Hi Iam new to the group. I have polymyalgia and cannot take any harsh meds. Ive been on steroids can't take them. Iam on natural supplements Turermic w/ curminin not sure how to spell it for inflammation does help but when wears off comes back. I have muscle pain tingling in the right hand mostly bottom of feet ache really all over. I do get through my day at work feel no pain because Iam always moving. Any ideas on natural healing.Thanks!
Do you get on Facebook? If so there is a group on Facebook that specializes in people who have PMR but do not treat themselves with prednisone. It might help you to join their group for information and support.
Sorry to bring you a bad news... Unfortunately the only help you will get is to get rid of your money. There are no natural supplements that could replace steroids... There might be some natural supplements that are anti-inflammatory, but that does not come even close to control PMR.
Even the lower dose of prednisone ( to avoid some of the side effects) might be a better option then rejecting steroids completely IMO.
Healthy nutrition, drinking enough water, moderate and regular exercises, enough sleep, Probiotics, mental balance through Yoga or whatever you like.
Massages, stretching, no smoking,...
You can add Supplements like minerals and vitamins (antioxidants) to the turmeric.
You could also look for a Classic Homeopathic treatment, but don't try around by yourself.
Along with the supplements people have suggested, make sure you get plenty of rest balanced by appropriate exercise (don't stress your muscles but try to do lots of walking or that kind of outdoor aerobic exercise). Personally I've found actively avoiding emotional and psychological stress in my life has been helpful, although of course we can't avoid it all. Pick your battles! Ginger, in same family as turmeric/curcumin, is a proven anti-inflammatory. I like to have a cup of ginger tea every evening made with about a teaspoon of freshly grated ginger steeped for about 15 minutes. There is someone else posting in this forum just now who is also keeping off the steroids and she believes her magnesium supplement is one of the most helpful things for her. Some magnesium is not very absorbable, so do your homework before starting that. Every few days I put Epsom salts in my bath and soak and hope I'm getting enough magnesium that way.
You may find this particular thread interesting:
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/encouragement-595158?page=0#2720557
One thing to note, however, is if you start to get any of the visual symptoms associated with GCA (sister disease to PMR) you absolutely must get checked immediately by a doctor or qualified eye doctor.
Hi Paula, what were your symptoms when diagnosed with PMR, also what were the results of your blood tests? As Nick says steroids are the only way of suppressing the PMR inflammation. When I was first diagnosed, I could hardly walk, I was unable dress and even had trouble eating as it was so painful to raise my arms.
Owch, Ptolemy. I'd almost forgotten those days. You know, I am one who hates medicines, but the day I finally was given a prescription for prednisone I went immediately to the pharmacy before going home, and took my first dose as soon as I could. When I saw my doctor a week later I was so grateful to her! Of course I immediately instituted a program to prevent or mitigate prednisone side effects!
Ok thank you for the advice will do my homework. Thank you!
Will be writting all the responces done so I remember. Thanks!
I was down to 5mg gives heartburn. I has Barrets and have to watch on the heartburn. Can't go on the prednisone. Thank you anyway.
Will check out on Facebook Thank you!
Have you looked into coated prednisone pills? They are design to pass stomach and release prednisone in intestines. This would remove concern about heartburn.
Again, there is really no scientifically proven replacement for steroids to manage PMR symptoms. From what I read there are lots of claims, anecdotal stories, etc... but no real proof that any of alternate stuff works.
Good for you with regard to no stroids. I refused them as I believe my health would be severely compromised. I too take turmeric for inflamation but I believe a good quality magnesium spplement is equally important. I have tried to boost my immune system with zinc, vits A B C and D plus GLA. I try to avoid processed food, getting stressed and lack of sleep. I also do gentle chi gong excersises which ivolve stretching and breathing ( good videos on u tube). In the last 6 months I have gone from beng almost totally immobile though severe pain in knees, feet and shoulders as well as (to a lesser extent) hands hips and jaw. to being pain free and mobile. No drugs and no side effects. I can now walk miles and enjoy a outdoor life again. good luck. Stick with it as its not a quick fix but I believe it gets to the root cause of the problem
There are gastro-resistant tablets if you live in the UK which pass through the stomach - cannot cause heartburn.
Alternatively, methylprednisolone depot injections are available all over the world and can also be used to manage PMR/GCA. They are mentioned in the most recent recommendations for the management of PMR published in 2015. It requires an injection approximately every 3 weeks with reducing dose over time. I know at least 3 people who have been only on injections because of gastric problems.
I disagree. see my reply to paula. Maybe I'm one of the lucky ones but I had to persist for a month before I noticed really worth while improvements. My doctor did blood tests weekly and kept a good eye on me but the decision and research was mine and I am truely grateful
PMR goes into remission for the majority of people at some point. You cannot say that "boositng your immune system" helped - it is an overactive immune system that is the problem in the first place. I never eat processed food. I have used magnesium - and I was doing similar exercises for the 5 years I had PMR before pred. Aquafit, Pilates and yoga. But it didn't persuade the PMR to go into remission and I was in constant pain. PMR without pred didn't do my mental or physical states any good.
You have been very lucky and I am very pleased for you, I wish it would be the case for all of us. But on the forums we do deal with the realities of living with PMR for the majority of people - and for the vast majority of people, pred is a life-saver in many ways. There is more than one cause of PMR - PMR is just the name we give to the symptoms of an underlying conditon, one day they will find the causes. THEN one will be able to talk about dealing with root cause.
Back in the days when I thought I just was just experiencing a bad flare of osteoarthritis I tried to do some exercises recommended and demonstrated by a woman who says everyone can get rid of their stiffness by following a certain regimen. I do believe she is correct for most people, but I was virtually crippled the day after I tried some of the exercises - despite having maintained a good fitness level all my life. Three days after starting pred I could do everything again and had no pain whatsoever. But I admit I've never tried the classical stretch again!
sorry if the word boost was mis understood, what I meant was to say I attempted to make my immune system more healthy. I know one day the causes will be found but in the mean time it would be a good thing if people would attempt to fix imbalances in the body before embarking on the harsh reality of taking steroids. These days doctors and specialists are too busy to worry about the might be's. Its all about quick fix. I believe Its up to us as individuals to be responsible for our own health and if we still fail then the doctor is the one to turn to.
Dear Sandie, steroids suppress our immune system, because the fact that it went rogue caused the PMR problem in the first place. In fact you do not want a healthy immune system. There have been some trials for diseases where the immune system turns round and attacks the body instead of protecting it. The immune system is effectively killed off and it is then allowed to be reborn so you effectively have a brand new immune system that does not attack you. I am not sure we are in the position to sort out our immune system problem ourselves as science has not got that far yet.
my point exactly. If our immune system is working correctly these problems would not occur. No science hasn't found the answers but how hard is it looking. Much of our science is funded by weathly drug companies and I very much doubt that they are interested in finding a cure that doesn't involve the use of their drugs. Food for thought anyway