Hello, my PMR experience began Aug 1 '07 (having excruciating pain 10
on a scale of 1-10) but wasn't diag till 3weeks after; my sed rate was
84 and then finally prescribed w/ 20mg Pred (within 4-5 hrs no pain!).
I decided on an aggressive tapering schedule, finally quit Pred in the
middle of Mar '08 (pain level down to 4-5)and took 200mg Ibuprofen in
am and pm for 2 more weeks. After trying acupuncture, Chinese herbs
(these didn't work) from Jan - Mar '08; I started on the alkaline vs
acidic (75/25%) diet and having a consult with a holistic dr he
recommended drinking water w/himalayan salt crystals, taking a liquid
calcium/magnesium/zinc supplement, msm. This change in diet, nutriments
(I'm also taking Omega-3 fish capsules 4000-6000mg, vitamin C 6000mg,
multi-vitamin,complex B, glucosamin/chondritin w/msm daily), and
EXCERCISE (yoga helps a lot and mental focus) has helped tremendously.
I just had blood work done 08/11/08 and my sed rate was at 25. I still
have a little morning stiffness in the upper arms/shoulders area but
doing windmills and yoga breathing helps me start out the day; I have
not been on any meds since Apr '08 and the additional by benefits I've
had has been a 10lb. weight loss (from 145 to 135) and a decrease in
blood pressure. You have to try different things and listen to your
body because most doctors (at least the ones I've seen only want to
perpetuate their goals of maintaining their client list and their
relationship with pharmaceutical companies...legalized drug dealers,
buttocks). My pain level is 1-2; I feel I can control this PMR thing
myself and maybe this feedback can help others, Good Luck on your
journey!
Miken
I answered in the old post - so here it is again.
Its amazing how men experience PMR differently to women and seem to get
down much more quickly and also not to suffer many of the side effects
from co-costeroids.
I know the ratio of men to women contracting
PMR is low (100 pmr sufferers - women 97 men 3) or so I am lead to
believe. And I do not seem to have come across a man with GCA.
It will be interesting to see the results of the international survey.
In the meantime Miken, for the first time in my life, I am beginning to wish I was a man!!
Good Health and Good wishes.
I am a man and have had GCA but I wasn´t told about this when I got the diagnose. Maybe because I had taken blood tests at a hospital and the regular doctor was on a vacation. I have had very little pain compared to what most of you seem to have experienced. After 3 plus years I am down to 0.6 mg (1/4 of a 2.5 mg tablwet)