methotrexate for PMR? | Arthritis Information

Hi...
I just got off the phone with a guy who has recovered from PMR! He said he had it from 2001 until 2003. It made me feel kinda hopeful...

He told me that his rheumy had him on methotrexate and that it really helped him. Has anyone here been on it? I have an appointment with my rheumatologist tomorrow and I thought I'd ask him about it. Also, how often should I have my SED rate checked?

I started back to teaching this week 1/2 time. Ended up taking 12 milligrams of methylprednilisone in the morning and 4 milligrams at night. It has helped the morning pain, but I'm finding that I'm really tired and aching a lot more than before work started. My doctor doesn't want me to increase my dose, but I'm feeling so achy I wish I could. It's going to be a long school year, but it's wonderful to see the kids. Just wish I felt better, so I could be better with them.

Thanks for your help...

JannieSorry I haven't tried that.
Hang in for a couple of weeks, you may fid you start feeling a little better.
Best wishesHi Jannie, often using "steroid-sparing drugs" in the treatment of PMR is based upon the total amount of corticosteroid taken daily to maintain a comfort level (some physicians begin combination treatment corticosteroid + DMARD when tapering below 10 mg/day increased symptoms).

I have read at least one clinical study that demonstrates both Imuran and MTX allows a gradually reduction in the 'necessary' daily dose of corticosteroids. Both Imuran and MTX can, in some people, take the place of corticosteroids in the reduction of inflammation and pain in PMR just as they do, in some people, with RA.

Suppression of inflammation is the most important part of treatment. DMARDS are withdrawn, sometimes with a tapering dose, once a sufficient response has been experience.

Best wishes for a speedy resolution and a return of energy, Shug
Hi Jannie,

I started MTX 6 weeks ago. 15mg for 1st weekly dose and 10mg each week now.

I have felt so much better, less fatigued being the main ' better '.

I saw my rheumy 2 days ago and I'm now dropping 1 mg Pred to 3mg daily. If I am not managing with this he plans to up the MTX.

From posts I am following: to drink heaps of water on the day and next day of MTX and to take with food. I have had some quezziness the next day and plan a quite day.

I am very pleased with the results.

I have Sed / CRP and full blood count done every 2 months , but with the addition of MTX will now every 4 weeks for a while mainly to check liver levels.

Glad you are back at school, can you get some help at home so when you come home you can rest ect?

Also I have been having increased leg muscle weakness, difficulty getting out of chair, if I have to kneel down ( not praying ) , I crawl to somewhere I can hang onto if no one is at home to haul me up! Rheumy said this weakness is yet another side effect of Pred! ANYONE else have this one.

Hugs Lyn

Hi Lyn from OZ

Sure glad the MTX is helping. That was one option I was not given but after 3 yrs. PMR with one year on pred., old PMR took a hike so did not have a problem from 7.5 mgs down. I never knew which was a side effect of pred and which was the disease but I did have a lot of weakness in the legs. I would have to litterly pick my legs up (one at a time of course) to get into the bathtub where I would stand and cry like a baby because that too hurt.

Keep your eye on the prize all. You can and will beat this ornery disease. That is the only good thing, eventually it will go away.

Pat

Thanks Pat for your encouragement ect.

You are quite right: Its not so funny when you have trouble getting off the throne

Sorry for your lot with Fibro. That seems to be a miserabe disease to have with a lot of difficulty to control. At least PMR will leave one day.. its just what it leaves us with!!!

I have asked if I might have Fibro too. Its a maybe , but my ESR & CRP are still up .I have so many sore spots .. not sure what is what???

Have your legs improved because you are off the Pred/ do you think that was the cause?

This is the week I see the surgeon for my GCA biopsy....not looking forward to this but I am wanting to just Do It! Cross another bridge ect.

Hugs Lyn

Hello,
Well, I saw my rheumy yesterday. He seems to think I should be feeling completely normal on the amount of prednisone I'm taking, jumping up and down with joy. I do feel tons better on the prednisone...I can turn over in bed, get out of bed, lift my arms and legs, dress, etc., but I don't feel "normal"! Starting to wonder what "normal" is!! From what I hear from all of you, there is still some pain and fatigue, especially in the morning, even when taking prednisone. Is this right?

He gave me a prescription for Tramadol, which I will wait to fill. I don't really want to take a pain pill, on top of everything else..especially if it will make me more tired. He also is checking my ESR and CRP again. Does the prednisone cause these tests to normalize?

Good luck on your GCA biopsy this week, Lyn. I'm sure it's scary, but it will be good to know what going on.

Thanks for all the support everyone...It means a lot to me.

Jannie

[QUOTE=LynM]Thanks Pat for your encouragement ect.

You are quite right: Its not so funny when you have trouble getting off the throne

Sorry for your lot with Fibro. That seems to be a miserabe disease to have with a lot of difficulty to control. At least PMR will leave one day.. its just what it leaves us with!!!

I have asked if I might have Fibro too. Its a maybe , but my ESR & CRP are still up .I have so many sore spots .. not sure what is what???

Have your legs improved because you are off the Pred/ do you think that was the cause?

This is the week I see the surgeon for my GCA biopsy....not looking forward to this but I am wanting to just Do It! Cross another bridge ect.

Hugs Lyn

[/QUOTE]

Hey Lyn...The cause of the sore legs was the PMR and the pred did help quite a bit. I am looking now at a knee replacement down the road. Just went to physio for it but it looks pretty bad. The arthritis has been eating away. If you think you may have fibro, go online and find the pictures that gives you the points that they use to see if you have fibro. These spots are on the hips, the outside of the knees, your butt and along the breastbone. There are others too but these seem to be the main ones. Hope you are not looking at that too.

I wish you tons of luck with the GCA biopsy and hope the outcome is negative. Keep us posted.

Pat

[QUOTE=montanawoman]Hello,
Well, I saw my rheumy yesterday. He seems to think I should be feeling completely normal on the amount of prednisone I'm taking, jumping up and down with joy. I do feel tons better on the prednisone...I can turn over in bed, get out of bed, lift my arms and legs, dress, etc., but I don't feel "normal"! Starting to wonder what "normal" is!! From what I hear from all of you, there is still some pain and fatigue, especially in the morning, even when taking prednisone. Is this right?

He gave me a prescription for Tramadol, which I will wait to fill. I don't really want to take a pain pill, on top of everything else..especially if it will make me more tired. He also is checking my ESR and CRP again. Does the prednisone cause these tests to normalize?

Good luck on your GCA biopsy this week, Lyn. I'm sure it's scary, but it will be good to know what going on.

Thanks for all the support everyone...It means a lot to me.

Jannie

[/QUOTE]

Hi Jannie

I think all the Drs. think we should be up doing the jig but we only can do what we can do. The pred does make us feel good until it is time to decrease then you start to feel some discomfort. I really did not want to decrease but after seeing the side effects I figured I had better start. Be careful not to decrease too fast.

There may be days that you will want to take the Tramadol so if you have it for emergency purposes that should be ok. My Dr. checked my ESR and CRP once a month and the pred does tend to check the inflamation so it will tend to go up and down.

Did you guys read the post on LDN. The lady who is currently on LDN for poly is very impressed and right now she is busy closing a buisness down but when she is free I am going to have her come here and give you all some notes. I plan on taking it for my fibro. It is really good to know there is something other than pred for controlling these AI diseases.

You take care of yourself Jannie and anytime you want to ask a question or just chat just drop in.

Pat

Jannie just a short note , been taking Tramadol too after I got a painful osteo wedge fracture last year. It hasn't caused any sleepiness, apart from being able to sleep because the pain was relieved.

I believe they use the ESR/ CRP as I guide to lowering the Pred when these resuls come down, and of course how we are feeling is also considered.

Try not to worry too much on how you are 'supposed 'to feel, even by your Dr ect. You can only tell them how it is and get help when it is not!!! x

Pat thanks for the Fibro reference and your wishes. I will give the gory details uugg. I have read a bit on the LDN and look forward to hearing more about it.

Hugs Lyn