My father aged 81yrs was diagnosed with polymyalgia approx 6 months ago . I suspect he has had it for some time. Steroids have not been the miracle drug we had hoped for.At first it was stiffness to the arms and shoulders and the hip joints and very stiff in the mornings until he got moving . He has lost partial sight in one eye which i put down to the illness.He is unable to walk without a stick at the moment and is confirmed to the house.He has lost most of the feeling in his lower legs and feet and has the sensation of pins and needles. The specialist said his folic acid levels are low and this is the reason for this.I have asked about increasing his steroids (he is on 7.5mg at the moment but over the last month it has been up to 15mg) I realize there are different symptoms with this illness but have'nt heard of anyone with these symptoms and everyone else seems to swear by steroids.He can cope with the aches and pains but is getting increasingly depressed by being house bound. I welcome any advice you may have to offer.[/b]
Hello Bubbeyez and I'm so sorry to hear about your father's suffering. Did he have any symptoms pre-steroids of bad headaches and/or jaw pain and did he lose the sight in one eye following the commencement of his illness but prior to commencing on steroids? If these symptoms were present, it is possible that he was suffering from Giant Cell (or Temporal) Arteritis which is linked to PMR and which carries a high risk of sight loss and for which a high immediate starting dose of 40-60mgs of steroids is essential to prevent this loss. You don't say what his starting dose was or the results of inflammatory blood tests ESR and CRP which usually help to confirm diagnosis but I suspect the dose may not have been high enough to control his symptoms. I do hope this may help a little but do come back with any more queries as there is a wealth of information on this site from people who have had years of experience of this condition.
MrsO
BubbyE
One go visit www.pmr-gca-northeast.org.uk and an NHS or BSR site and download the guidelines issued by the BSR last year.
Then make an appointment for your father with your GP (either a house-call or surgery visit(. Tell your father that he has to tell the GP that he wants you in on the consultation.
Spell it out in words of one syllable to the GP and make it quite clear you and your father are not putting up with this 'limbo' land where you are watching your father suffer and slide downhill.
If push comes to shove - ask outright, if ageism in your district is a problem.
If the steroids are not doing the trick, it might be pertinent to ask to see the Consultant Rheumatologist, either the existing one or another.
(Have a look on the hospital website at the Rheumotology department and see which one specialises in PMR-GCA - they are all Rheumatologist, but then tend to specialise in different types of within that umbrella, and ask the GP to make an appointment with that one.)
However, notwithstanding all of that - if you suspect your father has GCA and it is no being recognised - ask your GP for a referral to the Opthamologist in the hospital as an emergency appointment. GCA is not to be trifled with - it can quickly lead to loss or partial loss of site and once it has gone - its gone.
Good Luck and stand your ground.
Blow and dash, meant to add there is another drug, called methtextrate but this needs a consultant and a good diagnosis
Sorry I omitted it.