PMR and fingers swollen and painful

Posted by jackiepmr @jackiepmr, Nov 10 10:02am

I was diagnosed with PMR June 2024. I have been tapering off prednisone since then. In August my hands began to swell, painful to make a fist. I am currently on 1 mg of prednisone. My CRP and SED Rate are at 2 and 3 , very low. Am I in a flare?

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mark2471 | @mark2471 | Nov 10 11:14am

It would be a good idea to talk with your doctor about this. You might have RS3PE syndrome, which can mimic PMR.

John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Nov 10 11:38am

Hello @jackiepmr, I would like to add my welcome to Connect along with @mark2471 and others. I thought I would share a research article on RS3PE syndrome that has a few pictures of swollen hands in case you would like to know more about the condition:
-- Remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting edema (RS3PE) syndrome: A case report
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2210833511000025
I agree with @mark2471 about talking with your doctor or rheumatologist. Have you had a chance to discuss the pain and swelling in the hands with your doctor?

seniormed | @seniormed | Nov 10 11:50am

PMR was the prodrome before I was diagnosed
with Psoriatic arthritis. See a rheumatologist and have
the autoimmune panel repeated. Ultrasound can
show inflammation of synovitis and enthesitis.

chpfireball | @chpfireball | Nov 11 9:22am

I have exactly the same issue. Diagnosed with PMR 10/2023 started at 15 mg got down to 2 mg 12/2024. Hands swelled couldn't make a fist and hard time getting dressed. Rhuematologist tested me for RA came back negative CRP and sed rate low. Rhuematologist said to take Tylenol 3 times a day that did nothing. Finally said it was a flare and bumped prednisone back up to 10 mg in 4/25. I'm back down to 2 mg again and starting to have some pain in my fingers in the morning, but no swelling so far. I have been taking two Arthritis Tylenol in the morning with the prednisone and it seems to be working. Kind of nervous about dropping to 1 mg in a couple of weeks.

loeloe | @loeloe | Nov 12 1:04am

In reply to @johnbishop "Hello @jackiepmr, I would like to add my welcome to Connect along with @mark2471 and others...." + (show)

@johnbishop I do have the pain in my hands, difficulty making a fist. But I do NOT have RS3PE, according to the doctor; not the swelling, not the pitting and not the inflammation of the joints. Probably it is my muscles. When I do hand-exercices during the day it gets a lot better. I only take a NSAID