PMR with hand/wrist pain and swollen veins?

Hi @phy, Welcome to Connect. Sorry to hear you have osteoarthritis in your hands along with PMR. The Arthritis Foundation has some information that might help some along with some treatments.

"There is no cure, but healthy lifestyle habits and treatments can help manage your symptoms and keep you active."
--- Osteoarthritis of the Hands: https://www.arthritis.org/diseases/more-about/osteoarthritis-of-the-hands.

Have you discussed your hand symptoms with your doctor for any recommendations?

Thank you very much John, arthritis site very helpful. Yes I have discussed with my doctor and had x-ray to confirm diagnosis. phy

I have had confirmed PMR since December 2022; the hip symptoms have gotten much better and the shoulders have improved, but I recently developed the exact symptoms described by some of you here - severe pain in my wrists and hands, especially when lying down, along with stiffness sometimes to the point of inability to open my hands, and bulging veins on my wrists, arms, and back of my hands. What I wanted to communicate is that I have never taken prednisone or any steroid or other drug except occasional aspirin, never gotten a Covid vaccine, and have always drunk a lot of fluids - no increase since the PMR started. So I don’t think any of those factors is the cause of this problem; it’s the PMR, I’m sure. Thanks for all of the communications; I was worried it was something worse.

I have had left hand pain through the entire process and my rheumatologist also said that it is unrelated. But I agree with this thread, much is unknown and anecdotally we seem to agree that a majority of us are experiencing these odd symptoms.

I too have had hand pain throughout with PMR and would tell my children they didn't have to ask me how I was doing, they could just look at my swollen veins!! They look like a cartoon character!

Me too. When I was having a bad day the veins on the back of my hands stood out like fire hoses.
they have become a watchdog for how I am doing. Even though, according to my Rheumatologist, i am in remission I still get wrist and hand pain. PMR the gift that keeps on giving.

So glad and reassured to read this . My right wrist aches and you can see the veins pulsating and I have come to realise it’s each time when I drop down 1mg of prednisolone , so I go back up
To my previous dose and it’s ok . I leave it for a few more weeks then try again . I find all this quite scary at times. Feel so alone here in the UK . I was diagnosed in October 2024 the first two months I saw the doctor who spotted the absolutely painful
State I was in ever 4eeeks? Since then I haven’t seen a doctor at all, I have tried but it’s a nightmare here in the Uk . My vocal cords are affected too Please has anyone had that too ? Did finally see a doctor in January who’d referred me to an ENT specialist … still waiting for that appointment .

I was diagnosed with PMR last year, August 2024. Was put on 50 mg prednisone for starting dose. It took away most of the pain, but the pain in my right hand and wrist was the last to go. Pain was so bad then, that I wore a wrist brace to keep people at church from wanting to shake hands. After a few weeks, though, it was okay, and I have now tapered down to 11 mg. of prednisone. I have noticed, however, for the past few days, both hands and wrists are sore every morning. I can still do most things, but with some pain. It gets better by mid-day, but I still have to be very careful. I see my rheumatologist in a few weeks, and will ask him about it. I've been taking tylenol to cope with the early morning pain.

I began taking Prednisone in July 2024 for PMR/GCA. 60 mg. for 6 weeks. My voice was affected. I don't know if it was the Prednisone or the disease. Once, I tapered down to lower dosages, the voice issue went away. During those 6 weeks, I also had chest pain and a dry cough. Those eventually went away, too. I really think it was the Prednisone. It's the drug that keeps giving (although you don't want what it gives you). At 60 mg. I had no body ache (other than an occasional headache). I'm down to 6 mg. now (thanks to monthly Actemra infusions). I had wrist, shoulder and knee aches prior to Actemra. The aches would usually subside by mid day. They weren't dibilitating. I still have very mild wrist aches, but it's barely noticeable

Good luck with your journey.

What doseage of Prednisone are you taking?

I have had severe heartburn at least once per week.