I was Diagnosed Jan. 2018, PMR/GCA, and put on 40 mg of pred.
Over the past few months I’ve had increasing pain in the sacral joints and lower back, some temporary neck and shoulder pain and stiffness, stiff neck when turning head to the side, elbow pain when holding a book up to read for long periods. Also had some brief abdominal pain and constipation. The pain is worse at night and in the mornings when waking up. Bending from the waist is especially painful! The pain varies, some days worse than others and gets better as the day goes on. I’ve also lost weight, especially thigh muscles and lost a bra cup size! And am really tired and depressed.
My GP ordered an X-ray, lower back and abdomen, which showed osteoarthritis in the sacral joints and some collected stool. She said use pain patches and Metamucil and Colace. They’ve improved things but I still have some pain. Tylenol helps slightly. I took ibuprofen 8mg, once, and it did help. My GP also said Physical therapy would help the arthritis. I’m currently without a rheumy as mine left the practice last month, But the GP agreed to prescribe pred for now.
I had bloods done 1/14: (major stress, friend’s accident and on life suppprt. She’s still in rehab but will never be the same.)
Sed rate: 12: (0-30)
CRP: 4. (0-9)
Bloods done 5/29:
Sed rate: 25 (0-30)
CRP: 2.9 (0-9)
Questions:
1. Could this pain a flare of PMR/GCA ? I didn’t have this kind of pain in the sacral joints before with a flare.
2. Should I ask my GP to do any other tests to look for something else?
3. I’ve been on 8 mg for a month, can I resume tapering if this is just osteoarthritis. I haven’t tried increasing pred to see if it gets rid of the pain.
Thanks everyone.