My initial PMR affected just hips and shoulders, but now that I’m off prednisone (after 11 month course: 15mg,10,9,8,7....1), aches and stiffness are returning, but now my elbows and wrists are involved, too. Acts like carpal tunnel syndrome or ulnar tunnel syndrome.
Or maybe I diddled my iPhone too much during the past year...
Anyone else with PMR have tingly numb fingers and painful places on their elbows and the heels of their hands?
That was a very quick trip with PMR. I wouldn’t be surprised if it still lingers. However, single sided symptoms such as you describe, probably are carpal tunnel syndrome. A number of people have complained of this symptom during PMR. I expect that you will be seeing your doctor about it.
I didn’t mean to imply that it was one-sided wrist and elbow pain and tender spots. Both hands are affected, though I am so strongly right-handed that I am bothered by the right one more.
I live and learn.
Carpel tunnel syndrome can be part of PMR. I didn't have CTS but I did have pain on the outer aspect of my right elbow and pain that went diagnonally across my forearm to the base of my thumb. We thought it was RSI - no, PMR as she lives and breathes!! I also had it on the left but nothing like as bad.
The tingling and numbness are greatly reduced, but after yesterday’s rather long bike ride, my left wrist is painfully stiff and sore. It doesn’t hurt in “neutral position” but if I flex it up or down - or worse, try to support any weight on it, it really hurts.
Hope it’s better tomorrow, whatever is causing it.
Update: 5 1/2 months post prednisone.
Still experiencing hand & wrist pain and weakness. I am learning to adapt my movements so I can still DO stuff with my hands, but also trying to strengthen them. My MD has said she will refer me for X-rays and/or physical therapy, if I wish, but she has a pretty relaxed attitude toward recovery from PMR.
Copied from an ill-advised reply to a 6-year-old thread:
“My hands and wrists (and elbows, too, to a lesser extent) started acting up only AFTER ending prednisone Jan 1. Painful, stiff, limited range of motion and SO WEAK. At first there was numbness and tingling, too, but that has eased. No idea what is causing this. May request X-rays to figure it out.”
Lats summer, in my third year with PMR I was reducing from 5 to 4 mg Pred and feeling a lot better but even though my pain was gone in my shoulders and hips and overall stiffness was much, much better, I developed pain in my right wrist, ulnar sided. It got to the point it became very swollen as the pain progressed through the summer. The only thing that finally worked is a Cortisone shot. During the fall I developed pain on top of my foot right in front of the ankle. The doctor said it was my tendon, lower extensor retinaculum. Later on I got the same pain in my left foot and it got swollen. Again, the only treatment that worked was a Cortisone shot. It was very painful. The wrist and ankle that was treated with Cortisone seem fine but the other two will hurt sometimes. I keep an eye on them and don't walk on uneven terrain. I see this is an older post so I hope you are feeling better by now. How did you resolve your painful wrists?
Arthritis and PMR
PMR/GCA and carpal tunnel syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Aching and sore hands and feet
