Hello, I am so pleased to have found this board. I was diagnosed last
Friday with PMR, and am hoping to find out what I can expect to have to
live with. I am nearly 70 and the onset was probably in April this year
when I started getting numbness and tingling in my fingers. Since then
the pain has got much worse until it encompassed both my shoulders,
neck, hips etc. I have been put on Prednisolone, 30mg a day for five
days then I have to see my GP again. Certainly the pills have helped
with the shoulder pain, but the areas where the pain was are still
tender. Is this to be expected please? I am a bit worried about the
possibility of the Giant cell Arthritis, or Temporal Arthritis. I do
suffer with migraine, but since Friday I have had a lot of tenderness
in the left side of my head, and toothache in the top teeth of that
side. I can't make up my mind if I have cause for concern here, or do I
just have common old toothache and need to see the dentist? I worry
about the possibiliy of having a stroke, my first husband had a massive
stroke aged 57 and died of it. Any advice or help will be most
gratefully received.
Margaret
Hi Margaret,
I'm 66,started with 20 m prednisone in Feb 06. Am now down to 9. My first reaction is you need to be referred to a rhuematologist, especially if you have symtoms in the eye and temple area. The giant cell thing is very serious. Many of us suffered terribly before finally being correctly diagnosed, referred and treated. The specialists just know how to deal with PMR. Sometimes a general practitioner will make the wrong diagnosis orreduce the prednisone too fast making things even worse. I've read lots of posts from people who have what we do and it's debilitating to sometimes and requires lots of knowledge of the disease and patience to endure. I hope you do well.
Hi Margaret,
I fully agree with Betsy you need to be referred to a Rhuematologist straight away. I was diagnosed with PMR and Temporal Arteritis September 05. The day after diagnosis I was in hospital for a biopsy on the Temporal Artery - very scary.
I started on 60mg of Prednisolone and 4 weeks ago came of it completley but the old aches and pains have come back so I shall probably have to go on low maintenance dose.
This board is brilliant for info on PMR and Prednisolone I've learned far more from here than I have from any Doctor or Rhuematolist.
Good Luck I'll be thinking of you.
Sheila
Hello Margaret
I've been diagnosed for three weeks now and still feel shocked. The initial treatment with prednisilone has alleviated a lot of the pain and stiffness and I can walk a lot better. At 47 I'm probably one of the younger members of the club! Very achey today as temperature affects me a lot. Even with the radiator switched off in my office it is still far too hot to function properly.
Have you been referred to a rheumatologist? I don't get to see my GP until next week as he is on holiday so I don't know whether he has referred me. He referred me to an ophthalmologist as my left eye is very blurred and I have been having a lot of pain and headaches. My optician suspects the GCA has been untreated for so long that I have permanent damage to the optic nerve.
Whereabouts in the UK are you? I am in Worcestershire, living in the Malvern Hills.
Hoping you are having a better day today than yesterday.
Judi
Hello all,Hello Margaret
I'm no expert on blood tests, I'm afraid. My sed rate is only just elevated (27) but I have a positive RF (I have RA as well). I am going back to my GP on Friday and taking my list of queries as occupational health at work have become involved.
I have spent many holidays in and around the Torbay area (we had family friends in Torquay) but I don't know the east and south of the county at all well. My husband wants to visit Lyme Regis next year so the girls can have a go at fossil hunting. It certainly is a beautiful part of the country and I have many happy memories of nearly 30 years' visits to see our dear friend (she died last year aged 97).
Hoping you are well.
Love Judi x