I spend a lot of time trying to understand my PMR diagnosis mainly because I am frustrated being on steroids and I worry about the hidden effect they are having on me. I have learned so much from this forum and one of the main things is about being more accepting and patient!!
I have to accept the steroid treatment I am undergoing as it is not something I can stop suddenly and I know when the pain has broken through life becomes tough! What I am trying to establish is what has triggered my PMR. There is a lot of information about medications to control the condition but very little about what might have caused it in the first place.
There is a lot about viral triggers in auto immune conditions online and I wonder if any of you have any information about this or have tried any anti viral meds to control any underlying virus which might be running in the background? There is a lot written about the Epstein Barr and Herpes viruses and I do appreciate many of show positive for these, I know I do, but I wonder if they contribute to an auto immune condition.
I am seeing my Rheumatologist in a few weeks and these are some of the questions I will take to him. I suppose I am just hopeful if there is some virus running in the background they can treat, I maybe more able to taper the steroids and eventually get off them. Perhaps this is a fanciful notion but I still want to know what triggers this condition!
thanks for any help with this!