Just hypothesizing: read BBC online a minute ago and one theory for Rheumatoid Arthritis increasing in women recently is that there are lower hormones now in birth control pills. So I am speculating that lower hormones in both men and women could be behind PMR , --we are generally older people with fading hormones-and I wondered if anyone had ever tried to treat it with hormone pills.
Hello noninoni, sorry I can't help you with this one. However, if this is turns out to be a possible research project and then a treatment/cure, how great would that be? I was only reading today that a massive dose of I think was chicken pox virus was given to a woman with cancer and the cancer she had has now been cured!
We can all but hope. Christina
Lacking hormones might be the culprit.I still did take low HRT last year. and I felt better. However, my doctor would not prescribe it anymore because of my age (73).When I stopped taking it, the PMR got much worse.
I had what was probably ME about 30 years ago that cleared up but the fatigue never really went - except when I was put on HRT when it improved a lot. The PMR appeared just a relatively short time after stopping the HRT after one of the periodic scare stories - I didn't think I really needed it any more. Who knows.
But what is certain is that the hypothalamus/pituitary/adrenal axis is all involved in all of it - all sorts of hormones and stuff that need to be in a very delicate balance. So it isn't out of the question.
Though I know one lady still on HRT who developed GCA so the are obviously variations.
For what it's worth:
I have been taking HRT for many years, specifically, Premarin (Estrogen). I got PMR while on 0.3 mg of Premarin. Was diagnosed in with PMR in December 2013 and put on 20 mg Prednisone. Premarin was upped to 1 x 0.45 mg Premarin daily this past July to protect my bones. I am currently on alternating Prednisone 8 mg and 7 mg every other day for the month of December. I experience no PMR symptoms. I have an annual mammogram. I also see a gynecologist annually. I have ovaries; my uterus was removed when I was 42. Am 68, now. I have friends who take HRT, who were told to stop taking it and went right back on it and not because of PMR, but because HRT made them feel 'normal,' while being off it made them feel depressed, non functional, fatigued, dull, depressed, etc.
I wished the doctors would listen to us and look at the way you describe.. HRT does make a woman feel normal.and it probably would be helpful dealing with PMR and lessen the symptoms. As we age ALL hormones are producing less --- and somehow they should get a boost of "something".
Has anybody heard of Pregnenolone? I understand it is the precursor of all kinds of hormones..