Polymyalgia Rheumatica

[Racerbvd]

Any one have it, delt with it???

[Max Von]

PMR is an awful disease.
I am 52 and was diagnosed with PMR September 2009. Both shoulders and left knee were so sore and swollen I could not drive my self to the doctors. I finally hooked up with a Rheumatologist at the Lahey Clinic here in Boston. He diagnosed me through blood work and started me on a script for Prednisone (Corticosteroid) which within 3 days had me feeling like a new person. Unfortunately Prednisone cannot be taken indefinitely and the drug has several side effects.
Polymyalgia rheumatica usually goes away by itself, even when not treated, in 1 to 4 years. Symptoms diminish greatly with treatment. Most patients need steroid treatment for 1 or more years.
After 8 months on the drug he started to taper me off and my symptoms returned. More blood work concluded that my PMR had now turned to Rheumatoid Arthritis, a chronic anti-immune disease that I now treat with an injection of a Biologic drug (Enbrel).
Bottom line is these diseases are awful. You can function, with medication but never really feel the same as you did before. Fatigue and depression really take their toll over the long run. If it is PMR, the good news is that it's not forever.
Best advice is to find a really good Rheumatologist and seek whatever treatment works best.
Max

[whiskyb]

I have yet to get a firm diagnosis. It is a connective tissue disease and I have been dealing with it for around 10 years. Best advice stay positive

[Damian in NJ]

My best friends wife came down with this not long ago. She's a workout freak, tall, thin, yoga, holistic, and has been doing organic farming for years. We saw her Thanksgiving and I was appalled-no energy, listless, exhausted. She was first mis-diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, but got a second opinion. I was scared sh**less, I've never seen her this way.

She's now taking steriods, and was great last weekend. Apparently there is no cure, it hits white women over 50 generally, and you have to ride it out. She's being very careful what she eats and drinks, and maybe that's helped her recovery. Some days all she can do is get up, shower, and get back into bed to read. I think she has turned the corner, however.

[nynor]

a rheumatic disease involving musculature? (just guessing) this does not sound good. i hope you don't have it, whatever it is, byron.

[Racerbvd]

Thanks Guys, went to my Rheumatologist yesterday (woke up with a big knot on my ankle, and hurting like an MFer) thinking my Gout was acting up, I moved up my scheduled appointment up a week, and after an ultra sound and a few other questions she diagnosed me with it & Psoriatic arthritis. Because of the Meds I am already on, she already has my blood work, but now, instead of every 3 months, I have to go get them every 8 weeks...
The new Meds are kinda scary, the methotrexate freaks me out, a Chemotherapy type of drug that may make me lose my hair, weaken my bones and then the other meds aren't much better.. But, I still go out & ride my bikes and walk..

[Tobra]

Hang tough, stay active. Cycling better than walking probably, not crashing of course, jumps probably ill advised.

Did they tap that joint and see what is in it? I have seen a lot of pain relief just from pulling the fluid out of there.

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by Tobra

Hang tough, stay active. Cycling better than walking probably, not crashing of course, jumps probably ill advised.

Did they tap that joint and see what is in it? I have seen a lot of pain relief just from pulling the fluid out of there.

Since I have trouble sometimes gripping aND have balance issues from time to time, so I picked up a 3 wheeled recumbent to ride, yea, on jumping, more worried about knees going out causing a crash than actually crashing. She didn't tap, did a ultra sound to see what was where and gave me a script for Prednisone...

I have always been active and can't stand to sit still for very long, just have to deal with the limitations..