Strange happenings!

[Orpheus82]

I have noticed a strange thing....whenever I have an infection of some type, cold, UTI etc my PMR is so much better even to the point where I think it has gone - although I know this is just a pipe dream (3.5yrs in and on 3.5mg pred)! It’s as though my immune system is so busy fighting something else that it forgets it’s fighting me. The only exception is tooth infections. The last one causing a huge flare up. I am currently full of cold, sneezing, coughing, spluttering but completely pain free! 🤪

[SheffieldJane]

I think that I have noticed the same phenomena. I wondered if it was the sheer relief of having something ordinary like a cold that took my mind off the relentless PMR in the background. You may be on to something though - teaching the immune system to start working correctly again.

[Hidden]

There is research at the animal phase that's suggect injection a certain type of nanoparticles does distract the immune system. I may have downloaded it but when research at animal trial stage I don't get too excited..

[Orpheus82 in reply to Hidden]

Agreed. I shall enjoy my temporary reprieve. For the six weeks following breast surgery with reconstruction I had the same benefit and even thought that perhaps the surgery had reset things. But of course that is not in the least scientific or logical. It did allow me to recover from major surgery though!

[Hidden in reply to Orpheus82]

The mind is a powerful tool.

[scrambledegg]

I have noticed this too and concluded that my immune system is too busy fighting the infection to maintain the fight against my own muscles.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It is a fairly common phenomenon! We used to call it the transferance of pain effect ...

Make the most of it!!

[ShirleyAb]

My odd tale is when 21 year old granddaughter had climbing accident, slipping, falling 50 metres, but miraculously survived, our shock and euphoria made a big improvement in my PMR! Gemma has made a wonderful recovery, though awaits a operation to repair ligaments in one leg.

[Joan-E-D]

I had all sorts of heavy colds and coughs with conjunctivitis earlier this year, but when I recovered in April I suddenly was almost pain free and could walk properly and hang up clothes without the usual aches. This has continued even though I've reduced my Pred. dose to between 1 mg and .5 mg. after 3 years of PMR. I think the theory, that my body's immune system realised it had to fight the infections and not me, may be correct. Otherwise its a wonderful coincidence. Who knows?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Joan-E-D]

Make the most of it - and long may it last!!!!!

[PMRCanada]

Me too!! I’ve had two colds while having PMR, and in both instances I’ve had no symptoms or stiffness at all (not that I have a lot to begin with being in pred). I suspect the immune system has changed its focus. Kind of like when PMR emerged, too many stresses and a bad upper respiratory infection pushed my system past its limits and it began attacking my joints.

Too bad we have either/or....of course we’d rather have any of it.

[teesher]

Same happened to me after an awful chest infection but PMR just took a back seat while my immune system got stuck into the new enemy.

[greenvegan]

I had the same experience, but I put it down to the paracetamol I was taking 😊to feel better.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to greenvegan]

Paracetamol rarely helps PMR pain!