I have had pmr for 3 years, a couple of flares along the way, now down to 6.5mg, just finished slow taper. Last year my right thumb joint at the wrist was very painful, I had an X-ray and it showed the beginning of some arthritis (had a fall and hurt it the previous year). But recently both of my wrists/thumbs are really painful. I initially put it down to doing some easy weeding (I have a garden after 20 years of living in a flat) but it seems to be constant, using a keyboard for work, driving, some times can’t open lids, bottles as too painful. There is no swelling or redness. I’ve looked up carpal tunnel, tendonitis etc…. But I don’t think it’s any of these, could it be PMR related, has anyone else had this? I go to bed with it and wake up in the morning and it’s still there. I have taken paracetamol to see if that helps, it eases a little. I have also noticed in the morning my upper arms are more achy and lifting them up to back of my neck is a struggle. Wondering if I’ve gone too low on pred. Any thoughts greatly appreciated. I follow the forum everyday. Thank you
Painful wrist.: I have had pmr for 3 years, a... - PMRGCAuk
Painful wrist.
If I am at slightly too low a dose, the first place to protest is the base of my thumbs and across my wrists. Always has been,
I have just given up and gone up by a mg compared to the night before - the difference in the stiffness that was developing is unbelievable. And at a couple of mg less I was noticing my shoulders were uncomfortable if I was lying with my arms above my head which is how I like to sleep. That last was my first PMR symptom 18 years ago.
When I was at higher doses at the beginning I used to get an aching wrist and forearm as I reduced but it would settle after a couple of weeks, but this is definitely worse and not letting up. I’ll be really disappointed if I have to increase but if it works that’s what I’ll have to do, I was so pleased with myself getting down to 6.5mg. Thank you
If I were at 7mg and doing well I'd be opening the prosecco!!! You will get lower - just not yet.
Funny that I can manage to open a bottle of bubbly, but not a bottle of cordial! See my comment below about aids😳
🤣🤣
I have one of those funnel nutcracker things which is brilliant for bottle tops, even the pop cork things.
walmart.com/ip/Quick-Nut-Cr...
I can’t squeeze anything… have an arsenal of tools but can’t use them anymore m too painful, so not sure what else I could use.
Am in the process of compiling a more extensive list of gadgets
So kind of you. Thank you. 🌻
I know…… 2 steps forward 3 back.
I also find that if I am too low a dose my right thumb aches at the base, I take it as my warning!
My thumbs are aching, but it gets better during the day. I am down to 6.5mg and perhaps my body is saying - don’t reduce any further. I shall stay on this dose for the time being to see if the thumb-ache stops after a couple of weeks. I don’t want to increase if I can help it.
Could be a combination of both OA and PMR.
You can buy plenty of aids for weak wrists if it is OA for opening cans/bottles etc /my problem. OXO is good make -see photo…on offer today!
And how about wrist supports for keyboard use.
Maybe start with a look Amazon -or any mobility aid site or local shop (although they can sometimes be more expensive,
I have had one of those for years and not from A for a change.
Mind Flexiseq does wonders for my hands especially the base of my thumb plus when I have weeded a -🥃
Not sure where I got mine, local cookware shop I think….one of those gadgets you really do need ! 🤣😂
Just bought some 'toothpaste squeezers' not for the toothpaste, but for the tubes of germolene, flexisq, etc..............now I can get every drop of the stuff inside before throwing it away and I just have to turn a little handle and it winds the tube up...............
I suddenly remembered them when I was trying to get the last of the Flexiseq out of the tube and grumbling away about the waste. - now the tubes are flattened and emptied. Result. 👍
That’s good idea , I always cut the tube at the top when it’s getting near the end to scoop out the last bit….but if it’s metal maybe not such a good idea. Having told “herself” off about using hot water to get jar tops off perhaps I’d better do as I say, not as I do! 🤣😂
Are you doing anything special tomorrow?
Do you drink cold tea or coffee then???
😉
Freya, Yes Hel is being taken out. 3 mates announced this morning that they are taking me out to lunch at my favourite place....................have not been there since Covid. So I also get to see Pauline and Alder who now run it after leaving the village pub 5 years ago.
The Old Mill Knitsley (stick it in your search engine.)
Every year I get a poem from a longstanding friend so today I opened the note when drinking a coffee and I spluttered with laughter.
I wish I was a glow worm
A glow worm is never glum
How can you be downhearted
When a light shines out your bum. 😊
I keep on giggling at odd moments..................at my age I should know better - but I don't.
Great- Have a lovely day -and let them spoil you 🌸
Looks lovely!
Keep giggling! I'm a giggler and enjoy it, except for in embarrassing situations, when giggling really isn't appropriate. I had a hunch about endorphins being released sohave just looked it up....'When you giggle, your body releases endorphins, the most natural painkiller, while increasing your body’s number of antibody-producing cells, boosting the immune system. Not to mention laughing brings your focus away from negative emotions in a healthy, natural way'. So giggle away...it's amazing how often it starts someone else off giggling even if they don't know what you're giggling about! 😂
I use a tube winder that I bought to empty watercolour paint tubes. It works for all tubes- toothpaste, polyfiller, etc. Great gadget.
That is exactly the same as the tooth paste winder. It seems to change its name with different makers.
Thank you. I have a tool to help open things, just frustrating I have to use it 😤. I was looking at wrist supports online this morning, think I’ll order one and see if it helps, if it does I order for the other hand.
Might be frustrating, but if it make life easier…why not?
I've yet to find one to open jars that works for me!
This releases vacuum - Lakeland, Amazon and others no doubt - again by OXO -
I usually resort to turning the jar upside down and dipping the metal top in boiling water ... Usually get there eventually!
‘Elf & safety 😳
The hot water is in a small bowl in the sink and I'm holding the bottom of the jar. And a tea towel to protect my hands though by the time i get to it, it isn't that hot but still expanded 
This jar opener is very good and can be purchased from Amazon:-NRS Healthcare Baby Boa Constrictor Jar and Bottle Opener.
I have the Zyliss that is shown on the same page - just cannot manage it, slips off when trying to position it. I get so fed up with buying gadgets that don't function for me.
I have a corkscrew device from Amazon that makes weeding a breeze, also a device for opening jars which may have been Lakeland.Work may be able to do an ergonomic assessment to make using the keyboard better for you. They ought to really under the equalities act.
Have a Google search for gadgets to make life easier the price varies enormously.
The other parts of your question have been dealt with I think.
Glass jars with metal lids I.e. marmalade jars, tap the edge of the lid all the way round with the handle end of a knife any you will hear the sond change then open easily.
I am only 4 weeks into my diagnosis of PMR and am still on initial dose of 20g Prednisolone but am seeing a second Rheumy on Wed for a reassessment as I am still in a lot of pain …shoulders are the most severe followed closely by wrists/thumbs which show slight swelling, then neck, jaw, mid/lower back, hips and thighs in that order of severity. All pain improves late morning but my wrists and grip remain weak the whole time - pain begins to increase again mid evening so I’m hoping a higher dose of Pred. will by the answer.
Either not quite enough Pred (25mg might be) or you are trying to continue as normal…are you? Don’t get sidetracked by Rheumy saying it’s not PMR because you haven’t responded as he would expect.
Please let us know how you get on.
Apart from prepping meals I’m resting the whole day ( you should see the dust indoors😜) …and sitting in the garden mostly. I had a long phone chat with the new Rheumy and he thought the dosage wasn’t quite right but wants to examine me first. I’ll report back when I have news x
Thoughts that’s what you’d said in another thread -well at least he’s open minded about requiring larger dose.. hope it works out.
Good morning.What a coincidence. I have exactly the same symptoms. Been managing on 2 mg. Right hand discovered I couldn’t use a pair of scissors, severe pain trying to use the hand. Went privately yesterday. Nothing to do with PMR. Can’t remember the term he used ( Dr talk) , but I need a steroid injection .It wasn’t Carpal Tunnel . Funnily enough my fingers on my left hand yesterday were all very painful . Took 2 parectomol & 1 Cuprinol before bed. . 100 % better this morning.
The Rummy said it was nothing related to PMR ……!
Best regards
If paracetamol helped then he is probably quite right, But Cuprinol? Surely not 
Gives a lovely finish!
Suppose it would depend on the colour ...
What’s wrong with Cuprinol
In the UK it is a range of woodcare products ...
Lol : Indeed it is 🤦♂️
You don’t mention if you’re taking AA. I had painful wrists and hands about 18 months ago (my dose of Pred would have been about 10 or 11mg). I read about related issues with AA so asked my Dr who suggested Risedronate instead. A few weeks later the hand / wrist issues vanished.I’m tapering from 4 to 3.5mg and get discomfort in the left thumb on waking, but generally resolves itself after Pred and manipulation through flexing. I’m putting 2 and 2 together and thinking it’s lack of natural cortisol.
I’ve had the same for about 9 months, mentioned it to the GP and he said it could be arthritis as that’s a very common place for it to be.
No I don’t take AA, had dexa scan and bones ok so far.
I am 88 and on 7mg prednisalone after 3+ years of pmr. I have exactly the same problem. Very painful wrists. Doctor Rod Hughes tells me it is osteo arthritis. A pity really. I had googled another name for it. De Quervain's Tenosynovitis, which sounds much more distinguished than common or garden arthritis!
😂😂😂
I have exactly the same thing! Just pain in my thumbs at any level below 20 mg of prednisone. If I do absolutely nothing for a day (and I mean even walking), the pain goes away. However, the pain at the base of my thumbs has not increased as I taper, so I’m continuing - 1/2 mg down every 2 months. My doctor recommended this very slow pace to avoid flares. For background: this is my second bout with PMR. Had a flare after mild COVID infection, so increased by 5 mg, and have been in this super slow taper ever since.
Hi there: I am also having trouble with my wrist, the right one. Had an X-ray last year about this time if the year. It revealed I had a bit of arthritis. Settled down lovely until I started gardening a lot in spring. Now have hot shooting pains and continual nagging pain. I take general pain killers and rest it as much as I can. Then it settles down again. I suggest rest and no gardening until it settles.
I have arthritis in both of my thumbs. It's the basal joint which is where your describing. You should try getting thumb braces. You want to make sure you get the kind for the basal joint. I have used a number of different braces with varying results however the best one is called a push brace. I eventually had to have surgery on my right thumb which has greatly improved but my left thumb also needs repairing. I've been putting it off because of the pandemic.
Thank you, I’ll look into that.
I have OA that started as carpel tunnel, in my fifties, and developed badly so I had 10 surgeries (1 per year) on my hands, fingers, thumbs, wrists, elbow and shoulder. Nearly all bi-lateral and before PMR days. Makes me wonder. But regarding the wrists I wore the braces and eventually had Trapeziectomies, removal of the base of the thumbs which, although very painful after surgery. really helped the pain and stiffness long term. Is that what you had? If I get on too low a dose of pred now my wrists ache but nothing more.
Yes. They took a bit of tendon from my arm to make a joint to replace the one they removed from my thumb. It's been 2 years and it is so much better now.
They pared a tendon from the same area to replace the one they took - plus removed bone from the base of the thumb. That why it was so painful post op. I’ve had keyhole surgery for Impingement in my shoulder, and that bone removal wasn’t painful at all compared. Both surgeries were a success. Pleased yours seems to have too.
Just noticed your post, I have had painful thumb joint and used to have feeling like bands round my list and painful arms especially shoulder, when lifting my arms more than shoulder height. However this was when my thyroid was under active and quite a common symptom of hypothyroidism. May not be but could be worth checking? Hope you find an answer.
That’s very interesting, thank you for that. It’s easy to put everything down to pmr when it could be something else.
Hypothyroidism is one of the things that should be ruled out when making a PMR diagnosis.
I’m not sure that you can rule out hypothyroidism entirely and forever as it can hit at different times of one’s life and because it is mainly women who suffer, so often undertreated due to the basic TSH test given which may not pick up variations. Eg my TSH is so low and has been for twenty plus years, I should be living with hyper symptoms which I’m so not. Other tests though suggest I’m fine. Bodies are so complicated!
It’s the same with thyroid disease. There’s a tendency to think everything is thyroid related (which as the thyroid controls all cells is likely) and not look to other causes. (Especially diet or being overweight!). Some of my aches and pains, in my hands especially, which I and the medical profession, had put down to old age and arthritis are beginning to subside as I’ve adjusted meds, added in other meds and lost some weight!
I have pain at the base of both thumbs, which is definitely osteoarthritis and flares from time to time. Using a thumb brace for a couple of days usually works to settle things down.
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