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Treating PMR with Prednisone and Hydroxychloroquine
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Sep 5 5:10pm | Replies (86)Comment receiving replies
I want to post my most recent experience with hydroxycholoquine (H) to reduce my prednisone (P) use. I have posted before on this subject, but here is more information and there is one question that I have that I would like any input on. A brief review. I have been on and off P for about 30 years due to PMR. When I was diagnosed 30 years ago, I had never heard of PMR, yet when I went to well respected and education rheumatologist I recited the symptoms of PMR as if I read it from a text book. basically pain for no reason in my shoulder girdle and hip girdle and fatigue. Based on my history the MD Rx P and withing 6 hours I was a new man. I was able to reduce P to zero, but about a year later I got PMR symptoms again. I know the symptoms very well and every time P immediately solved my problem. For reasons other than PMR I had to increase my P to 10mg and my rheumatologist wanted to reduce P and started H 200 mg 2X/d. Due to sleep problems I reduced H to 200 mg in the morning. and have reduced P from 10 to 7.5 to 5 and now 4 mg. I have reduced P from 10 to 0 mg maybe 15 times, but never so easily. Often in the past I would have to up my P since when I reduced it I started to have PMR pain again. Now my question: I am wondering since it is so easy to reduce P am I in remission? My rheumatologist told me that PMR usually lasts 2 years. Yes, I know I told you I have had it for 30 years. Do 78 yo go into remission? In the past 30 years I have see 5 rheumatologist and 2 of them question if I have PMR even though P has always been the magic bullet, that is immediate relief.
Replies to "I want to post my most recent experience with hydroxycholoquine (H) to reduce my prednisone (P)..."
My rheumatologist put me on Prednisone and Hydroxychloroquine for PMR 3-1/2 years ago. After a few flareups I took my last Prednisone 5 days ago. So far so good. A little stiffness in my right shoulder when trying to get out of bed,, but it dissipates after I'm up.. I'm holding my breath every morning hoping the symptoms don't come back. For an 81 year old I figure I'm doing okay.
30 years is encouraging, I started 7 years ago at 55 and figured I wouldn’t last anywhere near 30 years taking Pred. I too take HQC on and off, I really don’t think it does much good for PMR but with Covid around I think it might help with that.
PMR seems like it is very hard to diagnose. I'm not sure where you are located, but have you tried getting an appointment with a well known hospital, like Mayo Clinic, University of Pennsylvania Hospital (UPenn - Perelman Center), etc.? I just had my appointment at UPenn. It did take 6 1/2 months to get one at the time, however, it seems other people have gotten an appointment within 2 weeks. The doctor I had was wonderful, and very open minded. He is exploring every possibility with my symptoms and sending me to different departments within the hospital, further extensive testing, recommended aqua therapy, etc. He was probably one of the best doctors I have been to and also has access to explore various options.
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Well, my second occurrence of PMR went into remission about 5+ years ago and I'm now 80 years old hoping it never comes back. I was on prednisone for 18 months for the second occurrence and that started after 6 years of being in remission. My first time with PMR took 3 and half years to taper off of prednisone. I think I did much better the second time around because I learned more about the condition and what I could do to live a better lifestyle to help manage the PMR.