I have had severe pain and stiffness in my shoulders and neck for about a month. my hips have been hurting for about 1 week. I gave fibromyalgia, but this seems different. I've feel like I am coming down with the flu. it takes me about 3 hours in the morning before I can get up and dressed. All the stuff that I have been reading says PMR affects people over 50, usually over 70. I have am appt. with my PCP on Tuesday and don't know what to expect. Any advice?
first, let me say...luv your "handle"! 2) yes it's more common for a pmr diagnosis after 50....with that being said, who's to say what's "normal" anymore! normal changes ALL the time! 3) I suspect (and hope) your primary will refer you to a rheumatologist for bloodwork and a consultation, at least that was my experience. 4) after that, should it be confirmed to be pmr (a few more tests may be in order), buckle your seatbelt and hang on to your seat....😵😜 5) best wishes to you and keep us posted!!
I'll let you know. BTW, Snoop was my cat, Boxer was my cat and Midget was my dog. They are all passed now. I started using that years ago when they were young.
Awwwww...that's so cute! I'm a dog lover as well, had AT LEAST one my entire life! they are family for sure! right now I'm proud mamma to Cody, a beagle/terrier mix! He's also my therapy pup!!
I have Andy, a corgi, and 2 cats, Simba and Patches (brother/sister)
I'm so sorry to hear you have these symptoms. It does sound suspiciously like PMR. And as for the age, there's nothing which says PMR has to wait to strike until after you've had your 50th birthday! However there are a number of things which can give PMR symptoms and these need to be ruled out by your doctor through simple blood tests. If nothing else worth further investigation is found, then the diagnosis is usually confirmed by giving a trial of a week of prednisone (prednisolone in UK) at a relatively low dose, usually 15 mg per day, sometimes 20 mg, thereabouts. A higher dose isn't a good idea because pred can mask the pain of other things when given at a higher dose and that won't help the diagnosis. If you feel much better (at least 70% and probably even more) within a few days that will likely confirm PMR diagnosis.
Our first cats were Simba and Motley! Also brother and sister. We named Simba (a beautiful black cat shaped like a Siamese, even to the kink in the tail) and Motley had been named by her birth family because she was a multitude of intermixed colours (no white background).
Before your appointment with your doctor it's a good idea to make a detailed list of all your symptoms. Probably nobody has them all but the more info your doctor has the better.
My PMR was first thought to be OA until I happened to mention that I'd lost weight and, together with all the others, that one seemed to be the clincher in my case.
I've forgotten what all the blood tests were but it was a long list and included liver and kidney function, thyroid something to exclude Rheumatoid Arthritis and also inflammatory markers ( ESR and CRP ). I don't think any are conclusive it's the over all combinations.
Hope you get a prompt and correct diagnosis.
Hi Snoopboxer....
My naughty cat is black and white called Jaymi...who is very naughty but i love him to bits...🐹
If you are diagnosed with PMR be sure to ask your doctor and rheumatologist to tell you all there is to know about prednisolone (Steroid).
I wish i had asked about Prednisolone at the time i was diagnosed with PMR so i could have been well informed about pred side effects, and it would have not been so much of a shock had i been prewarned. My doctor and rheumy did not volunteer info on the medication before prescribing it. Having said that it is not to say you will experience a variety of side effects as our bodies deal with all medications differently.....hope all goes well for you.....
Yes, PMR normally strike woman over 50, I was 78 year old man when it hit me. There have woman in their 30 who have unlucky enough to contact PMR. If you have stiffness in your muscles and when you work against the stiffness it very painful. Then you prescribed Prednisone and your pain is relieved, welcome to the PMR club. May your journey be a smooth. Think positive, stay active and try to smile. 😉
Interestingly, I asked my GP why he hadn't informed me of some of the more common side effects which I experienced and his reply was that not everyone gets them. The information would have been helpful but I appreciate his reasoning to an extent.
don't you live cats. my pets are my babies. my husband and I weren't able to have kids. so my pets are very spoiled. i have pretty bad lung problems and was on pretty high doses of prednisone for about 3 years. it would vary depending on hospitalizations and symptoms but I rarely got below 60 mg. so I know all about the side effects. from what I understand the dosing for PMR would be much lower. thank for the warning thoug. it would be a shock if you didn't know what to expect.
No-one told PMR it can't appear before your 50th birthday! It is less common in under 50s - which is by no means the same as saying it doesn't happen.
I see my dr. regularly for chronic pain, but this is much different and is not being help by my meds. I hope that he will at least try the prednisone. he is usually pretty good about listening to my concers.
thanks for the encouragement. I hope everything goes smoothly too.
sorry silver, on this one point, I'd have to disagree. I'd Much rather be informed about "possible" side effects in order to make a more educated decision about what to do.
Better than my rheumie who said there were too many to mention!
Hi silver49
Yes, not everyone gets side effects from pred, but the majority of patients do so i think the doctors and rheumys have a duty of care and to inform patients of the troublesome side effects of prednisolone, so that patients know what is happening to them when a side effect rears it's ugly head. I know for sure if i had known about the adversities of prednisolone i don't think i would have taken them. I wish i had read the info leaflet that came with them but i didn't, because i thought if there was anything untoward i needed to know about them i would have been informed by the medical professionals....alas had to find out the hard way. Still, a distant memory now, but i do feel for those patients going through it..that's why i am still on the forum to give some comfort, encouragement and a giggle if i can......stay warm, happy and positive....👍😊
If it is not being helped much by your meds, it is quite likely it may be PMR. If you take steroids and you have a miraculous effect, it probably is PMR!
The theory is that if we know what can happen - it will. Seems a cock-eyed way of looking at it to me but there you are...