Connect
Newly diagnosed and confused about the goal
I am newly diagnosed PMR by my primary doctor. My symptoms started slowly with stiffness and pain in my hamstring area of my left leg only. Over a 3 month period of time the stiffness, pain, and feeling like the muscle would just snap in 2 spread to both legs and lower buttocks area, then to both hip girdle area. My doctor thought I might have sciatica and sent me to PT and an X-ray. X-ray showed L5. l4 area usual arthritic changes in a 73 year old body. PT made me feel better overall physically, but did nothing for the pain. Doctor then did blood work which showed protein reactive score of 17. Put me on 15 mg of prednisone. I have only been on it for 9 days. Some ever so slight improvement in morning pain, it doesn’t last quite as long as before medication, but still uncomfortable. If the leg pain is better the hip pain seems worse.
Is the goal of the prednisone to eliminate the pain or just lessen it? How long should I wait before saying although better the pain isn’t all that much better. I am not sure how to measure this. I am happy for any level of pain relief but was hoping for something better than what I am currently experiencing. I am expecting too much too soon?
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) Support Group.
Connect
Welcome to a world of variation and unknowns.
Google PMR…lots to learn abt it. As far as I can tell from my experience, There’s no one path. We are all different, usually over 70 and very active prior to onset.
Start with a daily journal of pain level, meds and activities. Useful for many reasons.
Find a Rehumatologist, if you have not done so already, their specialty. BTW: SED rate is important too.
Scream at your Dr abt pain levels…..your journal will be helpful for support.
My UNEDUCATED guess is the prednisone is too low, BUT TALK TO YOUR DR.
Follow the PMR support group on this blog. Ask anything and everything……nothing is off limits.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
4 ReactionsMy rheumatologist told me the goal was to get pain free and back to my normal activities, like gardening. 15mg barely touched it. It took 25mg to get pain free. That was 8 months ago and I'm now down to 9mg. Be sure you are taking lots of vitamin D! If D is low you have a greater chance of a flare. I had a prednisone induced deficiency and that set me back quite a bit. PMR isn't fun, isn't fair, but it can be managed, and you'll get your life back!!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsHello @cj762, I would like to add my welcome to Connect along with @tonimcbride, @tweetypie13 and others. Sorry to hear you have been diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). I'm not a doctor but have had PMR flare ups twice but my symptoms didn't show up like yours and the prednisone I started with 20 mg dose got rid of all of the pain within a few hours and I was pretty much pain free until the next morning to take the next days dose. My last occurrence of PMR has been in remission now for almost 7 years and hopefully stays there.
There are other conditions that mimic PMR and if I had any questions at all I would want to see a rheumatologist who is familiar with the condition and not my primary care doctor.
-- Diseases that mimic polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR): https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/diseases-that-mimic-polymyalgia-rheumatica
Since it doesn't sound like the prednisone is handling the pain or the dose may be too low, have you thought about seeking a second opinion with a specialist/rheumatologist?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionGoal is to get us pain free and active.Try to get in to see a rheumatologist if
there is access in your area. Talk about your cardiac risk with a systemic inflammatory problem it is increased. You may need a higher dose of prednisone for symptom control and keep informed about your lab tests.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction