PMR now?

[Nanna71]

Can't remember if I posted on RA community or on PMR community, so I hope you all will overlook my confused state.

My last Dr. appt., April 2019 and 6 months into treatment for RA (prednisone, MTX, and sulfasalazine) my Dr. thinks I have overlapping polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). So, I checked out the info on that community and all my symptoms line up with that, now.

The MTX was increased to 15 mgs, sulfasalazine to 2000 mgs and usually because the pred. reduction wasn't working so pain and lots of it reducing from 20 mgs of pred. I have tried 3 reductions of 5 mgs - so to 15 mgs, over the last 2 months and can't get past it. I think this is called the yo yo effect.

So, I wonder if I have both RA and PMR and I need the pred. to stay out of pain or what? Dr. got me a rheumatologist appt. for June to see if she can sort this out.

Dr. says it is imperative to get off the pred. and told me to decrease it by 5 mgs every 2 weeks until gone. As I said, I went to 15 mgs and after 2 days, horrible pain in neck, shoulders, knees. I kept at 15 for the 2 weeks and put up with it but I can't anymore and went back to 20 mgs yesterday, and today.

Takes longer and longer for the 20 mgs to take effect. It used to be only about 24 hrs. but not now. Any related advice or experience is very much appreciated.

As I am 72, apparently the 2 diseases are hard to differentiate.

[oldtimer]

I've a diagnosis of both. But be guided by your rheumatologist. I've found that GPs are often very keen to get you off steroids (for obvious reasons!) but the rheumatologists take a more balanced view.

[Nanna71 in reply to oldtimer]

Thank you for your post. I will see the rheumatologist for the first time June 7th. Not looking forward to the sitting in the truck for a 5 hour drive though. I think after this first appt. she will video-conference with my more local doctor.

[Nanna71 in reply to oldtimer]

Also, how do you cope with both? As I understand it, RA is a life sentence while the PMR may not be.

[Runrig01]

I was treated for 4yr for polymyalgia. If they do suspect it you need to stay on steroids, it’s the only treatment. It carries a risk of also getting GCA giant cell arteritis, which is a medical emergency as it can cause loss of vision. So staying on steroids will help protect against that

[Nanna71 in reply to Runrig01]

Thank you for the response. I have put myself back up to the 20 mgs pred. First time I didn't do as was told. Although I did phone my doctor to let him know what I was doing and why. Left a message.