Blood tests coming back normal

[7DaysinMay]

Hi, like most posts I've read here PMR suffers even if they are relatively stable have relapses. I've had a few which go on for weeks but the last couple which have come close together yet accompanied by normal blood tests, i.e. no raised inflammation markers! But the symptoms have grown worse. I am going to try and get a consultation with the GP to talk this through. Has anyone else had this?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

As we are often saying on here, the blood tests results can lag behind the symptoms - something doctors don’t always appreciate.

So symptoms are the key! —try and impress that upon the doctor and treat it as a flare of your illness.

[piglette]

It is reckoned that around twenty per cent of people do not have raised inflammation markers, which seems to confuse some doctors! The important thing is if you do have pain you should stop trying to reduce and possibly increase a bit to try and get the PMR under control again.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

If you are still on pred then the raised markers may lag a long time behind the symptoms - so really, symptoms always trump lab values. The inflammation must be present high enough and long enough each day to trigger the liver to produce the proteins that raise the lab test results.

But you are right to ask the GP because it isn't always the PMR - there can be other things too!

[Lovebikes]

And another thought. Worth asking the doctor what the actual numbers of the results have been throughout your journey. If they are higher than usual for you that could be a clear sign and worth knowing for the future. Someone probably has the numbers arrive on their desk and compares them against the standard assessment criteria. The numbers are lower so they say 'within normal range'. I may be doing GPs a disservice but their workload is unimaginably high and unless they have time to scrutinise an individual's results you will be compared to an average. If your baseline number is usually, say CRP = 1, and the normal range goes up to 10, you might have gone up to 8 or 9 and that wouldn't be fine for you. I always asked for the actual numbers and CRP was usually 1 or less and ESR usually 4 or less. I think the 'normal' range for our lab was 10 and 20 respectively so that would have been sky high for me.

[Joanbill13]

I haven’t got PMR no raised markers all normal according to my GP. Thank goodness she is still prescribing pred and I have Heathunlocked to guide me. Going into my third year now but it only lasts two years. 😀

[7DaysinMay]

Thanks to everyone for their responses to my question. The information from just the last 24 hours has expanded my knowledge significantly. Also thanks to everyone for their warm and generous welcome.

I'm taking onboard all the responses and reassessing things. It seems to me now that I maybe have more influence over this condition than I realised. I wish I'd joined sooner.