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← Return to PMR and Methotrexate
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Hello- I was diagnosed with PMR 12/2021 by my Primary care provider. She started me on 15mg of Predisone daily and after 6 month reduced to 10mg. Sometime summer of 2022 taper to 7mg and stayed there until I was referred to a Rheumatologist, Sept 2022. He started me on Hydroxychloroquine 200 mg twice a day. Then in November 2022 he added Methotrexiate 20mg weekly, continued with 7mg of prednisone. Feb 2023 began to reduce Predisone by 1mg a week and now I’m off Pred and still on the other two. My ESR is high normal and CRP still elevated. The rheumatologist is not convinced I have PMR but Inflammatory Polyarthritis. I can tell you that I am not convinced that the other two meds are helping but I can say my pain score on the predensone (2mg) and the other two drugs was about a .5 out of 10. Now w/o Predisone for about 5 days it is at a 3. I do take extra strength Tylenol which helps.
I will continue with the hydroxycloraquine and methrotrexate but I’m not sure why I need both. If someone can shed some light on that subject, I would appreciate it.
Thanks!
Maj
Replies to "Hello- I was diagnosed with PMR 12/2021 by my Primary care provider. She started me on..."
I was diagnosed with PMR in April 2022 at age 78. I had a mild case of COVID in late Dec. 2021 and never felt like my normal self after that. I was fatigued, lost my appetite, lost weight, had a low-grade fever and night sweats. This lasted for about three months and then the muscle aches in my triceps, hamstrings began. I saw my PCP due to the aches, and she wanted more tests done. The next morning I could not get out of bed due to the pain. The pain felt like broken glass in all of my muscles. I was diagnosed with PMR in the emergency room. Like you, my diagnosis was changed by my rheumatologist about 5 months later to Inflammatory Polyarthritis. I have tapered the prednisone to 5 mg and am tapering by .5 mg every two weeks. I have been on hydroxychloroquine since the Inflammatory Polyarthritis diagnosis. I am getting my stamina back somewhat, and have aching whenever I am still for a short time, but it goes away when I move. The arthritis in my hands is my biggest issue right now. I have been to hand therapy and have found compression gloves worn at night help with swelling and agility of my fingers. I walk for at least 30 minutes every day and do regular exercises provided by physical therapy. It is hard to believe that I was so active and fit one year ago and now have to pace myself to maintain my stamina. The sun is finally shining in Northern California and I am hopeful. Best to you.
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Hi Maj @majryan61, It's good to learn as much as you can about the PMR condition. Mine is currently in remission but I've had two previous occurrences of PMR. Here are a couple of articles that might be helpful:
--- Diseases that mimic polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR):
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/diseases-that-mimic-polymyalgia-rheumatica
--- Treat-to-target recommendations in giant cell arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica: https://ard.bmj.com/content/early/2023/02/23/ard-2022-223429