After 5 years of taking steroids, gaining 2 stone and lots of pain, I was told that I had compressed fracture of lower spine and needed a knee replacement! Since stopping steroids I have lost 2 stone, told I have Osteoarthritis, less pain and feel much better. Linda
Not polymyalgia!: After 5 years of taking steroids... - PMRGCAuk
Not polymyalgia!
Oh my goodness!!!!!! A huge waste of time, energy, dealing with med side effects, etc, but that is GREAT news!!!!
I am glad that they have you on the right track now and that you are feeling much better. It is confusing that they missed this, but all we can do is press on. The weight loss is brilliant.
How did they come to diagnose PMR in the first place?
It's possible you did have PMR at the beginning but the recurrence of OA pain as you tapered down your pred muddied the waters and it was thought the PMR was still continuing. Have experienced this effect to some extent myself so I do understand. However I doubt that it was "only" OA at the beginning so not an entirely wasted experience of taking the steroids. At the worst you (and I too, I think) took the steroids a bit longer than we might have if it had been PMR only.