well, i have been diagnosed(only by symptons) with pmr, so dr started on prednisone, 40 mg ? that,s high i understand, but 13 days ago reduced to 20 mg, by 5 every so many days, since oct 12,th, anyway, i wanted to know if there are other patients out there that have had chronic back issues, sciatica, degenerative disk, herniated disk, arthritis, etc, i have had these issues on and off for several years, i,m 68, now,seems i still have these issues on and off, along with pmr,sometimes as is typical, when you have one part of your body hurting badly, the other pains aren,t so noticeable, but sometimes, both seem to be attacking me at same time, i just wonder if anyone out there has had these back issues for long time, and then,all of a sudden,shoulder,s, buttocks, hamstrings, all seize up, hurt, can,t raise arms without feeling agonizing pain etc, i think that something triggered this condition with me, i have a few ideas, one was "crestor" that i stopped myself on oct 5 th, the others are stress factors, emotional, and physical, which i was coping with for a number of months, have any or your doctors out there, suggested what triggered pmr, for you
No one thing triggers PMR - it is thought to be a range of things that put strain on the immune system until it finally gives way and goes wrong. But there is no one thing that has been found to be common to everyone - whether it is the flu jab, which is often blamed, or an infection.
Many of us have had back problems beforehand, frozen shoulder is often diagnosed before a diagnosis of PMR is arrived at. Myofascial pain syndrome and piriformis syndrome are known to be often found alongside PMR.
But let's face it - most of us are older, the average age of diagnosis is over 70 (I think it is probably lower of the truth were told) and most of us already have degenerative diseases like OA. That's what happens as you age!
I guess I am not alone! I am trying to distinguish between the sciatic/disk pain and the PMR pain as well. Dr. put me back up to 20 mg pred a few days ago (from 10 mg) to fight the inflammation that she believes is caused by the spine issues, not the PMR. It may be piriformis syndrome, and yes I have arthritis too in my spine.I am going to physical therapy now (1st visit yesterday) for back/butt pain stretching and exercises. We will see how that goes. I can't get in to see a rheumatologist until Nov 22nd, (been waiting 2 1/2 months!), so my primary physician is doing her best to calm my system down. I'm just worried that her suggested pred tapering schedule is too fast - 20 mg for 10 days, 10 mg for 7 days then 5 mg until I see her again on the 29th.
Had an epidural - steroid shot 2 weeks ago for back pain but it didn't work.
I go see my orthopaedic Dr. on Dec. 2nd, so we will see if anything improves in the back/butt/hip area by then with the physical therapy.
It is just frustrating when there are two separate issues going on at the same time in the same area of your body. So did the back pain issues trigger the PMR or vice versa, or perhaps they are not related at all, which is most likely. Oh, and I did get a staph infection in my hand about 1 month before the PMR reared its ugly head. Guess I will never know, just hope somebody figures out something soon so that I can resume the active lifestyle I had before. Just turned 65 and really miss my tennis and golf 😟
Good luck to you Cheryl!
wow, all your issues are so much like mine, yes, makes it hard to diagnose, but i too had the butt, glute problem, pririformis muscle pain,all this long before diagnosed with pmr, few months back i went for trigger point massage, it hurts at the time, but does release all those knots, and tight muscles, also looked into decompression of disks back in june, very expensive procedure, but back issues chronic for so long, that dr had me go for mri, results showed, herniated disk, degenerative disks, stenosis of sping, omg! i,m a wreck, anyway, maybe all the wear and tear and chronic issues, led to this pmr , inflammation shoulders, hips, butt etc, sounds like your gp is suggesting a taper that is far too fast, but rheumy will talk about that,well good luck and i am 68, but this sure has limited me to much activity,
Definitely, Cheryl's right about your tapering schedule being too fast. Standard advice - never more than 10% at a time, and make sure you are okay on each dose as you lower. After 10 mg tapering must be done even more slowly and in tiny steps, no more than 1 mg, and eventually .5 mg steps, often for a month or more at a time.
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/reducing-pred-dead-slow-and-nearly-stop-method-531439
I have only GCA there are three years without any association with PMR.
Few people have just GCA as I do.
i have no pain at all me neither any of those PMR symptoms.
This. Is the reason I am not answering most part of discussions and I would like to help besides getting information about this scary illness I have - to I loose my sight.
Even though I keep in high spirits, my hope alive and the firm belief in what I want to happen.
I am sure you will receive many helpful ideas, telling you their experiences.
Wish you the very best.
Take care,
iellen
Wish you the best, dear Cheryl
Take care
iellen
It is very common to find myofascial pain syndrome and/or piriformis syndrome alongside PMR. These give rise to muscular problems - and it is perfectly possible to deal with at least that part of the pain with non-drug techniques. I have benefitted from Bowen therapy and needling/intramuscular stimulation as well as massage and manual mobilisation techniques - they don't do much about the PMR but they can help the rest.
Cheryl are you saying that you cannot raise your arms without agonising pain even though you are on a 40mg dose of pred? It that is so it seems unlikely this it is pmr but some other cause.
oh no ptolemy, that was when i first went to see my gp, that was when pain intolerable and he put me on 40 mg pred, and that same day, i had relief within hrs, then he had me taper every 3 to 5 days, down to 30, then rheumy, tapered me from 30 every few days to 25 then 20, which i am taking now, no, just had flare up tues past, but seems rheumy thinks i overdid activity on monday, i did feel not bad, so spent like 4 hrs wandering mall and shopping, next morning i had symptons back, not as bad as when i had initial visit to gp though, just sore shoulders,buttocks, hamstrings,, am and again late evening, but this flare up only now for 4 days, rheumy suggest i wait til after wkend, see if settles before increasing, which i definitely don,t want to do
That makes more sense. I can understand you not wanting to increase, as you are already on quite a high dose for PMR. I am glad that the pred worked so well initially. Rest over the weekend, it is a very important part of helping PMR symptoms I have found.
Thanks Eileen,
I sincerely appreciate the extensive knowledge that you have and share with us. Many of us are "newbies" to PMR and the resultant afflictions, it can be scary and fearful.
you are much appreciated 🤒