Looking for advice

[philthefluter]

Hi, I have just joined and I am beginning to think I have PMR. For the last few years I have been experiencing pain and stiffness in my shoulders, pain and stiffness in originally my right hip but now also in the left. I also have pain and weakness in my glutes and upper legs, the weakness is really prominent when walking uphill or up stairs. My knees are pretty creaky and I have pain and stiffness in my neck.

I was going to see my GP earlier in the year but this Covid thing has made that very difficult. I am somewhat concerned that if it is PMR and I have to take Prednisone doesn’t that lower the immune system at a time when with Covid it might not be good. I am 68.

I would appreciate any advice.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

They were concerned about patients on long term corticosteroids at the start but now steroids are a key medication in managing cases of Covid-19.

Everyone is vulnerable to Covid as we have no acquired immunity as it is a new virus. Being on pred won't necessarily make you more or less likely to catch it - you avoid it by distancing, hygiene and a mask. And if you have PMR you already have a deranged immune system, it is an autoimmune disorder.

If you do catch it - we do have several members on the forum who have had it and recovered despite being on pred. One 88 year old gentleman featured in the TV programme:

healthunlocked.com/user/pet...

As soon as he was admitted they doubled his dose of pred!

[philthefluter in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for that, I do take every precaution re Covid but it’s good to know the facts.

[alangg]

Your symptoms sound very similar to mine which lasted about 9 months before I was properly diagnosed. I saw various GP's in the practice who took x-rays, ultrasound scans, put me on different painkillers, physio exercises, etc, all to no effect.

Then a new, young doctor prescribed 15mg Prednisolone saying try this for a week; if it works it probably is PMR and if it doesn't, it probably isn't and you can stop taking it without any problems. It worked - like a miracle, within about 8 hours.

I hope that you can persuade your doctor to think along the same lines. If 15mg has some effect but not enough, go up to 20 and maybe 25. Then once the inflammation is under control, you can start reducing the dose using a taper plan.

[philthefluter in reply to alangg]

Many thanks for your reply, I’m hoping I get some relief soon.

[Loyd in reply to philthefluter]

Yes agree. It’s what I did to get my diagnoses. 15mg pred produced a magic ‘cure’ in 48 hours. Good luck and do ask for it.