I developed PMR 2 years ago after slipping on the ice and twisting my ankle. 3 days later my knee was very swollen and extremely painful. As you can see below it was double in size.
How many of you developed PMR after an injury? Would love to hear your stories.
Hi
I feel its more stress through a illness that triggers PMR
I had several viruses that knocked me off my feet over a period of 5 years .GP never able to explain fully but diagnose of CFS.
It was over a period of about 3 years not feeling well and extreme fatigue leading me to be totally dependant on others that led me to this site and diagnosing myself before GP agreed with me.
Hi Marie
I think i may have had some small symptoms of things going 'awry'prior but I did have a knee injury - torn meniscus just before I developed 'full-blown' PMR - and a few weeks later GCA. I was meant to have surgery on the knee but decided to do exercises instead and and 6 months later it healed perfectly (no residual pain at all). But in retrospect I have often wondered if it was the 'injurial' straw that broke the camel's back ....
Best wishes
Rimmy
Two big ski accidents in three years - fractured pelvis was first and then broken hip with operation and three pins last year. PMR onset thereafter and six month struggle before diagnosis.
Hello, I’ve spent years listening to sick and injured people. Out of the blue falls, trips and slips are an interesting one. Two conclusions I’ve come to are, 1) They take much more out of the body than one thinks they should and 2) They are usually not as unexpected as one thinks. The latter thought comes from the way people talk after the event about their lives before. Perhaps there is a subtle lack of balance, strength, attention or ambivalence to self preservation due to impending illness, stress or some constitutional upset. Even the way people fall seems to speak volumes. Sometimes it seems to be the body stopping the person in its tracks for some reason. I don’t mean accidents due to pre-existing physical problems that cause instability or dizziness. This may just be me trying to attach meaning to misfortunes Or it may also be that everyone has got things going on anyway. Me? My life was unsustainable pre GCA, my body had to do something, I wasn’t listening and my genes dictated what I got. I don’t like to admit it being superwoman and all, but my cape doesn’t fit any more. Sigh.
There is a lot of wisdom in that Snazzy. It is the way I think too. I even think that where our pain is expressed can be a metaphor eg I can’t shoulder the burden anymore, this is a pain in the neck, my head is going to explode, I can’t go on, I can’t breathe, I can’t walk another step, the pressure is too much. You get the drift anyway.
Whatever this disease teaches us, the main thing is that aspects of our lives needed to change and were probably way overdue. We were stopped in our tracks. It’s up to us whether we take the opportunity to reflect and recover.
My own accident was after a holiday with my daughter in Australia that involved mountain climbing and white water rafting. I was trying very hard to be what my eldest wanted me to be ( never easy or even possible). Upon my return I tripped over my suitcase and broke my shoulder and tore the ligaments . This injury featured in my PMR a few years later, after caring for my mum with dementia and working with the victims of domestic violence and supporting frightened witnesses in Court as well as supporting my younger daughter in childcare. This regime literally brought me to my knees. So the aetiology is all there.
Hi Marie
A very snazzy knee support, l must say!
My Story:~
I had a shoulder problem in 2011 my GP sent me for Physio & she treated my shoulder aggressively to the point where l was in more pain than where l began, l insisted in the end to see a Specialist Shoulder Orthopaedic Chap, he knew immediately what it was & X-rays proved it, following the Surgery l went back to original Physio & to this day l blame myself for doing so but it was ultimately the treatment she gave me.
Long story, short version the treatment she gave me resulted in a Post Op Frozen Shoulder, the hours l cried & depths of despondency l felt were unimaginable. I returned to Ortho Consultant who stopped the ‘aggressive’ Physio for a more gentle regime.
It was becoming almost impossible to do my job, my neck ached, my shoulder was almost immobile; then one evening l was shopping with my son & out of the blue l went to reach for something on a shelf & l couldn’t move my other arm.
He had a low down sports car & l cried all the way home over every bump & around every corner. That was in October, my Surgery was the previous July but very quickly l became more & more stiff, then my legs seized completely until by Christmas l was unable to get up or down stairs or in or out of a chair unassisted. I was also extremely cold all the time & couldn’t bear anything that rubbed me like a label, l had to wear the softest cotton top inside out to try & keep me comfortable, then layers of velvet, scarves, tights & boots. I was never warm & it was so difficult trying to get dressed, my husband was a Saint! 😇
I saw a Pain Management Specialist after Christmas, he did an MRI & Bloods but he said he had a sneaky suspicion l had something he thought l was too young for, l was 55 at the time.
I returned to see him & he sent me straight away to see a Rheumatologist, who confirmed my blood levels were high & yes l was a bit too young but the only real test was Prednisolone
A two week trial at 15mg.........
So within hours some of the pain lessened, within two days nearly all my stiffness was easing & in four days the ‘Frozen’ Shoulder was moving.
That was on 4th February 2012 by Valentines Day l was back in high heels & my old self again.
The Rheumatologist confirmed the diagnosis & set me off on the Reducing Dose Plan but my GP never believed it & was always very hostile regarding it.
Since then it’s been a long & winding road, as the song says.
But yes, l believe that was the trigger for my PMR
Mrs Nails 💅🏼
My own pmr journey seems to have started after had my lounge/ diner plastered noticed how damp it was mornings windows were running with water reckoned it got to joints. That was 6 years ago have been in reamision now 6 weeks
Hi Marie. My"injury" or stress on my body was a diagnosed cynovial cyst on my lumbar spine and giving me extreme pain -like a bulging disc would do. I recovered from the nerve pain, but when I tried to exercise -run or cycle I was getting very stiff and felt inflamed. My diagnosis of PMR followed after a few months of suffering and increased stiffness and discomfort. Again my family doctor said I was too young. (52). My Mother has had this and she was the one that said this is what I think you have. Doctors did not think the cyst had anything to do with the PMR. However it was a huge stress on my body. Roller coaster trip on Prednisone. I tried to get down to 10mg. With symptoms so my Dr put me right back up to 20mg to be symptom free. 9 month journey so far ...
Best wishes to all
Hi Marie!!
We were out walking the beautiful Malvern hills. On the way down on a gravel path, my feet went from under me. Our friends carried me back to the car. Luckily , I hadn't broken my ankle but damaged my tendons. Had to wear a support for weeks. I developed PMR about 2 weeks after my fall. At first my hubby said it was probably because I had shaken myself up, but I had got to the stage where I couldn't get out of bed/ chair or climb stairs. Fingers like sausages!!😱😱. 2 years down the line , I'm still on the journey. I have always been convinced that the trauma to my body started everything, but who knows. 😉😉😉😉
Mine was stress related. My daughters marriage broke up very unexpectedly. I was so traumaed!!. 2 months later - pmr reared its ugly head.
Hi Marie, in my (non-medical) opinion, my PMR started after I had a couple of surgeries (knee replacement and spinal stenosis surgery) during a very short period of time. In addition, I had a severe seasonal allergic event, which is where Prednisone entered the picture.
Within 6 months post-surgery, I had become so stiff and immobile, that getting out of bed and getting dressed were difficult. I could hardly raise my arms, etc., etc... I supposed I was just “getting old”!
Then I was prescribed pred for the seasonal allergy/asthma,
it worked brilliantly for the respiratory illness, AND.....DRUMROLL!!?...my shoulder/hip pain and immobility evaporated!! Within a day!!! WHAT!!!!????
So back to my doc. ... She listened to my story, and said, “you may have PMR”.
Never heard of it...sez I....
To cut to the chase here, I believe the physical injury/trauma contributed to the beginning of my PMR. The asthma event piled insult to injury, and I came out the other side with a PMR diagnosis and Prednisone...nearly 5 years ago.
I am still working through the disorder, but with many fewer difficulties these days. I am actually enjoying physical exercise and daily living. My garden thanks me.
Kind regards, Jerri
Hi! I finished a triathlon in August then in September I was riding the bike 16 miles and right near my home got hit by a car ! I was “ok” cracked ribs and bruised (grateful to be alive) then 1 week later got on a flight Minnesota to Sweden where 2 days later had viral “flu” and then a month of PMR symptoms until home again and the diagnosis a day later! I’m better now and just catching up with your past posts as I love your latest one! I’m doing green smoothies too ! What a difference will now post on the newest thread! Thanks
I also feel that an injury to my shoulder followed by a very heavy fall brought on my PMR.It seems a coincidence that two weeks after these incidents I was at my doctors with severe muscular pain and was prescibed co-codamol,two days later I was on a cruise to Iceland and the pain worsened.On my return, following blood tests ,I was diagnosed with PMR.My doctor said that there was no evidence to show that PMR is caused through an injury but I have my doubts.I have been on 25mg of pred per day since October 18th and feel fine apart from some aching in my fingers.
My journey with Polymyalgia Rheumatica 
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