Polymyalgia Rheumatica - A pain in the neck
90My story
I was on vacation summer 2006, traveled to Berkeley to visit a friend for eight days, practiced yoga in 100 plus degrees, walked each and every day for hours. It was grand. Went on my next vacation in August to North Carolina and again had a great time. Came home on August 13th. On Monday morning, August 14th I could not move my left shoulder. I thought I had played too hard and just needed to recover from my holiday. I went to a yoga teacher training on the last weekend and found most of the arm/shoulder poses unavailable to me. In September I decided to detox, sure that I had contracted something on my last adventure. By October, my shoulders, neck and hips were bound up. I finally went to my PCP who referred me to Rheumatology and Immunology. Three months of pain pills, anti-depressants, hypnotics, sleep labs, x-rays, and increasing pain.
I was beyond miserable and saw no relief in sight. In February, I was referred to another rheumatologist. She was leaving the country but agreed to see me on her return. On March 14, 2007 she drew new labs and called in a script for prednisone. I started on 20 mg that night and 20 again in the morning.
I FELT GREAT!!! Seven months of misery and there was immediate relief. That was my four day dose. When it was reduced the pain returned and she thought I might have RA. ( I have a seronegative RA factor.) The challenging point is that I am 47 years old - Too young for this diagnosis. I am thankful she choose to treat the symptoms rather than follow an arbitrary standard, which have delayed the process even longer.
At this writing, I am a year post diagnosis and treatment. Prednisone is the miracle drug anyone who has ever been in pain or discomfort can attest, but comes with a long list of side effects. From that original life altering dose of 20 mg daily, I have been reducing the dosage so that today I am at 4.5mg and in moderate discomfort.
Along with Prednisone, I took Prilosec to protect my belly, calcium and vitamin D to protect my bones. I saw my rheumatologist monthly to check my labs and eyes. Then had bone density test as well. Because of the age of onset, there is some suspicion that this may be a precursor of RA.
So, here are that facts I found after I had the story. You too...
Here are the facts:
Polymyalgia rheumatica is a rheumatic condition that is frequently linked to giant cell (temporal) arteritis. It is a relatively common disorder, with a prevalence of about 700 per 100,000 persons over 50 years of age.
Polymyalgia rheumatica occurs in about 50 percent of patients with GCA, while approximately 15 percent of patients with PMR as the primary diagnosis go on to develop GCA. Some patients have manifestations of both disorders occurring at different times.
Polymyalgia rheumatica is almost exclusively a disease affecting older adults, and is rarely diagnosed under the age of 50 years. In older persons its prevalence approaches that of rheumatoid arthritis.
Few nonwhite individuals have been included in most case series. However, PMR occurs in African-Americans and the disease presentation and response to treatment are similar to that in whites.
Polymyalgia rheumatica is classically characterized by a subacute or chronic onset of aching and morning stiffness in the shoulders, hip girdles, neck and torso in patients over the age of 50. The symptoms are usually symmetric, but asymmetric pain can occur. Difficulty with activities related to the shoulder and hip stiffness may be reported as trouble dressing (eg, fastening a bra normally, donning a shirt or jacket, or pulling on stockings). Some patients also complain of malaise, fatigue, anorexia, weight loss, and fever, but the high spiking fever that can occur in GCA is rare in patients who have only PMR.
Synovitis and bursitis are considered to be the causes of the discomfort and stiffness found among patients with PMR. However, because the shoulders and hips are surrounded by large muscles, small amounts of synovitis in these joints are not readily detected on physical examination. By comparison, palpable synovitis in more peripheral joints (knees, wrists, and metacarpophalangeal joints) is relatively common in PMR.
Some patients develop swelling and pitting edema of the hands, wrists, ankles, and top of the feet . The edema usually occurs with other signs of PMR but can be the presenting symptom. It appears to represent tenosynovitis and synovitis in regional structures. Tenosynovitis can also cause carpal tunnel syndrome, which occurs in approximately 10 to 14 percent of patients with PMR.
Physical examination in PMR may reveal decreased active range of motion of the shoulders, neck, and hips. Despite the implications of the name "polymyalgia", muscle tenderness is not a prominent feature of this disease, and what tenderness there may be about the shoulders is more likely due to synovial or bursal inflammation than muscular involvement.
Muscle strength is usually normal. However, weakness may become a problem because of disuse atrophy or lack of effort on examination because of pain.
The characteristic laboratory finding in PMR and GCA is an elevation in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate that can exceed 100 mm/h. However, values below 40 mm/h are seen in as many as 7 to 22 percent of patients. This is most likely to occur in patients with limited disease and fewer systemic symptoms and in those who have been treated with corticosteroids.
While there is generally no need in clinical practice to resort to MRI or ultrasonographic imaging in the majority of patients suspected of having PMR, such testing may be useful if the diagnosis is uncertain and/or there are relative contraindications to a therapeutic trial of corticosteroids.
The diagnosis is more difficult to establish in those with atypical presentations. These include age 40 to 50 years, asymmetric symptoms, and ESR less than 40 mm/h. Although there is less experience with use of serum CRP testing to establish the diagnosis of PMR, it may be reasonable to substitute an elevated serum CRP as a criterion for PMR if the ESR is less than 40 mm/h.
As noted above, there is considerable overlap between PMR and GCA. Nevertheless, patients with "pure" PMR lack the classic findings of GCA such as temporal artery tenderness, headache, jaw pain, visual loss, and evidence of noncranial ischemia (such as arm claudication or cerebral ischemia)
The differential diagnosis of PMR includes early seronegative rheumatoid arthritis and a variety of other disorders that can usually be easily distinguished from PMR. These include hypothyroidism, infective endocarditis, fibromyalgia, malignancy, polymyositis, bursitis/tendinitis, and amyloidosis.
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis usually have symmetric polyarthritis of the small joints of the hands and feet, which is persistent and only partially responsive to low doses of prednisone. These findings are different from that in PMR in which fewer joints are swollen, and the swelling subsides completely in response to low dose prednisone.
Polymyalgia rheumatica is characterized by a prompt response to corticosteroids, usually in low doses. The initial dose of prednisone needed to alleviate musculoskeletal symptoms in PMR is lower than that required to control the vascular inflammation associated with GCA.
A higher ESR, larger initial doses of prednisone, and rapid tapering may be associated with earlier relapse. The initial goal of therapy is to achieve symptomatic control using a minimum dose of glucocorticoids. After a period of quiescence, a slow taper of glucocorticoids is begun. The following represents our usual approach:
Depending upon the patient's weight and the severity of symptoms, the starting prednisone dose of between 7.5 and 20 mg/day. Patients usually respond quickly and often note improvement after the first dose. The dose should be increased if the symptoms are not well controlled within one week. Such patients may have underlying GCA or a paraneoplastic syndrome.
Occasional patients find that a single daily dose of prednisone does not provide relief from evening or night-time pain or stiffness. Use of a divided (BID) dose may suffice for some, while others may require an increased total daily dose.
Because many patients will require corticosteroid treatment for more than six months, an assessment of bone mineral density is suggested at or near the time prednisone is begun. Calcium and vitamin D supplementation are appropriate for most patients. Prophylactic use of other agents, such as bisphosphonates may be considered for some. Patients found to have osteoporosis will need therapeutic, rather than preventive, intervention. These issues are discussed in detail elsewhere.
Among patients with PMR who are at increased risk for corticosteroid-induced side effects, the addition of methotrexate may be steroid-sparing, as suggested by some, but not all, studies. However, methotrexate is seldom indicated for the vast majority of patients with PMR but without GCA, since adverse effects are relatively mild with the low doses of prednisone required to adequately control the disease.
In most patients, PMR runs a self-limited course over months to years and steroid therapy can eventually be discontinued. There is no evidence of increased mortality associated with this disorder. As a result, every effort must be made to control symptoms with a minimum of drug-induced side effects.
In addition, ongoing monitoring should be performed for signs suggestive of GCA. In a large series described above, 4.4 percent of patients with pure PMR had a positive temporal artery biopsy. These patients are usually not detected unless they develop manifestations of vasculitis, which presumably can also occur over time in some patients with initially normal temporal arteries.
A current note
That's my story. It toke a great deal of research to find information on this disorder as it is often overlooked in the arthritis pages. I am thankful to both my rheumatologist and friends in the medical field who continually supported my when it looked like there were no correct answers. Women in pain are often medicated with anti-depressants, hypnotics, and minimal pain relief medications. I was in pain, and had a many sleepless nights, which clearly could lead to depression. Once the pain was treated I became the vibrant excited person I know myself to be. Even though I still have pain and stiffness, I am able to move in my life. And I am glad.
PrintShare it! — Rate it: up down flag this hub
Comments
Have been fighting fatigue, pain, anemia for awhile, I felt like a zombi The Dr. diagnosed as PMR, put me on prednisone, 20 mg and I felt like a new person. She told told me to come down on dosage every 5 days . Last visit she decided I didn't have PMR and am now down to 12.5 mg. The lower the dose, the worse I feel She doesn't want me on pred., I don't know if that is because she feels the side effects are too bad but it sure was nice feeling like a human for awhile. Any ideas what could be going on?
PRM is diagnosed by symptoms of stiffness and pain in the neck, shoulders and hips, releived immediately with prednisone. There are also confirming lab test - elevted SED rate and CRP. In my case the lab results followed the symptoms so I didn't get a diagnosis for nearly seven months. If you have indicative lab results and symptoms I would address the treatment again with the rheumatologist. I still take my prednisone, 5 mg, daily. Every now and then I reduce the dosage, but wake in the middle of the night with intense neck pain, unable to turn my head, stuck. I also take prilosec, vitamin D, calcium, and a multivitamin.
There are plenty of side effects that can be overcome. For me, the pain was more than enough to keep me diligent of my heath and aware of my body. My doctor suggested a switch to methotrexate. I declined. It is an ongoing "discussion." Keep thinking and holding out for your best solution.
Here is a link to understanding lab test, along with lots of other helpful information, though the arthritis groups do not offer much about PMR.
Thanks
Hi Damselfly, Thank you for your post. I have had PMR now for 3.5 years. I am off pred and taking Mobic for neck and shoulder pain that is not as servere as when PMR first entered my life. Getting off of Pred was probably one of the most difficult challenges I have had to go through. Do you know of any support groups for people with PMR?
Maureen
Hi Maureen,
I haven't found any support groups that I would join. The one I found seem to be populated by those struggling with the dis-ease and overwhelmingly negative about taking prednisone. Every now and then, my neck will get stuck in the middle of my sleep and I remember well how intense the pain was at the beginning. I am on a maintenance dose of 5 mg daily and plan to stay there, provided my doctor will prescribe it. The rheumotologist consistently offers methotrexate as remedy. No thanks. I have taken mobic in past but found no relief. That could be due to misdiagnosis.
I wonder if the lack of easily found support groups is effected by the prevalance of a diagnosis to those who are over 50 at onset, and non-classification as arthritis. I did find an absolutely funny exception. Check out the BBC series, Waiting for God. The main character has PMR. She has a very matter of fact attitude. After two years, so do I. Every now and then I longingly remember the days before I was in pain, but that is the past. They are sweet memories to occupy my time when I am distracted from the joy of now. Thankfully, I am commited to living in this very moment.
Have a wonderfully delightful day.
Maria
This is all so familiar...the tests, medicine, symptoms etc. I have had RA for almost 19 years and osteo in the knees. I had to stop working because of neck pain and paralyzing spasms. This article was quite interesting. I am learning more each day.
Thanks for explaining this disease! My dad had PMR and temporal arteritis. I couldn't find out much about it at the time. He took prednisone for it and it helped a lot. I wonder if there is a connection to amyloidosis or Alzheimer's with this disease? My dad died of Alzheimer's and I have amyloidosis. The symptoms you describe are exactly what I experienced over a six week period in my twenties. I never went to the doctor and tried to carry on the best I could without anyone knowing. I was sure they would think it was all in my head.
I like your philosophy-appreciate today and the "new norm" we with chronic diseases accept.
Thank you for an excellent summary of the literature and personal experience. I was diagnosed with FMS about 12 years ago, but my doctor ignored some of the crucial blood tests for about the last year and a half until I wasn't able to lift my arms one day and was suffering from an old knee surgery. My doctor looked like a light switch had turned on and he said, "I think you've been misdiagnosed and it's actually polymyalgia rheumatica". He took more blood tests and within five days started prednisone. I'm very active: golf, yoga, pilates, hiking - I just want to keep moving. Prednisone was amazing. I started at 40 mg for three days, 30 mg for three days, and leveled at 20 mg. I felt great. I could golf, do yoga, move, sleep (until about three am when it wore off). I found I had to split the dose, but it was working. The doctor wants me down to about 10 mg & as soon as I started dropped, the symptoms came back with full force. I'm at 15 mg now and want to go back to 20. From some of the research I'm finding it says to not drop the dose until the symptoms subside. Any suggestions on dropping the dose? When does it absolutely have to be dropped? And, is it okay to increase it some when the symptoms are worse? Thanks for any ideas you have. KMB
Good morning Kathie,
What I wiil say is, that drop from 20 mg to 15 is just sad, sad, sad. There is no way past the feeling. I was a giant at 20. At 15 mg, I was okay. For me, we divided the dose so that I was taking 10 in the morning and 5 at night. Apparently a divided dose is more effective than a single one. Most of the time I just lamented the change. On the other hand, I knew it was in my best interest to reduce the dosage. I had a lot of bruising, mouth sores, and weight gain. At 20 mg I had gone back to running, but at 15, I just didn't feel like it. I was still teaching yoga all the time even when I couldn't practice.
If I had it to do over, I would find a way to keep moving even as I reduced the dosage. I mean, find someone to drag you along, and keep you accountable to the process. Eventually, you will be headed to 5 mg. It can be a very slow process. I am thankful for a doctor who was willing to listen to me and allow me to move at my own pace, even as she wanted me to switch to methotrexate. Research that for yourself. It was not for me. I was unwilling to live with those side effects, but it is a steriod sparing drug.
As you know I am now three years since the first symptoms appeared and two plus since I started prednisone. Today I workout six days a week. Cardio on each followed by yoga on three of them. I am gentle in my body and honor how I feel every moment. There are some days I just don't feel like going, but remember my commitment and head out the door. That's the hardest part of the journey. I find I feel fabulous once I have completed the process.
I have very few flair ups these days and when they do occur it is in the middle of the night when I realize I can not lift my head ot turn my neck. I almost panic as it feels just like the first time. I have learned to breathe through the pain and to remember that I can wait this out. I use a massaging squeezing technique on the muscles in the back of my neck and in a few minutes my neck is released and I am back to sleep. In the morning it is only a memory.
I will say that I added quite a few supplements to my diet to support my immune system, joints, muscles, and sense of well-being. Because I think they are all indivinually important and individual I will refrain form recommending any. I think that is another area of research, trial and experience. What works for some is just not applicable to everyone.
Be present with what is. Let this be the only moment. Live each now to the fullest. Namaste
Thank you for your gentle and encouraging comments, Dameslfly! So are you down to 5 mg? How long did you take to get to that dosage? How often did you take the dosage down and did you ever go back up with dosage when you had a flare? Did you ever have injuries that would cause you to flare? If it were not for yoga, I would not be able to move. Yoga keeps me golfing. I'm grateful for the peace and gentle movements it allows me. I've been an athlete - high octane athlete my entire life. The slow down is difficult and the learning to be in the present is coming gradually. I realize that each day is it's own special entity and to go with what my body requires. I did learn many years ago after my first diagnosis that rest is okay. The advice was, "push a day, rest a day; push an hour rest an hour; etc." The amazing thing of this is that it gives me permission to allow my body that time to rest.
One more question - have you had vision blurriness with the prednisone & what did you do for it?
Thanks again. Namaste
Hi Kathie,
My doctor said I could have two years, but it didn't take quite that long. I understand the issues around movement. Before my flair up I taught 21 aerobic classes a week along with my yoga classes. The hardest part was the memories of what my life had once looked like. Eventually, it was yoga that kept my gaze in the present.
I can't really associate my flair ups with anything. The first one occured the morning after my vacation. I just woke up stiff in the right shoulder and it continued until I could barely move. I was scheduled for yoga teacher training and while I completed one, I cancelled the next. My body was so limited in movement I could not imagine spending 9 hours a day in yoga.
I haven't noticed any blurred vision that I think is related to prednisone. I did notice so visual changes, but nothing serious. I see both my rheumotologist and optometrist regularly. Also, I have had a bone scan to check for bone density as steriod leach calcium from the body.
Be well. Be in Love. Namaste
Hi, I have just been diagnosed after 18 months of severe pain. i am 46, and felt about 86. I had just about given up on life, and was finding my job almost impossible to deal with as it is so active. The prednisolone was incredible, it worked in a day. I am so excited as i seem to be able to do stuff now. I want to rush out and join the gym again, go swimming that i just couldn't do because of the pain in my shoulders. I feel like I have been set free. i don't know what the future will hold, but I'm not giving these drugs back. The only thing I am nervous about is what this means having this condition so young. i am worried about underlying health risks, but hey for now I can move!
Hi Damselfly: it's been six weeks since my last post and an interesting journey. It's the middle of the night and I'm back up with the night pain. I saw a specialist who disagreed with my doctor about the dose of prednisone and just wanted to treat as FMS with antidepressants (I refuse to go that route); however, it looks like it was a arrogance issue on the part of the specialist. He wanted me off the prednison within a month. At 20 mg I had less joint pain, but had a plethora of side effects making life really difficult: blurred vision, muscle weakness, lack of coordination resulting in falls, bruising, cuts that wouldn't heal, extreme fatigue, and weight gain. After consulting with my GP again, we decided to see how far down I could go on the prednisone to control the pain and lessen the side effects of the medicine. At any rate, I've dropped the prednisone from 20 mg to 15, to 10mg and tried the drop from 10 to 5 yesterday - here I am up in the night again with pain. I'm experiencing a really strange taste in my mouth. Ever have that? I was just beginning to feel normal at 10. I'd actually gotten back out golfing and to a pilates class. I'm not sure that I am asking a question - more of sharing the experience and grateful that you are there to share it with. Thanks. KMB
This journey continues to be a learning experience. I will restate that I started with my GP and was refered to a rheumatologist who offered anti-depressants and pain pills. He had the answer, but was reluctant to offer it, probably because of my age and My ego. I was so anti-prednisone. So seven months later, I was still in pain and had been to a pain clinic where they were offering trigger point injections and more pain meds that you can imagine. Because I didn't understand the need to have new labs or accept whatever the diagnosis, I was in great agony. Another referral brought me to the the doctor that pieced the riddle together. She acknowledged that I was too young for the disorder, drew new labs because the others were both old and from an outside facility. Even before she had the results she gave me the prednisone prefering to treat, rather than delay. (I had already experienced plenty of delay). Yes, there are plenty of side effects. I found a forum where all the comments were about the horrible nature of prednisone. Perhaps they had not been in as much pain as I had. I sought out remedies for the side effects. I found supplements to support my imnmune system.
BTW, there is a prescribed way to lower the dosage for prednisone, generally at 10% over several days or a week. Drastic drops are likely to cause not just flare ups, but a return of the initial complaints. The website with the most informaion is UpToDate. The most significant information is accessed only by licensed professionals with a subscription. Also, decreasing prednisone is generally directed by the drop in SED rate and CRP. Repeated lab test can offer indications of the effect of medication as well as how your body may be reacting.
For me this has been an ongoing journey of letting go. Even today when I rarely have flare ups, I occasionally find a bruise I have no memory of bumping, or forget to stay centered in both the present and My body and not the expectations of others. But rest assured, when I forget, I am reminded in the most dramatic ways. Today I am four weeks into healing a hamstring pull. I realized ths moring how far I have strayed from honoring myself completely. sometimes we think we are only holding on to ourselves in the face of opposition. Sometimes it is even more important to be true to ourselves in the face of admiration.
Imagine there is more to this experience than pain, discomfort and inconvenience, and find the lesson offered just to you. It may take a while to get past the disappointment, but I hold that there is more.
In wellness. Maria
Thanks Maria - and to everyone else posting. I just re-read the postings from top to bottom and am recognizing some distinct patterns. It appears that most of us are too "young" for this diagnosis. That was the argument the specialist (rheumatologist)told me when I walked into his office. My doctor, however, totally disagrees that you have to be over 55 to qualify to "get" PMR. He has seen it often in his career and currently treats another woman in her mid-forties and me (in my early 50s). I appreciate that he is also treating the person and not the numbers on paper. Thank you, Maria, for the excellent sites to check out and the support in the middle of the night when it hits like a brick. Even though there is no known support group for PMR, this dialogue does help me feel like there are others on the journey. I've been using an infrared sauna 5-6x a week to help clear my system of any residual toxins it isn't using for healing, eating fresh, drinking lots of water, yoga, pilates, and am thankfully back to golfing. KMB
Hi Ladies
I am really finding all your postings so helpful as I am struggling with this a little. I went swimming this morning the first time in a while. i used to be such a good swimmer. The first couple of lengths my shoulders ached but I loosened up and managed 30 slowly. My body is very tired now, but I am so pleased that I managed it. I have been so cripppled by this. Is there anything dietry wise that will help this. I am scared of getting GCA as I believe it is a possibility. You mentioned Yoga, but I find it extremely hard to bend. Two years ago i ran the London marathon and the Great wall of China half marathon. Now I couldn't run to catch a bus. The steroid treatment has been hugely welcomed, but even so my body still feels strange. I feel like I am having a constant rush and I can't sleep for more than 5 hours before the pain in my back makes me get up. Have been mixing dried wheatgrass and spirilina with fresh squeezed fruit and veg, I wish I could tell you it was making a difference but not as yet... Good luck ladies
Hi Ali: Maria can probably give you some great advice on modifications for yoga poses. I look forward to my yoga and pilates because I can be on the floor! I find the modifications change according to my pain. Some days I can reach the floor on a forward bend, other days I need the assistance of a block. Adjusting the time of day to my exercise helps, also. I'm always better in the afternoon or early evening. Be sure you are warm when you exercise. I understand, completely, your not sleeping. I can only go about an hour and a half before I'm up and walking around and then going back to sleep. The early morning hours - from 3-7 are the hardest. I find if I take my prednisone during one of those early morning wakings (around 4 or 5 am), it makes my day turn on faster (around 10 or 11 am instead of 12 or 1). I also found it helpful when I was on a bit higher dose of prednisone to split the dose. I'm on 10 mg right now, so sometimes I'll take 5 mg at 4am and the other 5mg at 6am. I'm supposed to be going down to 5mg, but my symptoms are coming back with a vengeance, so I'm not sure what will happen. I have a very good massage therapist, and while I would benefit from going once a week, I can only budget once every 3 or 4 weeks; however, she does help alot. It took awhile to figure out the right pressure, but she's very good. I also see an osteopath once a month (it's covered in our health care) - she's very good for alignment. As far as food goes - fresh and raw seems to help due to the anti-inflammatory benefits from those foods. Supplements are a personal issue. Seeing a naturopath may be helpful, but often expensive and you have to be careful in choosing someone. Often a pharmacy will have a very good nutritionist on staff that can help with supplements. I've found the pharmacy nutritionists better than those at health food stores. They seem more grounded and balanced. Good luck. Hang in there - I've been told by others, and by Maria on this site, there is life after PMR! KMB
HI, IVE JUST RECENTLY BEING DIAGNOSED WITH PMR (THIS WEEK), AND IM JUST 43YRS OLD. I WAS UNTIL RECENTLY A FITNESS INSTRUCTOR, BUT FOUND IT INCREASINGLY HARD TO MAINTAIN MY FITNESS AND STRENGTH, AND WAS FINDING MANY OF MY OLDER CLIENTS WERE FITTER AND MORE ABLE IN MY CLASS.
I WAS ASSUMMING THE STIFFNESS WAS FROM TOO MUCH EXERCISE, AND EVERYMORNING I WOULD WAKE STIFF AND TAKE A HOT BATH TO HELP LOSSEN UP, AND JUST GET ON WITH IT, NEVER DID I REALISE THIS WAS NOT FROM KEEPFIT,. SINCE RETIRING (6WEEKS NOW) MY MUSCLES ARE WEAKER AND IM EXPERINING MORE EPISODES OF FATIQUE AND PAIN. WORSE AT NIGHT. AND TIRENESS THOUGHOUT THE DAY. I HAVE RECENTLY STOPPED RIDING MY BELOVED HORSE, AND FIND MUCKING OUT EXTREMLY TIRING, MY WALKS WITH MY DOGS HAVE BECOME SLOWER AND MORE LABOURED BUT CANNOT LET MY ANIMALS DOWN. I WILL BE STARTING THE STERIOD TREAMENT VERY SOON, AS I WAS IN DENIAL ABOUT HAVING PMR. AND THOUGHT I WAS LACKING VITAMINS AND NEEDING MORE SLEEP AND WAS PUTTING IT DOWN MAINLY "COLD TURKEY" WITH THE FITNESS. LOOKING BACK AND DISCUSSING THIS WITH MY HUSBAND, WE BOTH AGREE THAT I HAVE PROBABLEY HAD PMR FOR A LEAST 2 YEAR (MILDLY) AND I THINK THE STRENGTH FROM DOING FITNESS AND PROBABLY THE "NATURAL PAIN RELIEFING ENDORPHENS" HAVE HELP ME THOUGH THAT PERIOD UNTIL NOW.
SO MY QUESTION IS ... IS THERE MANY OR ANYONE YOUNGER THAN ME (43YRS) WITH PMR. I ALSO WONDER IF THIS WILL EFFECT MY HEATH MORE IN LATER LIFE TAKING STERIODS EARLIER?
MANY THANKS
GINA
Good morning Kathie, Ali and Gina,
We seem to have echoing sentiments. From my readings, PRM seems to strike those who have been active previously and what treatment delays that exist often stem from the notion that rest, supplements, and self care will resolve the dis-ease. As we now know, there was an underlying pathology at work which requires medical intervention.
My most recent google search turned up more sites for review and discussion (than existed when I was diagnosed). While this is important for new seekers of information, I found it merely repetitive.
My intention here is to provide information, support and encouragement. No matter how it feels, this struggle is not unique, apparently even regarding age. (The literature will speak differently.) What are the deeper principles of growth and understanding available for us during this time? As we face the sunrise, what does it take for us to dance joyfully into the day?
In gratitude,
Maria
wondered if weight training is contraindicated for polymyalgia rheumatica.
Hi Girls
I have been feeling really defeated this last couple of weeks. i have been seeing a physio, a kiwi girl who is being very supportive with this. She has given me an exercise programme at the gym to keep my body moving. I am persevering but feel worse, and am struggling at work. The funny thing is that i seem to be getting more symptoms now and I am wondering if I am creating these in my head. My jaw is painful and aches, I can't lift my arms for very long and my neck has stiffened so much. My job is very active, I don't have a desk job, and I work shifts sometimes till 11pm. I am not usually a wimp, but I just feel like crying. My daughter is now hopefully in remission from a horrible cancer she has had over the last 2 years, it has been an emotional rollar coaster, do you think its possible i got this from all the worry. I know I was ill after I ran the marathons, as I really did them too close together, but I think i am just trying to find a reasonable explanation as to why this is happening to me. Sorry to sound so defeated, this is not normally me. I wonder if life situations can trigger things like this. And Gina you are certainly younger than me, I am 46 now. Anyway ladies, I am seeing my doctor tomorrow so will load it all onto him. speak soon Ali
Hi Ali - hang in there. It's nice to hear your daughter is in remission. That must be an incredible relief. Keep up the hope. Stress can do nasty things to our systems, and I understand your feeling like you are defeated. This is the time to be the most gentle with yourself. I recommend yoga - especially for the breathing and restorative properties. I practice at home with DVDs - it's helpful especially on days like today when I can't make it out to my classes. The jaw pain could be from grinding your teeth and clenching. That's where breathing is helpful, too. I'm on a drop down from 10 to 9 mg of prednisone this week and another planned for next week. We'll see how it goes. I'm definitely noticing the increase in arm and shoulder pain, but hopefully, I can work through it. Who knows why we get these crazy illnesses? It seems to hit those of us who push the hardest, and it's even more frustrating because we don't like to take it 'sitting down'. I told my husband the other day that having a chronic illness is especially hard for me because it goes against my personality. He laughed. I felt like crying. Laughing is a good medicine, though. Studies prove this. Try to do gentle things for yourself, give yourself permission to not feel well, sit (or lie down) and read that book, watch that silly television show, breathe. Come back on here if you need more support. Relax that jaw! I'll try to go and take my own advice. KMB
Sheilah says:
14 months ago
I have been diagnosed with PMR and am going to the rheumatologist for my first visit in three days. What you've written has given me more hope and more information than anything else on the web. Thanks.