I am new to this. 57yo newly diagnosed in Dec. with PMR. My CRP was 2.3 and had a positive ANA. My main symptom is debilitating exhaustion. The aches and pains are a bother as well.
I had a total hip replacement in September and these symptoms began after the surgery. I thought I was having surgery recovery problems until I saw a Rheumatologist. She started me on Prednisone 20mg/d-. Felt like the Awakening! Immediate return of energy/ no pain X 2 weeks. Since then symptoms seem to be returning.
My BIG concern is : Can I return to Work at the end of January?
I am a hospice/home health nurse- a very physical job and stressful.
Are any of you working with this 'disease'? How is it for you?
I am finding that if I overexert one day I'm out of it next day.
My goal is to find balance and understanding of how to be the best I can with this new condition.
Do any of you take Fosamax for bone preservation and something for stomach ulcer prevention as result of side effects of prednisone?
Rosie
I was diagnosed last July with PMR and I'm 55. I started off with 20 mgs prednisone and I'm now down to 12 1/2 mgs. To counteract the side effects of prednisone I take calcium and vitamin d tablets daily and fosamax weekly. Fosamax is very expensive here. If bought under normal circumstances with a prescription it would cost .50 per tablet. I post my prescription away to a pharmacy warehouse and it works out much cheaper. I'll be having another blood test on Friday and will be seeing my doctor next Tuesday to see if my prednisone dosage goes up, down or stays the same. I am feeling fairly stiff in the mornings and have limited movement with my legs, but I feel much better with the prednisone than without. Just out of curiosity, how much does your Fosamax cost?
Take care
Gail
Gail
I have not started taking fosamax yet. I am still trying to digest all this new stuff.
Have you been able to work with this? That is my big challenge- is can I go back to work. Want to know how others have coped with working etc.
Thanks for reply-
K Rose
Unfortunately, I lost my job about a month before being diagnosed with PMR. It seems that I have reached that age where it is more advantageous to an employer to hire spring chickens and pay half the salary. Until something else comes up I will enjoy semi retirement. There have been days when I've been very grateful that I'm not working. The job that I was doing was working in a bakery (mainly as a shop assistant) and I dont think that I could cope on a full-time basis anymore anyway. This condition has slowed me down considerably and bending can sometimes be a problem too.
At first I didnt want to take prednisone because of the side effects and thought that I could cope with the pain with just some arthritis pain killers. But my rheumatologist advised me against it because of the risk of getting giant cellarteritis. You have probably already discovered that some days are better than others. I think that it is good to exercise when possible. I walk everyday for about an hour. My calf muscles hurt like hell now but I feel if you stop using your muscles, you lose them
Take care
Gail
Rosie, I have PMR and I have been able to keep working. I am a Social Worker. I work with Foster Children. I am on light duty at work. I don't know what will happen when they expect me to go back to full duty. I cannot pick up the children because of being so weak in my hips. I take Fosmax. I have taken it for two years. The same amount of time I have taken prenisone. I also take Prilosec for my stomach. PMR is a rough condition. It is something that will change your whole life. There are so many things I cannot do that I used to do. However, the prenisone has made all the difference in my pain. I am now on 9 mg. At one time I was taking 20 mg.Gail and Ineca:
Thanks for the response. I am so amazed at how little energy I have for a day. I have maybe 3-4 hours of energy to get things done and then the fatigue overwhelms me- it takes 3- 4 hours to recover. I have recently had to increase the prednisone to 20mg/d from 10. I have only be on the prednisone for 3 weeks now.
Is fatigue an issue with you as well?
I've always been high energy and this is the pits.
The exhasution does seem to be related with how much I do- if I overdo then it's really bad the next day.
Is this how it is with you guys?
I am still on post-op disability but am not sure now whether I can tolerate work until I'm stabilized with the medications etc.
it's nice to have others to talk to.
thanks guys