Been suffering from chronic pain in hips lower back spine shoulders head, my Dad had Polymialgia I have identical symptoms, Doctor gave me CoCodomol and sent me out the door saying muscular
, The painkillers hurt my stomach . I am afraid to go back to my Doctor as he might not like me telling him what I think I have, it even hurts brushing my hair so I avoid it , please help
love Mappy
Hi mappy
Sorry to hear about your pains. You do need to go back to doctor and say you are worried about it being PMR as your Dad suffered with it, and ask him to run some blood tests to check your inflammation levels.
If your head hurts as well it could be GCA, which is much more serious and needs attention NOW.
If there another doctor in the surgery you could see if this one is being unhelpful!
If it’s PMR or GCA the cocodamol will do nothing for the pain.
If all else fails, then visit ER or A&E.
Oh thank you Dorssletlady and bless you
Hello Mappy,l agree withDorset Lady,l would try a different doctor or go to A&E. Those cocodamol tablets have nasty side effects,the doctor prescribed them for me when l first went to see him in a lot of pain,l asked the pharmacist about side effects and she said they could be addictive and cause an upset stomach, l decided to just take paracetamol.l went back to the doctor a week later and was sent for some blood tests,l was fortunate that they dealt with it very quickly after the test results and gave me the prednisolone. The preds worked like a miracle and all the pain had gone within 48 hours. I hope that you are treated quickly,and do not be afraid to tell the doctor that it could bePMR ,l am sure he will not mind .lt is very important that you are treated as soon as possible,especially if it is GCA. Please let us know how you get on.
Do you fit the profile in other ways Mappy? Like aged over 45 at least? Have you had blood tests for inflammation, not that it always shows up?
Does cocodamol relieve the pain at all? You really deserve some more investigations and not to be dismissed with painkillers. Is there another doctor in the practice you can see? You need to talk about the painkillers anyway, I can’t take anything with codeine in it either.
You are going to have to take your courage in your hands and go back to the doctor. Many of us, including me, make several trips to the doctor before we finally get a diagnosis. I hadn’t heard of PMR so it probably took me longer than it will you. If the doctor will just do a trial of 15-20 mgs of Prednisalone for a week or so that will tell him whether or not it is PMR. PMR responds quickly and positively to Prednisalone, so it becomes a diagnostic tool. Good luck!
I'm an American and a New Yorker so I am a bit direct when I write. I feel for you, and I'm trying to help.
I would tell the doctor everything. They can't solve the puzzle of a diagnosis without information, and your dad's medical history, as well as you mom's any anyone else related to you, is part of that puzzle. Be as clear and calm as you can, because it makes it easier for the doctor to hear you. Write it down if that works better for you, as you might not remember everything in the moment. Tell them what you're feeling and what you're thinking.
If you are dismissed, then find another doctor who will hear what you have to say. It's a rare doctor who can diagnose a condition just by looking at you. Tests are good, but they often rule out more than they rule in. There is no specific and reliable test for PMR and/or GCA. The closest thing we have is the incredible relief from Prednisone that comes for some within hours, and for other within days. (There are also other autoimmune conditions where this result can be observed, so it's not necessarily PMR and/or GCA.)
I am always suspicious of doctors who write a script for an addictive drug without a firm diagnosis. And I would consider dropping the CoCodomol if it's doing more harm than good. Make sure you tell the doctor no only what it's doing to your stomach, but also whether it's doing anything much for your pain. That's more information for the puzzle.
If your headache gets worse, I wouldn't wait for anything. Get to the A&E and tell them what you suspect. That should get you the fast track for treatment and diagnosis.
I am sorry you are going through this, and it can be frightening. We've all been there, and we know what you're feeling. It can sometimes be hard work to find the treatment you need, but it's so much easier than suffering. Be your own best advocate, and don't let them intimidate you. They work for you, not the other way around.
Take heart. You can do this. And then you'll get better.
Best wishes...
Sorry to hear about what you are going through. Go back to your doctor and request blood work to rule out PMR. And if your head hurts and he does not want to do the blood test, go to another doctor quickly. If your Dad had it, then, of course, you have every right to request blood work to look at your ESR and CRP levels. It runs in my family. My first cousins have it. I wish you the best.
Re: Severe pain in hip after PMR flare
Pain in jaw and neck 
I’m new and worried about my PMR 
In pain and fed up
Worried and confused 
