PMR Was active 76 year old until now

[RHR76]

I am retired and keeping busy. Was walking 4 miles a day. Playing golf 4 days a week. Then I suddenly developed severe pain in hips, groin, back of my legs, knees and shin and arm. Diagnosed with PMR. On prednisone and been increasing because still experiencing symptoms. All blood work good except ANA. Not a typical case. Also. Extremely tired.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It would be helpful to know what dose of pred you were started on and what you have increased to. Have you adjusted your activity levels since starting pred? It isn't a ticket back to normal exercise levels I'm afraid.

Do you mean you have an abnormal ANA? It is very rarely abnormal in PMR so they may have that wrong.

The fatigue is an integral part of almost all autoimmune disease. The pred isn't a cure, it is a management strategy to allow a better, less painful, QOL until the autoimmune disorder that causes the symptoms burns out and goes into remission. The pred combats the inflammation - but does nothing to the disease process which continues in the background, attacking the body and making you feel as if you have constant flu. The fatigue must be managed by pacing and appropriate resting:

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk......

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Maybe have a read of this - healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

Sound fairly typical to me — how did you reduce from original 20m? And have you tried to continue walking and playing golf?

[Susan1705]

It is hard when you were so active, and is the story of many PMR patients. it is hard not to look back at what we were able to do and just focus on what we are able to do now. Walking an 17 minute mile now is a massive achievement for me, and I am able to walk 4 miles 3 days a week. It makes me smile (odd reaction) to think in the time it takes to walk the 4 miles I used to be able to run 9 miles. Listen to your body work with the limits it sets you, build up slowly as exercise is important. Also, if you have always been active you will have put yourself in a good position with blood pressure and heart health. Work with your rheumatologist to find the right level of steroids, if I can exercise most days on 7 and barely get off the couch on 6mg, then I am staying on 7 for a bit longer.

[piglette]

It is a bit of a shock getting PMR and it is life changing. Also the steroids have many side effects which some people get. Things you used to do are left behind us although you can build up again, but slowly. PMR is boss and will always win.

[Suffererc]

What’s ANA please 😊

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Suffererc]

medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/a...

[JA200]

Your symptoms sound very similar to mine. I suddenly developed pain in my hips so that I couldn't weight bear on them and very stiff knees. The stiffness behind the knees. No other symptoms and no upper body pain or stiffness. I'm lucky because both respond well to prednisolone and it enables me to get back to my normal exercise. Good luck with getting back to your normal fitness level.

[mgrogers99]

A positive ANA may indicate a diagnosis other than PMR. Are they looking at differential diagnoses? I had odd lab results so was worked up for the other diagnoses (there is a large list). Several health problems mimic PMR. hoagmedicalgroup.com/articl...

[cmj33g]

Hello l started out being diagnosed with PMR but my autoimmune antibodies dismissed this and l have Lupus. I’m not saying this is the same in your case but ANA does point to other other disorders and l agree with others who are saying this.I wish you all the best and hope you get the help you need. X

[Emmylou3]

In my limited experience your symptoms are typical of someone who has developed an autoimmune disease. It is really hard not being able to be as active or sporty as you were before but a degree of acceptance is perhaps sensible. With pred at the right level you may well carry out most of your usual tasks, providing you pace yourself to avoid overtiredness.

I am 71 and like to be pretty active but I have had to adjust my expectations.

However, I do hope, with the help of your rheumatologist, you can fine tune your medication to avoid unnecessary pain, which wears you down.

Best wishes