Is a sed rate of 74 pretty high? That’s what mine is. CRP is normal.
When I had my rheumy appt. he was looking at the readings I had a couple months ago that my PCP ordered that were normal.
He said the pain in my right shoulder which is the worst was frozen shoulder. Well then what’s going on with my other shoulder? Although not as bad as the right still painful. And my hips were bursitis. I don’t think you have pmr. I disagree.
Anyway I’m thinking when he takes a look at my sed rate this time he may be changing his mind.
When I left he orders 7 days worth of 15 mg prednisone, and more blood work.
Been taking it for three days. I’ve seen some improvement, but not enough. The pain in my hips is gone, but still a little stiff. Left shoulder is much better, but right is still painful with a little improvement.
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Champie
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Hi champie, hold fast yet! It sounds like it is starting to help, it may not clear 100% of the symptoms, but they will be looking for about 70% global improvement in the first few weeks. However some people require 20 or 25mg for a month to get it shifting. Up to 20% of people with pmr gca done have raised sed rate or crp so we usually say symptoms are king. 🌻
Sounds like things are moving in the right direction. If you see continuing improvement that's a good sign. Sometimes people need more initially, so don't let the doctor deny you have PMR if you are not in perfect condition after the week is up. You might be someone who needs 20 mg for best results. Would you say you're about 50% better today? More? Less?
I think you should do all you can to maintain pred dosing if it works for you. Try not to have a break.
What my doctor did was give me the week prescription and instructions to see her again at the end of that week. As I had recovered very well and my blood results showed no other nasties going on she gave me a proper prescription at that appointment so I was able to carry on seamlessly.
Thre is a condition called palindromic arthritis where different joints or muscles hurt. It's fairly rare, I think, but occasionally someone diagnosed with PMR is found to have this condition instead.
I am pretty sure I've read somewhere that it's better if the level is lower than 29 or 30. But I can't find that statement anywhere just now. It's now recognised that although ESR rises in older adults that is reflecting the fact that older adults are likely to have higher inflammatory levels.
It's high but it's level doesn't really dictate the level of pain and crp can be raised for other reasons. 50% pain reduction after a few days is good. My neck and shoulders showed significant improvement the first week but my legs and hips took a while. That pain in your butt could be piriformis syndrome which hurt me standing and walking up an incline.
My Doctor started me at 20mg per day and I felt much better in 3-4 days. I was diagnosed immediately without tests .As soon as she heard that I had pain and heaviness on both sides of the body she knew what it was and confirmed it with blood tests. I would really talk to your Doctor and see if he would raise the dose to 20 mg and see if it helps more. Your symptoms really are a match for PMR. Dont give up, the prednisone really helps!
I had no abnormal blood work when I had PMR. Just all the pains and what cinched diagnosis was 20 mg of Prednisone took it away and two to three days and kept it away.
74 is pretty high for ESR, even in women anything over 20 should be considered as suggesting something going on, especially if there are symptoms - but it isn't really related to the severity, whatever some doctors think.
To have achieved a 50% improvement after 3 days is OK - 70% after a week is the usual criterion. and 15mg is considered to be towards the bottom end of the range nowadays, acknowledging that there are a lot of variables that mean some people may need more. If it works it does save having to reduce that 5mg - although you do need to be a bit more patient. The ESR should be monitored and you should stay at 15mg for as long as it takes to get the ESR down to a low stable level.
It is quite common for PMR to start/be worse in one shoulder at first and to mislead doctors to suggest frozen shoulder.
When originally diagnosed it was 56 then went down to 27. I don't know what it is now as it will be in December we it is done again. Of course I am on prednisone. This is day 3 at 3.5 from 4. As I have tapered from 20mg, I have continued to push myself to exercise, and have a good diet, organic, no sugar, etc. To-day I am extremely tired as I had to have routine endoscopy and colonoscopy "ordeals". It has wiped me out as if I had run a marathon, but hope to back to gym to-morrow
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Sed rate has sky rocketed to an all out high
Time to reduce... I think?
Up, Down or Sideways ???
Moving up temporarily in dosage
CRP 2, still in pain. 
