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

does anyone take. DEPOMEDROL. 120mg injections? for PMR.

because of osteoporosis, and osteoporosis arthritis , my rheumatologist gives me a injection when the pain gets intolerable

Hi Paul, For most people, on the appropriate dosage of prednisone, PMR symptoms will disappear - or be minimal. Then you will have to lower the dosage of prednisone gradually while managing symptoms. About 30% of people with PMR develop Giant Cell Arteritis, which can cause stroke or blindness, so make sure to ask your doctor what symptoms to be on the lookout for. GCA requires a higher dosage or prednisone, roughly about double the dosage for PMR. Usually if your PMR symptoms increase while you are tapering, the prednisone will be increased, then tapering will be attempted again. It's a balancing act. After taking prednisone for about a year and a half for PMR and GCA, I'm off it now for a few months, with no troubling symptoms (fingers crossed). Good luck!

Very sore and stiff in the am. Manageable by later afternoon. I take Tylenol 1000mg/day on top of now 9mg Prednisone for 30 days (starting to taper). My ESR was 92 and CRP was 7. Best of luck with your doctor appt. Had PMR for about 6 months

I’m so happy you are pain free. I am nowhere near that but taking it a day at a time. Yes every little symptom of something worries me too! Take care.

Thank you, @tsc! This information is helpful and I appreciate your quick response. With the holiday season upon us, my doctor is busy with other cases and not able to keep me on his mind--which I understand.

I hope you can get started on prednisone soon and get some relief. There is nothing like the pain of PMR! Happy holidays!

I'm just having severe pain on my left shoulder back area ..as if you take your right hand and pat yourself on the left back shoulder..it's chronic non stop pain throbbing and is so painful..no redness or swelling I can see or feel..just bad pain. I had a mild pinkish itchy rash on my left lower back over New Years whuch was there fir approximately 2 weeks and couldn't get in to a doctor. Then rash subsided but pain started in shoulder..i have a dermatology appt this Tuesday..Im.hoping someone can diagnose me because I'm I'm severe pain. I read that PMR comes on suddenly ..5 days of severe pain chronic ..so far.

Been in a world of pain since Dec. 4. Had symptoms of stiffness as much as two years before. Problem is primary care doctor’s lack of knowledge about prednisone. She told me to take 60 mg for a week then 40 and on down, told her that was too much. She said it was a small amount but said I could try 20 mg for 10 days and then stop. Said tapering wasn’t necessary for that little prednisone. I have touched it out until I can see a rheumatologist. There are wait times from four months to two years, Right now am using arthritis Tylenol pretty much round the clock. Time to get a new primary doc? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

When my PMR was active, I had pain in both shoulder areas and not just one side but you are right the PMR can come on quickly. My second occurrence did come almost overnight but the first time my PMR gradually came over several weeks along with gout in my right foot. I'm not sure a dermatologist knows much about PMR. I would try to get an appointment with a rheumatologist if possible. If you want to know more about PMR, there are some good videos in a discussion here:
-- Educational Conferences for PMR/GCA?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/educational-conference/

Thank you so much..I'm somewhat despondent with this chronic pain..just happened to have a dermatology appt for a rare autoimmune dx I received 2 months ago thar attacks hair follicles LPP and FFA. Thought I had shingles last week but was never confirmed bc of holiday weekend ..no Dr available..not sure if this is PMR or post herpetic neuralgia ..either way I'll see a rheumatologist of its PMR..thanks again and good luck