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Prednisone only mildly helpful for my PMR, is this common?
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: May 29, 2023 | Replies (26)Comment receiving replies
Seems such a vague illness. One size doesn’t fit all. Fortunately my dr was familiar with it so I got diagnosed straight away. I’ve been on prednisone for six weeks. Think it has helped a bit but every morning I am so stiff. Improves by mid morning. All other conditions like RA discounted. I am also don’t have raised blood markers but my specialist says 5% of people don’t. So I am just continuing. Had an unusual day recently where I had far more coffee than usual (4 times usual) and was much worse next day. My diet is healthy but now v careful.
Replies to "Seems such a vague illness. One size doesn’t fit all. Fortunately my dr was familiar with..."
Spread awareness as much as you can -- my cousin had PMR about 4 yrs ago ! he is a male and 10 yrs older , responded very well , no relapse! When i googled 'symmetrical pain in 4 limbs " PMR pops up as it should - in fact take a look at this blurb when i was on Yale rheumatology website yesterday :
BTW I've had two negative Lyme tests to be sure !
"Lisa Sanders, M.D. ’97, HS ’00, assistant clinical professor of medicine: she writes the monthly “Diagnosis” column in theNew York Times Magazine.
Now Sanders has written a book that combines the medical sleuthing of “Diagnosis” and House with an examination of the state of diagnostic skills among contemporary physicians....
With each story of a difficult diagnosis, Sanders expands on the issues that made it so. Recurrent chest pain and weakness in a young man. A heart attack? It turns out to be pernicious anemia. A woman with long-term weakness and joint pain. “Chronic” Lyme disease? No—polymyalgia rheumatica".
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Welcome @andos16, You are right, PMR is definitely not a one size fit all condition. It is good that your doctor was familiar with it. I had a referral to a Mayo rheumatologist for my diagnosis. Stiffness is fairly normal in the morning even when things are going well with PMR tapering. There is another discussion you might find helpful:
--- PMR Dosages and Managing Symptoms: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/pmr-dosages/
I found that mild exercise without overdoing it was key for helping with my PMR, along with eating better. Do you try to exercise or walk as part of your daily routine?