Just been to the doctor.: Hi all. I have just been... - PMRGCAuk

PMRGCAuk

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Just been to the doctor.

lynne99 profile image
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Hi all. I have just been to see the doctor. Never seen this GP before. My ESR had gone down from 60 to 57 (I was on 12mg Pred when I had the bloods done.) When I reduced to 12 mg my osteo pains came back and a constant headache because of pain in the neck.. The GP did ask about sight disturbance, but I don't have any. I have reduced to 11mg 3 weeks ago and now my arms and legs feel heavy and stiff, as well as the osteo in fingers and arms and knees and neck? The pain in the neck (no not my dog!!) is only on the left and she has sent me for a MRI scan. I suggested I increase the pred back to 13mg and she said ok if I then reduce after 1 month. Any comments or ideas please.

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lynne99
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PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador

She obviously doesn't know how to deal with PMR - if you still have symptoms you shouldn't reduce and it sounds as if you haven't been allowed to get it all under control.

Try reading this and show it to your GP - it is aimed at them after all

rcpe.ac.uk/sites/default/fi...

They keep you at 15mg for 6 weeks, or until all symptoms have improved as much as they are going to, then start to reduce. You aren't on high enough dose to manage it and you cannot reduce until the inflammation is controlled.

lynne99 profile image
lynne99 in reply to PMRpro

Thanks for that PMR pro. How do I know what or if it is PMR and which pain is osteo artheritis. That is the main thing that is bothering me. I might be taking pred for ever if the pain is due to Osteo and not PMR.

The pred has also caused my blood glucose to go up from an average of 50 to 58 which does not sound a lot, but it is. Also I have been having a very low carb diet to control the sugars and being very strict on it.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to lynne99

I really don't know - you would have to ask someone who has been there I'm afraid. There are a few people around who have had that problems - but it usually doesn't surface until you are down to below 5mg with osteoarthritis.

Your GP obviously has GCA at the back of her mind with the head pain - but GCA does not have to have visual disturbances in all cases so that doesn't rule it out. I think you should ask for referral to a rheumy if the head pain continues. On the other hand, if you can find a Bowen therapist they may be able to do something that will reduce the head and neck pain - all sorts of things can contribute to the pain and discomfort we feel in PMR and sorting each individual thing reduces the amount of pred needed. Bowen is having a good record with this sort of thing.

lynne99 profile image
lynne99

Thanks PMRpro. I will consider that. Have been very stiff at work today, so I think I will up to 14 tomorrow, as I am at a training all day.

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