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The importance of seeing a rheumatologist
I have been dealing with PMR symptoms since November 2024. Diagnosed (?) in May 2025. Was Told by 2 PRP s that I couldn’t possibly have Rheumatoid Arthritis because I was too old and my blood test showed negative for RA and ‘we can manage your PMR’ so you don’t need to see a rheumatologist when I asked for a referral. I have been taking prednisone since June 2025 and was having a lot of trouble tapering past 10 mg. My PCP is closing his practice so referred me to a rheumatologist (finally).
OMG, was I surprised when I was told that I certainly have late onset, seronegative RA! Now taking methotrexate and hopefully getting off prednisone (slowly).
My advice is if you haven’t seen a Rheumatologist, please get an appointment. The methotrexate will help slow the progression of the joint deterioration.
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I am 77 and have RA and Sjogren's plus ulcerative colitis and cannot take any of those meds, I tried Plaquenil, Sulfasalazine and Enbrel and that one put me in A-fib so you are lucky something helps, I found Rheumatologists are a waste of time, told it takes 7 years to properly diagnose autoimmune disease, too old for that messing around.
I am beginning to think you are right.
Hate taking all the meds, but I need to function! I am so desperately seeking relief. Wondering if anyone out there with seronegative RA has tried hormone therapy?
Just signed up for a free webinar by the Global Healthy Living Foundation - Creakyjoints - Live on YouTube.
Want to learn more about how to manage polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR)
What you’ll learn:
What PMR is and how it’s diagnosed
- An overview of PMR
- Managing flares
- Current treatment approaches and what to expect
Date: Tuesday, May 5
Time: 2:00 PM EST
Where: Live on YouTube
Register for link to webinar - https://creakyjoints.org/pmr-webinar-registration/
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5 Reactions@margaret216
I don't believe that rheumatologists are a waste of time. I believe that bad doctors are a waste of time. Avoid the doctor who has a job and applaud the doctor who has a vocation, a profession. I'm sorry if your doctors haven't met your needs. I have changed doctors for that reason before and I will do it again whenever necessary.
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4 ReactionsHa! We should be so lucky in Canada. Where I live there is a shortage of doctors. You have no options except whatever doctor they assign to you. End of story. Presently I am on a wait list to get a doctor. This week I will be seeing a Naturopathic doctor which I must pay for out my own pocket.
I gave up, I have been trying to get help for decades, my mother died from undiagnosed RA with vasculitis, my niece died at 13 from a stroke caused by Lupus and my sister has ITP, I had Pure red cell aplasia in 2003 and had to have blood transfusions. I tell the doctors I saw and it meant nothing and I did switch within the group and had to jump through hoops to see a different Rheumatologist and it made no difference, no I'm done trying but thank you for the response, you are lucky or braver than I.
@margaret216 I don't agree. My rheumatologist has been a Godsend.
@johnbishop I signed up tho time is later (eastern time!)
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1 Reaction@kare1 I noticed that too. I think it is actually 2pm Eastern time though because I clicked the link to the Zoom meeting in the calendar meeting notice that was sent after signing up and it said 2pm EST.
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1 ReactionThe email I got after I signed up said 6pm. But I did just click on join the zoom button & it showed 2pm! I guess I’ll find out come May!