Really confused, went to the docs last week after having had terrible pain in shoulders neck arms and hands for some weeks now. It;s like having frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, carpal tunnel and numb hands all the time. Doctor said she was sure I had polymyalgia rhematica and sent me off for a blood test. Got the results today which says bloods look normal, so does this mean I cant have PMR?b she told me she was 95% sure I did. Dont know what to think now, the pain is still there and nothing will ease it. Maybe some one out there can offer some advice. Thanks for reading . Zara x
Zara
I think that was what checked by your doctor were the ESR and CRP levels which can indicate inflammation present in the body. It is still possible that you have PMR even though the results were normal - this happens in a few cases and I am one of them. As far as I am concerned in eight years never have those particular results shown anything but normal, even when I was at my worst.
It is also possible for one result to indicate inflammation while the other result is normal.
I had had more than two years of chronic pain, but there came a point when both myself and my GP were convinced I had PMR by 'matching symptoms' and I was referred to a rheumatologist - which was done very quickly; luckily the rheumatologist had come across the problem in other cases. I was thoroughly checked and the diagnosis was confirmed by her and I was started on steroids immediately. Incidentally, I was also considered 'too young' to have PMR, although times have changed somewhat and they are now aware that there is a wider age range for the condition than was first thought.
If the blood test results do show inflammation very often the GP will prescribe steroids while waiting to see the rheumatologist. However, there may be other factors in your case which your doctor is also taking into account.
If you do not have another appointment to see your doctor, then make one and tell him/her that you are still in pain. It seems a little odd that you have not been given anything to help with this, painkillers at the very least.
Good luck
Nefret
Zara
As you say you are unsure whether or not you have PMR, I am wondering if you sit at a keyboard many hours a day as some years ago I was in a lot of pain in my neck, shoulders and hands, eventually diagnosed as repetitive strain injury together with osteoarthritis. I suffered for a very long time eventually finding it impossible to make/change a bed, even pick up a cup with one hand. Splints were made for my hands and eventually I went to a physiotherapist who totally sorted out my neck. This is just a thought. However, if you doctor does prescribe steroids which turn out to ease the pain, the relief and benefit you will feel will outweigh the risks. On the other hand, if the steroids do not relieve the pain, then it is not a problem to just stop them in the early days.
Do hope you get a solution soon. Good luck.
MrsO
thanks both of you. Not really at pc that much. Pain is really debilitating, starting to feel 81 not 51 !! lol , my hand swoll yesterday had to get my rings off quick and both of my arms felt like a dead weight, could quite happily have chopped them off. my gp told me the other day that other pain killers wont make much difference, i know my tegratol, ibrufen or paracetamol dont do a thing. I had to come home from work yesterday it was so bad, thne flopped on the bed feeling sick and slept for hrs. Think I wil go back tomorrow. Zara x