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Are painful swollen hands and fingers a PMR flare?
I got off prednisone for PMR after almost 3 years in April. In February I had woken with swollen painful hands and fingers. Because of how I sleep it was diagnosed unseen as carpal tunnel. Finally saw my rheumatologist and she thinks it could be a PMR flare,didn’t look like carpal tunnel. That makes sense to me but she has put me back on only 3mg. of prednisone. I have no strength in my hands and can’t make a fist. Very limited in what I’m able to do.
When first diagnosed with PMR and in terrible pain this same rheumatologist started me on 5mg. of prednisone which did nothing.
Finall got up to 20mg. And got some relief.
Has anyone else had issues with your hands during or after being on prednisone for PMR? I also just found out there is osteoarthritis in my hands.
Thanks!
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Have you had any discussion with your rheumatologist regarding the concern that your PMR is progressing to Rheumatoid Arthritis? That may be a good conversation to have if your hands and wrists continue to be painful.
I had wrist and hand pains develop while tapering when I got down to about 7. They continued off and on until I was down below 2. The diagnosis (X-ray) was osteoarthritis that had until then been kept in check (no pain) before PMR by my natural sufficient production of cortisol.
I have been off prednisone now for over two months…no pains. Evidently the cortisol factories are back in production.
Hang in there. Try to keep reducing. If you can deal with some pain while your adrenals resume production, everything might clear up. Otherwise you will be forever reluctant to part with the prednisone. Good luck.