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Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR): Meet others & Share Your Story
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Nov 18 7:12pm | Replies (1907)Comment receiving replies
I think there are too many variables for how long PMR normally lasts. My experience matches up with info from the Arthritis Foundation:
"It typically develops by age 70 and is rarely seen in people younger than 50. PMR may last from one to five years; however, it varies from person to person. Approximately 15 percent of people with PMR develop a potentially dangerous condition called giant cell arteritis."
--- Polymyalgia Rheumatica - Arthritis Foundation: https://www.arthritis.org/diseases/polymyalgia-rheumatica.
My first occurrence of PMR came at age 64 and lasted 3 and half years until I was able to taper off. My second occurrence came at age 73 and lasted one and a half years. I credit the shorter visit the second time around with PMR with lifestyle changes I made, more exercise, eating healthier, eliminating most processed foods and sugar. I do still have my treats but not like the old days.
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Thanks for the post. I am new to PMR having contracted it at 78, but have long noted that sugar intake increases inflammation. Having recently lost my husband, I took to self comfort with poor eating habits, and am in the process of revering that.
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One variable in your case was your relapse. The study doesn't define what it means by "permanent discontinuation." Would they consider your experience two separate occurrences of PMR? Maybe your prednisone treatment wound be counted as being permanently discontinued after 10 years including both your first and second occurrence.
My sense of humor had a morbid twist to it. My thought was "permanent discontinuation" was a horrible way to say it because it suggested everyone in the study died.
My excuse for taking prednisone for 13 years was multiple autoimmune conditions along with other medical problems. I would have to be excluded from the study because of too many variables even though my primary diagnosis was PMR.
I think there was some age bias that crept into my treatment. My rheumatologist said I was "too young" to take prednisone for the rest of my life. The comment did give me some hope that I would still get off prednisone after being diagnosed with PMR at the age of 52 and treated primarily with prednisone until I was 65.