For those who are lucky enough to be in remission. Did your symptoms just disappear one day or was it gradual?

[Dubuquer]

Question for those in remission

[jinasc]

GCA, PMR or both?

Nothing in your profile to help with an answer.

[Captinron in reply to jinasc]

Can you say anyway I would like to know PMR

[Yellowbluebell in reply to Captinron]

We need details to answer queries like this and remember every person will be different. Could you fill in your profile details please. YBB

[Dubuquer in reply to jinasc]

I was diagnosed with PMR in 2018 and have been off prednisone since December. I have some aches and pains that I didn't have before PMR and am wondering if they will go away too. Thanks!

[jinasc in reply to Dubuquer]

I could not answer your question................GCA only, however if you look at my profile, you will see why I asked.

What sort of aches and pains and what, if any, other medications are you taking?

[Dubuquer in reply to Dubuquer]

I'm taking Aleve twice a day. I have minor pain in my neck and arms but what is really bothering me are my knees!

[Dubuquer in reply to jinasc]

PMR

[Yellowbluebell]

Could you fill in your profile details please. This enables out members to help advise you better. Thanks. YBB

[Hidden]

I think you need to reflect on whether these pains are similar or the same as PMR as you had it or in relation to known PMR symptoms.

Does the OTC painkiller help at all? I know where my different pain centres are in my body. Some overlap with pmr, others are based on old injuries (knee), some with OA getting worse, and nerve damage and old spinal injuries, together with fibro have impact too. If it feels like PMR pain then maybe it is?? Basically PMR very rarely goes into remission in 12mths and if you haven't been pain free since stopping pred then you need to consider PMR never went into remission and is still bubbling under and inflammation building up.

You don't explain what kinds of pain and when, or if painkillers work. I haven't gone into remission at all so can't help with that, but there are other kinds issues that may impact you. Most people who have gone into remission have left the forum. 🌻

[Dubuquer in reply to Hidden]

Thank you! I suspect I was never free from PMR symptoms but was hoping that Aleve would help me out until they magically go away.

[Hidden in reply to Dubuquer]

It's the possible outcomes if PMR goes untreated that always concern me....much more than pred....just don't leave it until PMR gets full blown. A few mg now might stop 15mg later. 🌻

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Dubuquer]

And you think that Aleve/naproxen on a continuing basis is safer than pred dealing with the inflammation that is damaging your blood vessels if it is still PMR that isn;t in remission?

[MhairiP]

I had been free of symptoms for some time, but continued to reduce pred gradually. Reduced to zero about a year ago and have had no problems since.

[sampete in reply to MhairiP]

How long did you have PMR before you were free from pain?

[MhairiP in reply to sampete]

I was fortunate in that I was diagnosed very quickly. I was seeing an osteopath because of my 'sore shoulders' and she told me to go to my GP because she thought it could be PMR. By that time, it had escalated and I could hardly get out of bed in the morning. I reckon I had 'sore shoulders' for about 3 weeks (although one shoulder had been niggling on and off for years), severe pain/stiffness for a week, then started 15mg pred and within a day the pain and a lot of the stiffness had gone.

I do realise how lucky I was - diagnosed quickly, the pred worked, and I got to 0 in 8 or 9 months.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to sampete]

Not sure that is the right question - I had had the symptoms of PMR for over 5 years before being offered pred for 6 weeks, a taper of 2 weeks each of 15, 10 and 5mg. In under 6 hours the pain was almost gone, it returned within 6 hours of missing the first 5mg dose. Well over 10 years later I am free of pain on the right dose of pred. Too low and the pain and stiffness returns. It hasn't gone - it doesn't for about 5% of patients and you don't know if you are one.

[Dubuquer]

Thank you everyone for all the input!