1. < Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR)

PMR and Inflammation Markers

Posted by lisa7707 @lisa7707, May 2, 2023

I was diagnosed with PMR in December and placed on prednisone which took most of my pain away. Saw rheum for first time in early March and she had me split dose the pred and my residual morning stiffness disappeared but my CRP is still climbing. When will this stop? Rheum added methotrexate which I don’t have many issues with other than fatigue and headache for a day or so. Don’t have labs for another week. BTW rheum said it was RA likely more than PMR because I had hand symptoms- all of my RA tests are negative so she has diagnosed me with inflammatory arthritis. Sorry for long post

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) Support Group.

sharonanng | @sharonanng | May 2, 2023

I have had a similar experience. My RA tests are also negative. My rheumatologist changed my diagnosis from PMR to inflammatory polyarthritis and put me on hydroxychloroquine. I am down to 4 mg of prednisone, still have considerable hand issues and have seen a hand therapist which seems to have helped somewhat. My muscle aches and stiffness are minor and short-lived. An interesting journey.
A side note, I notice there are fewer PMR posts lately. I am interested to know if PMR activity on this site earlier was due to both the COVID vaccinations and COVID infections. Now that COVID is waning, are there fewer cases of PMR and other inflammatory conditions?

REPLY
4 replies
lisa7707 | @lisa7707 | May 2, 2023
In reply to @sharonanng "I have had a similar experience. My RA tests are also negative. My rheumatologist changed my..." + (show)
@sharonanng

I have had a similar experience. My RA tests are also negative. My rheumatologist changed my diagnosis from PMR to inflammatory polyarthritis and put me on hydroxychloroquine. I am down to 4 mg of prednisone, still have considerable hand issues and have seen a hand therapist which seems to have helped somewhat. My muscle aches and stiffness are minor and short-lived. An interesting journey.
A side note, I notice there are fewer PMR posts lately. I am interested to know if PMR activity on this site earlier was due to both the COVID vaccinations and COVID infections. Now that COVID is waning, are there fewer cases of PMR and other inflammatory conditions?

Jump to this post

Mine started after COVID diagnosis…..

REPLY
12345chris | @12345chris | May 2, 2023
In reply to @sharonanng "I have had a similar experience. My RA tests are also negative. My rheumatologist changed my..." + (show)
@sharonanng

I have had a similar experience. My RA tests are also negative. My rheumatologist changed my diagnosis from PMR to inflammatory polyarthritis and put me on hydroxychloroquine. I am down to 4 mg of prednisone, still have considerable hand issues and have seen a hand therapist which seems to have helped somewhat. My muscle aches and stiffness are minor and short-lived. An interesting journey.
A side note, I notice there are fewer PMR posts lately. I am interested to know if PMR activity on this site earlier was due to both the COVID vaccinations and COVID infections. Now that COVID is waning, are there fewer cases of PMR and other inflammatory conditions?

Jump to this post

Hi - there is a link.between Ccvid d Vaccine and PMR i am convinced. My PMR startef aftet my 4th.Booster altjough it took 5 monthd to diagnosre
. As i said in a previous post i caught Covid in April..My PMR was st it worst and for the worst 2 days of having Covid my symptoms almost disapperaed.
My viee is that my Immune Sysytem attackef the Covid not the effect of PMR in those 2 days. Once Covid subsided the PMR paim and stiffness returned. Now on Predistone 15mg I am 99% improved. Just ready to start the weaning off journey so fingers crossed !

REPLY
gailg | @gailg | May 3, 2023

Doctors "think" I may have PMR, nearly 3 years into it still negative markers but all the other symptoms are spot on. Since negative markers they won't prescribe prednisone. Just want to say, the pain/weakness progressed from hips/thighs, to shoulders/arms, and onto hands. I lost strength in my hands and they were very painful. The doctors tried to tell me it was Carpal Tunnel but I knew it wasn't. My hands are now pretty much Ok but I've had a relapse in hips/thighs. I live on Ibuprofen and really question what the doctors really know about this.

REPLY
3 replies
sharonanng | @sharonanng | May 3, 2023

Doctors do a lot of guessing!

REPLY
lisa7707 | @lisa7707 | May 3, 2023

When do inflammation markers go down though while on meds. Obviously my actual question got mixed in with all my history. Thanks

REPLY
4 replies
suemce | @suemce | May 3, 2023
In reply to @lisa7707 "When do inflammation markers go down though while on meds. Obviously my actual question got mixed..." + (show)
@lisa7707

When do inflammation markers go down though while on meds. Obviously my actual question got mixed in with all my history. Thanks

Jump to this post

My CRP went down within the 1st 3 months of Prednisone. I was diagnosed Feb 2020 by my PCP and started on 15 mg of Prednisone. I did not have any Covid vaccines before being dx. I am now down to 1 mg and do have more pain in hips and some shoulder but am able to manage that with Tylenol so far.

REPLY
1 reply
lisa7707 | @lisa7707 | May 3, 2023
In reply to @suemce "My CRP went down within the 1st 3 months of Prednisone. I was diagnosed Feb 2020..." + (show)
@suemce

My CRP went down within the 1st 3 months of Prednisone. I was diagnosed Feb 2020 by my PCP and started on 15 mg of Prednisone. I did not have any Covid vaccines before being dx. I am now down to 1 mg and do have more pain in hips and some shoulder but am able to manage that with Tylenol so far.

Jump to this post

This is my concern. My sed-rate went to normal after starting prednisone but I started it in January and CRP is climbing (13, 18, 23). I started Methotrexate 3 weeks ago and have blood work next week so hoping that helps. This isn’t a COVID question

REPLY
annettetompkins | @annettetompkins | May 3, 2023
In reply to @sharonanng "I have had a similar experience. My RA tests are also negative. My rheumatologist changed my..." + (show)
@sharonanng

I have had a similar experience. My RA tests are also negative. My rheumatologist changed my diagnosis from PMR to inflammatory polyarthritis and put me on hydroxychloroquine. I am down to 4 mg of prednisone, still have considerable hand issues and have seen a hand therapist which seems to have helped somewhat. My muscle aches and stiffness are minor and short-lived. An interesting journey.
A side note, I notice there are fewer PMR posts lately. I am interested to know if PMR activity on this site earlier was due to both the COVID vaccinations and COVID infections. Now that COVID is waning, are there fewer cases of PMR and other inflammatory conditions?

Jump to this post

I am absolutely convinced that my extremely mild bout of covid triggered my PMR in November 2021. This was after two vaccinations in the spring, but then everyone around me was getting covid after being fully vaccinated and boostered. I am finally down to 1 mg Prednisone with just a little stiffness and fatigue. After so many months, you begin to forget how it felt to be normal. I think that eventually we will discover there is a link between covid and PMR and probably other diseases as well. If you are at 4 mg now, I would urge you to taper slowly, 1/2 mg at a time. Take care.

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.