Respiratory infection triggering symptoms

[SheilasPMR]

After almost a year free of symptoms I contracted a respiratory tract infection that has left me with inflammatory pain in my shoulder, feet and hands. So far I am not as bad as I have been in the past however it was a similar respiratory virus that triggered my wort episode 7 years ago.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Wonderful! That is so unfair. How are you approaching it?

[SheilasPMR in reply to PMRpro]

So far I am in "wait and see" mode but it will be very telling to me if this continues or worsens.

[Hidden]

A Rheumy nurse said to me last week..there are a lot of nasty bugs out there and we are prime candidates for some post virus yukkiness. Have you tried OTC painkillers just in case? Hope your body calms down soon 🌻

[SheffieldJane]

Don’t necessarily fear the worst and just realise that you may need longer to recuperate at your stage. I hope you don’t have to go back to Pred. Your GP is likely to look at these residual symptoms in isolation. This may be useful.

[Hidden]

Healing thoughts coming your way.xx

[PMRnewbie2017]

Snap!!! I sympathise.

I've been doing really well (now at 6mg/5mg) and picked up a chest infection following a flight. Took nearly 4 weeks to get over it. It raised my ESR and CRP readings slightly and I had to calm down my Rheumy as he was jumping to the wrong conclusions!! I was just starting to feel better when I got another infection, much worse than the first. I ended up having to take antibiotics and increased my Pred very slightly to help my body cope. My shoulders have been sore in the mornings and I have found Ibuprofen stops it. Paracetamol doesn't work ( but that's probably because it has no anti-inflammatory action). Now after almost 2 months of viruses I am starting to feel stronger again. If I were you I would take some anti-inflammatories and omega 3 fish oils (6x1g capsules per day). I am a great believer in their anti-inflammatory activity and there is research which has shown they reduce levels of interleukin 6 (which is over produced in PMR).

[bunnymom]

Oh no! Hope you can get this under control quickly,,, you've come so far. Our poor bodies have really taking a beating haven't they? Wishing you well ❤️

[PMRCanada]

So sorry to hear of the return of your symptoms. Like you, my PMR symptoms emerged after I experienced a 2-week upper respitory infection. I believe this infection was connected to the development of this condition via my already over-taxed immune system. Throw in the stress of getting married, retiring, selling and buying a house, moving and renovations, and boom, PMR appeared (sigh).

Sure hope your symptoms subside soon and you don’t have to start pred treatment once more. Fingers crossed.

[SheilasPMR in reply to PMRCanada]

Wow sounds like a parallel if my own first experience with PMR. I too believe it is related and I think it has to do with our immune response not shutting off or and getting confused. I have other auto immune conditions as well hypothyroidism and atopy. I think they are all related.