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Hello @whyohwhy, I would like to add my welcome to Connect along with @dadcue and others. I was in my late 50s when my first round with PMR came and the pain came on gradually over a month in the later part of the year so I kept putting off going to the doctor until I finally had no choice and wasn't able to walk and the pain was awful. I was fortunate that I got a phone referral and my primary care setup an appointment with a rheumatologist. He diagnosed me with PMR late morning and I had a follow-up appoint with him in the afternoon. I picked up my RX at the Mayo pharmacy and went to lunch and took my first 20 mg dose of prednisone. By the time my 2pm appointment came up I was walking again and pretty much pain free. I did struggle tapering off the first time and took 3 and half years to do it and still have little to no pain when I was off prednisone. I'm 80 now approaching 81 in April and I hope I never get another visit. After my second time with PMR 6 years later I changed my lifestyle - healthier eating, less sugar and inflammatory foods and more exercise and was able to taper off of prednisone in 1-1/2 years. My PMR has been in remission going on 6 years now so I hope I don't see it again.
You might find the following discussion helpful for managing the symptoms:
--- PMR Dosages and Managing Symptoms: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/pmr-dosages/.
Have you started a treatment yet?
Replies to "Hello @whyohwhy, I would like to add my welcome to Connect along with @dadcue and others...."
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My apologies to lanieg@lanieg for jumping on her post and changing her subject, I have NEVER engaged in any support group much less on the internet.
Consequently, I'm bad at the protocol. I learn fast, however.
Thanks to John and Dadcue for feedback.
OK to answer some questions. Two ER test results. CRP 176.38. Sed rate 29.
Background: History of back issues. Like many others have DDD (degenerative disc disease)...L1-S1 a mess. I can live with that. In Sept 22, had a steroid injection at L3 which provided relief through Jan 23. During that time I began running again...up to 2miles/d. I had been running 5mpd every other day 2-3 yrs. prior. Felt good. But then back flared up again. Went back to orthopaed...long story ended up with RFA (ablation on L3,4,5) with only moderate success Brings the story to Sept of 23, when I reinvested in the orthopedic course. No surgery was outcome of all visits. So live with it. That I could.
Enter 12/3 ER visit. Long journey to get to PMR, eh?
Questions:
1. ER Dr. told wife that he thought I had PMR. I have nothing in writing.
2. ER Dr. administered dilauded for pain
3. ER Dr. told me to see my PCP in 2d.
4. Hell to get in to PCP given pain. Did within 2d. Got prednisone 20mg. Didn't do shit...got another 5mg.
5. Now 1 mo in and everyday is a new adventure...as lanieg said...some good, some bad.
That's my story.