Does anyone have inflammation of their hands and feet from PMR?

[smoothilly]

Inflammation of hands and feet

[Constance13]

Yes, I do! But it comes from arthritis not PMR.

[SnazzyD]

Hello, when you say inflammation, do you mean just swelling or redness/soreness? Also, is it in the joints or elsewhere in the hand? Is it painful?

[smoothilly in reply to SnazzyD]

Yes, a lot of pain. I can hardly get dressed. My hands and feet feel tight. Walking is painful as well.

[SnazzyD in reply to smoothilly]

Can you say more about how your PMR has been, how the reductions have been going, what dose you’re on and when this started? We can make suggestions but really you’ll need to see a doc for a proper diagnosis to rule out some other issue creeping in like arthritis or other autoimmune thingies. Even then, it needs to be decided if it’s osteoarthritis or inflammatory. Have you had any blood tests recently?

[smoothilly in reply to SnazzyD]

I have had PMR for 7 years. It started when I was 50. My symptoms have always been aching and stiffness in my hips and shoulders. But this past month my hands and feet seem to be affected. I am on 4 mg of Medrol. Ibuprofen seems to help with the symptoms. I see my Dr on Monday.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I had hand and feet symptoms with my PMR - but they resolved after a few months of pred and rarely return unless I have a flare.

But we can't really make any real comments without a lot more detail - especially pred dose and a timeline.

[smoothilly in reply to PMRpro]

I have had PMR for 7 years. It started when I was 50. My symptoms have always been aching and stiffness in my hips and shoulders. But this past month my hands and feet seem to be affected. I am on 4 mg of Medrol. Ibuprofen seems to help with the symptoms.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to smoothilly]

If it were me I would suspect the steroid dose was now too low to control the inflammation. But if you didn't have it originally it could be arthritic pain emerging now you are at a low dose. Or even it may not have been PMR originally but a polymyalgic onset of an inflammatory arthritis. Are your hands swollen?

[smoothilly in reply to PMRpro]

Yes, my hands and feet are swollen.

Swollen hand

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to smoothilly]

There is a syndrome called RS3PE syndrome which can happen on its own but is also often a part of PMR. It causes swelling and pain in hands and feet and responds to moderate doses of pred. But swollen fingers can also be a symptom of one group of inflammatory arthritides. You need to mention it all to the doctor.

[smoothilly in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you for your reply and the helpful information. I appreciate it!

[dancersize2]

My hands swelled before I as diagnosed and it happens sometimes still. Ankles as well rather than feet. I have found increasing pred from 1/4 to 5mg helps a lot then I go back to 1/4mg gradually (but within a week). Interested to hear how you get on with doctor. I'm also on MTX and rheumy would like me off the pred.

[smoothilly in reply to dancersize2]

Thank you!

[Gibguy]

I wonder ir there are studies adout the concurrence of PMR anb osteoarthritis. I have both.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Gibguy]

Many have both, but that’s not to say they are directly connected, more likely age related. But there can be confusion at diagnosis stage - is us OA, RA or PMR?

PMR is an autoimmune disorder that occurs when your immune system attacks itself and is sometimes confused with Rheumatoid Arthritis (also an autoimmune disorder) at the diagnosis stage because they both affect joints, or rather the tissues surrounding joints.

For info -

RA and OA both affect your joints, they're very different forms of arthritis. RA occurs when your immune system attacks the tissues lining your joints. OA is primarily a degenerative joint disorder caused by wear and tear on your cartilage.

[cycli]

I'm on 35mg pred. I get hands, feet and lower legs swelling. My hands look like that end of the day. I never had this before PMR, GCA and pred. I don't have pain . I have a hot bath each night elevating legs which reduces swelling. No arthritic effects yet in joints. I thought that lowering pred might remove the swelling, but your dose is low so that theory is probably false. Yet another conundrum this disease presents.

[Hollybee21]

I had the same problem after a flare with second Covid jab. My left hand very swollen above knuckle of index finger, couldn’t make a fist for 5 months even after increasing Pred to 15 mgs. Also very painful right foot, had a lot of trouble up and down stairs. Saw Rheumy in September and he gave me a cortisone injection into my thigh, by next morning all pain gone. I would make an appointment asap with your Rheumatologist. I rang his Nurse in the hospital and had an appointment within a month.

[Uisce58]

Good morning. I'm sorry to read your email- a few months ago I experienced very painful swelling in my right hand, and then my left hand. The impact was horrible as I was unable to lift things eg the kettle, had problems dressing ( closing buttons) etc etc . I knew I was having a flare, went to doctor who increased my Pred dose. Very pleased to say this worked, swelling and pain gone, and both hands are fully functional again. I was diagnosed with GCA in April 2020 and still adjusting to this life changing condition. Please do speak with your doctor - there is a solution to your pain. Take care

[smoothilly in reply to Uisce58]

Thank you so much for your kind words. I too had all those problems. I felt so helpless. I am scheduled to see my dr tomorrow but have found some relief from ibuprofen and my 4 mgs of Medrol.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to smoothilly]

Do you mean Ibuprofen in tablet form or as a topical gel? If tablet form please be aware of increased gastro issues…and maybe discuss with doctor.

webmd.com/interaction-check...

[paintpots]

Hi. Yes I had swollen hands and painful knuckles. I thought it was arthritis but noticed that it was worse when I woke with swollen veins as well as well as general stiffness in my legs. I increased my pred and it has gone away. I am currently on 4mg of pred.

[Darkchocolate1]

One of my early symptoms of PMR was pain in my feet. It was so severe I used a Walker for a while. Podiatrist said it was plantar fascitous but it was not. After that I had severe pain in my hands along with weakness making it difficult to do anything. The pain ran up my wrists and arms and felt like electrical shocks. Other early pain was in one hip and one shoulder blade and entire neck. I also have osteoarthritis but the PMR pain is different and I can usually tell which is which. After starting on prednisone no more foot pain unless it starts to flare during a long slow taper. My hands were swollen at the time of pain. Everyone’s experience seems a little different making diagnosis a challenge.

[USAGCA]

PMR can cause tenosynovitis of the feet and similar carpal tunnel syndrome of the hands. In my case, my feet got better as I walked around a bit.

[Raven1955]

I've had PMR for 5 years now, but in the first year had quite a bit of inflammation of the hands and feet. The 2 different rheumys that I saw both were hell bent on my reducing the prednisone dose fast. Once I learned to take control of my dosage and kept it at a level that controlled my pain and swelling, it's never been an issue again. I do deal with neuropathy (sp?) of the front 1/2 of me feet but doesn't really bother me much unless I'm walking on bare feet. I have a hunch it's maybe from years of prednisone but always forget to mention it to the rheumy and GP. Minor in the scope of things.

[cycli]

It's not a long term pred . issue I think, or a higher dose of pred. to cure swelling as I'm on 35mg . It could be GCA related. The only difference I have is that when I started pred I couldn't stop peeing but as I have progressed the excessive peeing has lessened and the swelling in legs ,hands and feet has developed. I think it has to do with the lymph sytem of fluid retention and clearance. Higher blood pressure may also have something to do with this. This disease is about problem recognition and solving and it's a bleeping nuisance.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to cycli]

Have they investigated the extent of arterial involvement yet? Sounds as if the vasculitis might be affecting the kidneys.

[cycli in reply to PMRpro]

seeing cardiologist tomorrow. Had 2 24/7 tapes ECG's echocardiogram blood test and now recorded BP and pulse 3x a day for 2 weeks so some data for her.