Thanks to all for sharing the wealth of information.
Does anyone know what causes PMR?
Thanks!
Cause - not yet - as many theories as there are grains of sand.
Visit pmr gca northeast website and fill in the International Survey.
My understanding is that it is an autoimmune disorder. Doesn't seem to be well known. I was just sent to a new rheumatologist because mine had relocated, and she decided that I had scoliosis, even though I have a background over the years of PMR diagnosed by several doctors. She also neglected to do the sed test etc. so I am still looking for a new one in my area.
I tell people that they don't know thw cause of PMR except that it generally happens to older people--so stay away from that!
Hi Valdez
As someone said there is no known cause however many of us feel it is brought on by stress and or with a combination of illness.
Personally i swear mine was brought on by stress. I also noticed many of us were very active and A type personalities which is interesting.
I agree .....very active and A type personality which I am.
Nobody knows, but it is often triggered by stress. In my case I went into the hospital thinking I was going to die. I had afib, and bounced back quickly from the attack, but...guess what, PMR showed up. I didn't know it was that at the time, in fact it took me months to figure out, but that is how it happened for me. And of course the obvious, it happens to older people (I'm 62) so it appears to be a reminder from God to start paying attention to your bucket list.
mark
i am still convinced mine started with a shoke which i had about 5 days after
They don't know the cause, and there is no cure. They only know how to treat the symptoms. Most of us, here, with PMR were blindsided by this autoimmune disease. I know I was. It came upon me at first with horrible aching of my legs; as though I had just run a Marathon. At first, I blamed it on the fact that I'm sitting for too long at my job, and I began walking up and down the hallway several times a day. Eventually, all the other symptoms started and I got to the point where my energy was totally zapped which prompted me to go to Urgent Care. The rest is history. Over 2 years now and counting down on
Me too. Major stress, working 10-12 hours a day, 6 days a week. Seems to be a common "thread" here. In my case, I think stress and inflammation combined to bring this on. I had an inflammed hip that amazed my doctor, also excess belly fat which seems to exacerbate inflammation. And a diet otherwise fairly healthy but high in sugar. The PMR showed up a few months before I had the hip joint replaced. The surgeon who worked on my colon a year later (thank you, prednisone!) called in a gynecologist because my lady parts were so inflammed he thought I might have cancer. (So far, not!)
It seems so common we A types
I ended up leaving work and no thanks for all those extra hours. I use to get hell for not taking my lunches and breaks and now that I'm sick not a peep.
I've always said very few employers really care once your gone. I get emails from my clients not my employer.
To tell you the truth i don't miss work.
I was working for myself! (Still own a restaurant, but finally hired an executive chef instead of trying to do it all myself - no way I can, these days!)
Thank you all for your input. I can see the similarities ... that we are overachievers, driven by stress, excess work, and our bodies finally protested from being overtaxed for too long. My first episode was when I was 57; fortunately in remission until this past summer and I'm now 66. The wealth of info from this group is so helpful in learning how to deal with this. Again, my sincere thanks.
I don't know what caused mine as it was not stress. I had just returned from a 5 week holiday in the UK, and I thought I was getting the flu. I just ached all over and it happened overnight. I originally went to the DR for a perscription for high blood pressure thinking I also had the flu so wasn't worried . The Dr asked if I was Ok as I was walking a bit funny and when I told him of my aches and he asked me a few more questions he said that he needed to do some tests , but he also said straight off that he thought I did have PMR, but would need some tests to confirm it. Keeping in mind I was on;y 47 at the time. I am certainly not an over acheiver or work a holic and I don't work long hours, and never have. My hours were and still are very flexible So Valdez that shoots your theory out of the water.
Hi fees I agree with you. When I started with pmr I was retired and leading a relatively quiet life in comparison to the one I had 5 years before. Mine came on out of the blue literally, I was fine one day and the next I could hardly move . I went to the GP within a few days had a blood test and was diagnosed straight away and on prednisone 20mg the next day. For a few months things were great and then came the cycle of every time I start 5 reduce my symptoms come back with a vengeance! So here I am over two years water that whatever dose i am on i still have the symptoms.
In one of my past lives (career) i too owned a restaurant and i don't know how you do it. I can't rely on me daily and when i do things daily for several days rhis is when i crash hard.
Take it easy
Untrue, unless you class people 50 and over as 'older people'. I might be a silver surfer but at 69 I did not class myself as 'Old'.
I might be 78 now, but in my head 21, my body well 78 'wear and tear!!
And I Chair a Charity.
I also know people aged in there 20's, 30's and 40's. Not a lot but some.
According to what I have read, PMR "usually" strikes people over 60; I was 67 when in blindsided me. Type A personality; that's me; a perfectionist, active working woman who has many younger (and older) friends, loves to sing and dance; play with my grandkids. Needles to say, this PMR devastated me 2 + years ago. Down to 1 3/4 mg/day of Medrol. I refuse to let it lick me. My faith and determination keep me positive.
I was also a perfectionist, still am to an extent, although I try to be less so these days, but find that really hard to let go of. Lots of stress, both personal and work related in the years leading up to PMR.