Welcome to our new members!

[Fran_Benson]

Hello and welcome to all our new forum members - 231 new in August!

We hope you've had a chance to look around and find answers to your questions. Here's a quick guide to get you up and running and a couple of key housekeeping rules to help you and the rest of the community.

1. Fill out your profile - let us know whether you have PMR or GCA (or both), how long you've been diagnosed, what gender you are, what country you're based in - these are the basics, do tell us any other relevant details. (And message to the longer standing members - if you haven't filled out your profile or it's out of date, please fill it in or update it now - thank you.) If you’re not sure what to put in your profile, please take a look at Mrs Nails’ healthunlocked.com/user/Mrs... and Dorset Lady’s healthunlocked.com/user/Dor...

2. Got a question? Before you post, check out the FAQs. You'll often find the question you want to ask has already been asked and there will be lots of replies to browse through. It's in the pinned post section or you can find it here healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

3. Remember that we are not doctors and that no advice you receive here should replace the advice given to you by your own clinician. If you are worried about your symptoms, do consult your doctor.

4. Read our guidelines so you know the rules. In short, show respect to your fellow members, no spamming (promoting products or services), if you post details of treatment etc please provide links to the research. If you are concerned about someone's post or reply, simply use the report function beneath the post. Here is a link to our guidelines in full: healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

5. Finally, this forum is one of the many services that we, PMRGCAuk, provide to support people with PMR and GCA. Please consider joining the charity to help support us or make a donation.

pmrgca.org.uk/how-to-help/b...

pmrgca.org.uk/how-to-help/d...

Thank you

The team at PMRGCAuk

[DawnMezza]

Thank you Fran for the welcome

[Molefosey]

Hi there I'm Maureen from Ireland I joined this site about six months ago then locked myself out of it until to night lol Is it permissable to discuss ANY type of chronic pain no matter what illness its related to? Thanks Molfosey

[Bcol in reply to Molefosey]

Good morning Maureen. I see from your profile that you have been having rough time and a few months ago you were suffering from severe pain due to a broken arm and femur. Are you still suffering pain from your PMR as well or is that, hopefully, under control? If not, the stress you have from your injuries may well be causing an increase in those symptoms. You mentioned Codeine was that Co-Codamol 30/500 that you were taking or something different and has your doctor now given you something more effective. To answer your question the forum is for PMR:GCA sufferers but most have experience of, and suffer from other things as well, and are happy to offer advice and support where they can. A little more information on your profile regarding your Steroid ( I assume Pred) dose, regime, tapering etc. will help people with answers.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Molefosey]

You can ask - but whether someone can help is another matter. The forum is for things related to our PMR/GCA journey and that would also include other forms of chronic pain that are bound to impact on the PMR/GCA because of stress as Bcol mentions.