Would be most interested to hear if anyone has had pains in the calf of legs as a result of their PMR? I was diagnosed last summer with all the usual symptoms, started on 9mg pred which certainly cured the dreadful upper body pains but then doc found I had no pulse in feet and sent me for all manner of tests. Walking became a real problem, with severe calf pains after about 3 mins, not easy to accept for someone like me who loves walking. Steroid dose went up and down until March this year when CRP level went sky high (110) and ESR 59 following a urinary infectio n which sent everyone into a panic, including me! All nasty reasons were thankfully eliminated so put on 60mg pred and turns out I had contracted peripheral arterial disease in legs and also some soft tissue thickening around the aorta which could be really serious. My specialist at hospital was wonderfully supportive although does treat me as a medical freak which is rather worrying! I've been gradually coming down from 60 mg, now on 15 and all CRP/ESR levels back to normal, but the pain in the legs just getting worse. Now waiting the results of this weeks CT scan to see if the thickening has reduced as the steroid dose comes down, but they are now suggesting I go in for an angioplasty on both legs to relieve the pain. Noone yet has definitely told me all this is a nasty side effect of PMR, but to me it just too much of a coincidence, as I was previously fit as a fiddle, no high blood pressure, cholesterol, never smoked etc etc.
I'm not convinced angioplasty is the answer either as would prefer to cure myself by exercise etc, but now getting rather frightened. Any ideas would be much appreciated.
Hi Mrs V, I was interested to read of your leg problems as I have experienced the same thing. I was diagnosed with PMR in Oct 2006 and have really struggled to get the steroid dose down - I am now on 2mg and hope to be off them completely by Christmas. In October last year I began to get pain in my right calf after walking a short distance, the pulse in my foot was almost non-existent. A specialist confirmed I had a blocked artery and was surprised when I told him I had never smoked - apparently it is very unusual for a non-smoker to get PAD. I have wondered if this has been caused by the steroids. I have to walk for at least 30 mins a day three times a week and this apparently causes the veins in the leg to expand to compensate for the blocked artery - like growing your own by-pass! The improvement is slow but I can walk for quite a distance without too much pain now. I hope you have been able to get some successful treatment for your problems.
Mrs V
In The Burden of PMR written by a collaboration of international medics for medcis, and 28 pages long (available under Resources on www.pmr-gca-northeast.org.uk) reference is made to 'peripheral vascular diseases'.
These do not appear to be steroid induced. In fact GCA is sometimes classed under Vasculitis. This means, as far as I can understand it that the inflammation can be in other arteries of the body as well.
I am no medic - but it is worth reading and then discussing the situation with both your GP and your specialist. It also states in the new guidelines published by the BSR that a scan is recommended for problems and you have had a CT scan.
I don't have PMR, but do have GCA and was made aware at the beginning that other arteries in the body could be affected. When I visit the surgery for my blood test the Nurse always checks the pulse in my feet and so does the Chiropodist each visit.
60mg is a high dose of steroids and it is very unusual to be put on 60mg for pmr alone. Tread carefully in what you decide to do.
Good Luck
MrsV
I, too, was diagnosed with Vasculitis in my legs when recovering from what eventually turned out to be undiagnosed PMR. Some months after that diagnosis, upon being taken very ill, I was eventually diagnosed with GCA and prescribed 40mg a day of Prednisolone. So apart from PMR, as Mrs K says GCA and Vasculitis also appear to be linked.
In my experience, daily walking has been of great benefit to me and briskly on the days when PMR allows.
Do hope you are seeing someone really good who can get to the bottom of this horrid experience for you soon. Good luck.
MrsO