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How many of you are on your second flare-up?
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Oct 7, 2023 | Replies (18)Comment receiving replies
My spouse who is 84 was diagnosed with PMR in November of 2022. He stared on 15mg of prednisone. He tapered off in mid May. He was symptom free for about 10 days. Mild symptoms returned and he went back on 5mg, then 10 mg for 10 days. When he was down to 2.5 mg in July, mild pain began to return. We went back up to 5mg then and are now down to 1mg daily with absolutely no symptoms. This week he had SED and CRP tests that were still mildly elevated even though he has no symptoms. SED is 27 and CRP is 0.96. We are staying on 1mg for a couple more weeks and then repeating the labs. Do inflammatory markers always return to normal, if you are in complete remission from PMR.
Replies to "My spouse who is 84 was diagnosed with PMR in November of 2022. He stared on..."
I have had PMR 15 times over 30 years. My blood work has always been normal.
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Welcome @mountainbikergirl, That's a good question but I'm not sure there is a clear answer. I do know that you can have PMR and also have normal SED and CRP levels.
"Can you have polymyalgia with a normal ESR and CRP?
The diagnosis of PMR is possible, even if ESR and CRP have not increased. US and 18-FDG PET/CT evaluations might increase diagnostic rates of ESR and CRP negative PMR. A rigorous diagnostic work-up and a long follow-up (one year, as minimum) are mandatory to avoid mistakes."
--- Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) with Normal Values of Both Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) and C-Reactive Protein (CRP) Concentration at the Time of Diagnosis in a Centenarian Man: A Case Report: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6313638/.
I do think that tapering off of prednisone slowly is key to remission. My first time took 3 and half years, second time took 1 and half years to taper off. What helped me the second time around was making a few lifestyle changes, eating healthier, less sugar and inflammatory foods along with a little more exercise. There is another discussion which might be helpful:
--- PMR Diet: Foods to eat and avoid: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/diet-and-pmr/.
Does your husband keep a daily log to track his level of pain and dose of prednisone?