Help needed

[Trish21]

Hi, I have been having pains in my shoulders for about 3 months now. Cannot weight bare I.e. lifting myself out of the bath is painful, lifting things from a high shelf is painful. Right side of my neck is painful with a sharp stabbing pain now and then, snuggling into my partner causes pain in my shoulders. I have a sore place on the front of my scalp. General stiffness and i feel like i am coming down with a heavy cold all the time. I am 61years old female. Have changed doctors recently as previous gp prescribed anti depressants. New gp is now sorting out blood test for pmr. Looking for a bit of advice please.

[Harbel]

Hi Trish21

Have you a pmr diagnosis? Have you been prescribed prednisolone?

In my case I was told that the reaction to the drug is good indicator. Hope you get a clear diagnosis soon if not already.

[Trish21 in reply to Harbel]

Thanks for info I am beginning to think it is pmr

[piglette]

Hopefully your new doctor will recommend you do a trial of steroids for a week. If you have a magical change you probably have PMR.

[RunRabbitRun in reply to piglette]

You are right, the change is magical. I spent Christmas at our sons still awaiting a diagnosis. I could barely walk, they were so worried about me. The new year bought the news it was pmr and a dose of 20mg steroids. I have a video I sent him of me dancing around the room free from pain and stiffness. Magic

[Trish21 in reply to piglette]

Many thanks for the reply, I really was beginning to think I was going mad

[SheffieldJane]

This sounds exactly like untreated PMR . As bloodtests can be unreliable do beg your doctor to trial you on at least 15 mgs of Prednisalone a day. If you get relief you have your answer. X

[Trish21 in reply to SheffieldJane]

Many thanks for reply, I intend to get this sorted. As a physically strong woman I am forced to employ an odd job man to do the things I want to do,I feel frustrated.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Trish21]

"I intend to get this sorted"

You won't "sort" PMR by any efforts of your own - it holds all the cards and calls the tune. You will feel much better on pred but you won't be cured, all the pred does is manage the inflammation that is causing the symptoms to allow you a better quality of life until the underlying cause of the PMR burns out and goes into remission. Unless you are one of the very lucky under 20% for whom that happens quickly, that is likely to be at least a couple of years and most probably longer. In the meantime you will probably have to adjust to a new normal for you - because if you try to fight the PMR it will turn round and bite back. Acceptance of the fact that this is where you are and learning to play the game will lead to a much more comfortable journey - and it ISN'T giving it.

But as I say, PMR is only the name given to the symptoms of an underlying problem and there are quite a few so your doctor needs to rule the others out too.

[Trish21 in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for your input, if it is that I have a diagnosis of pmr, I will sort it.

[Hidden]

Wishing you all the best Trish, get the blood tests done & then a two week trial of Pred & see how you are.

Hope you feel better soon 🌺

MrsN

[Trish21 in reply to Hidden]

Many thanks for reply, I have wasted 4 weeks already due to misdiagnosis from my previous doctor, so playing catchup

[dancersize]

Before i was diagnosed I couldn't get off the toilet so had to get one of those over the toilet seats. I took cushions to the dance because I couldn't get up from a normal height seat. Lifting the kettle was painful. 15mg pred and in a couple of days I was amazed at how much I had improved.

[Trish21 in reply to dancersize]

Thanks for the reply, I am at the doctors on Wednesday for blood test, I am hoping that I get a diagnosis so I can take the next step to regaining my health.

[Hidden in reply to Trish21]

Wishing you Luck Trish 🍀

[Trish21 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks so much

[Suet3942]

Hope you have a doctor who listens to you, makes all the difference. Good luck. 🌸

[Trish21 in reply to Suet3942]

Many thanks for the reply, my new doctor seems more switched on to the possibility of pmr, I have been tested for almost everything else but not that. My previous doctor was more Interested in giving me a flu jab without my consent to add insult to injury.

[Rimmy]

If you have got PMR - and unfortunately it sounds like you may have - then you have found the best place for info and support - this forum has fab members all willing to share all kinds of invaluable stuff ! The main thing - as others here have mentioned - is to have a 'good' doctor who is well informed and able to listen.

Best wishes

Rimmy

[Trish21 in reply to Rimmy]

Many thanks for reply, I am so pleased to have joined this forum

[Grants148]

Good luck Trish,the others have said everything about PMR,l cannot add to that,all the best,let us know how you get on.

[Trish21 in reply to Grants148]

Thanks for your reply, I will keep in touch