Is it really PMR? Things that might present looking like PMR:

[PMRpro]

I thought people might like to read this summary article - it isn't always PMR ...

medicalnewstoday.com/articl...

[Bcol]

Thanks for this, it does make for interesting reading and explains why doctors have difficulty in diagnosis at times.

[CarolF1312]

Very interesting, thanks.

[Purplecrow]

💜🙏🏽💜

[Broseley]

A really good article. I like how it shows the differences between PMR and other auto immune diseases. A curious friend wanted to know about it, so I have shared it with her.

[Jackoh]

Thanks for this. Thinking about you lots. 🙏💐x

[MrsNails]

PMRpro - One for FAQ?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to MrsNails]

Could well be - it makes it pretty clear that it IS confusing and PMR symptoms come from a lot of sources ...

[MrsNails in reply to PMRpro]

I thought it could be helpful - will add…..

[AshPen9]

I was very interested in this. Having been diagnosed with PMR and told by my GP that she could deal with it, no need for referral, I started on the pred. However I decided that I would see a rheumy because I already have osteoporosis (although currently in osteopenia range) and high bp. Good job I did. He said that I don't have PMR, I have spondyloarthropathy. My IGAs are raised, whereas in PMR it's IGGs that are raised. Also, not all of my aches and pains are bilateral. He thinks that my mother had it as well. She was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis many years ago, but it 'disappeared'. He told me that treatment for spondyloarthropathy is a short course of steroids (or several, because it may well come back). As I'd already been on pred for 6 weeks I'd already had too many, so he told me to drop 2.5mg every week. This frightened me to death due to adrenals, but he said that mine would only just be dozing off after 6 weeks, and to 'listen to my body' whilst I tapered. I had a little blip with stress/jitteriness a week or so ago. I've just got to zero, a few aches and pains already returned, but I think they're ones that I had anyway. We shall see what happens next, but at the moment I'm thinking thank goodness I went to see that man, otherwise I would have been taking pred for 12 months minimum for no good reason. Sorry for length of reply!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to AshPen9]

Not convinced by his suggetion repeated short courses of steroids is the way to manage spondyloarthropathies. Especially if it one that causes joint damage - where DMARDs might be far more appropriate.

[AshPen9 in reply to PMRpro]

Can you tell me a bit more about that please PMRpro?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to AshPen9]

arthritis.org/diseases/spon...

webmd.com/arthritis/types-o...

One or two of them respond well to biologic medications. One friend was diagnosed with PMR and even GCA was suspected by an authority in the field, but it turned out she had anklyosing spondylitis. It responds to pred and even to NSAIDs but by far the best result was using an anti-THF biologic (tumour necrosis factor) and there is a choice of at least 5 to try out.

[AshPen9]

Thanks very much PMRpro, that's very helpful and I will be armed for my next consultation!

[mgrogers99]

This is a good article also and includes some of the other differential diagnoses. uptodate.com/contents/clini...

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to mgrogers99]

It is and I have quoted it a lot on the past - but it is more suitable for shoving under doctors noses. The other one is in people-speak ...