic acid- which may do some good but not for pain. Methotrexate is an immune modulator which help some but not others. Please let us know how you do.
furosemide is lasi