Polymyligia rheaumatica

[Alice70]

Started with P MR in December started treatment with 30mgs of prednisalone January ,then dropped down to 20mg prednisalone, then 15mg, this is when I saw consultant who asked me to drop prednisalone by 2 and a half every three weeks tried this ,I couldn't to painful so I've dropped it by one ,I am now taking 14 mgs of prednisalone, problem isthat although my neck ,shoulders are ok ,but my wrists and hands are so stiff and painful for a good few hours in the mornings ,I'm wondering is this how it should be .I had some xrays done on hands and wrists been told no rheaumatiod arthritis only a bit of osteoarthritis, my gp is sending me back as emergency to see consultant, because he thinks I have rheaumatiod arthritis as my inflammatory markers were as high as 404 ,the funny thing is the week before the onset of PMR ,I was suffering with siatica, and still got it hardly able to walk ,I am so confused as consultant doesn't think I have rheaumatiod arthritis even though my markers are high ,and four months of siatica is getting me down ,I wonder is it all related ,the pain from siatica is different pain from PMR ,dont know which way to turn ,please can someone guide me

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Hi and welcome!

When are you taking your pred? Is it plain white pred or coloured enteric coated tablets?

Have you been fully free from PMR symptoms at all at the start and what happened at each of the reductions?

[Alice70 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank for reply ,my preds are white ,I had no pain from PMG when I was on 30mgs or 20mgs at 15 mgs pain started in hands and wrists also thats when swellings started in wrists ,exrays showed no rheaumatiod arthritis,I take preds 7oclock in morning

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Alice70]

That doesn't mean anything in the early stages of RA, it is only once it is causing erosion of the disease that an x-ray is of any value for monitoring disease progression. Who ordered the x-ray and said it wasn't RA? Was the order to reduce so fast because the consultant wants to see whatever it is in all its glory?

[Alice70 in reply to PMRpro]

My consultant ordered exray ,and rheaumatiod nurse gave me results ,when my gp looked at the bony noduals that has developed on my wrists he said they are typical of rheaumatiod arthritis ,I'm so confused

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Alice70]

Not surprised.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

"Some people take their second dose between 2am and 3am. That is to counteract the pain that starts around 4am or 5am."

Not quite - those who do take their pred then take the whole dose or the first dose of the day then. A second dose is likely then to be in the afternoon.

[PMR2011]

that is a very fast taper for PMR so if that’s what it is does not surprise me you are back in pain! If it’s not PMR then change of course. Many of us have had hand/wrist symptoms with PMR. These darn autoimmune diseases are just not straightforward are they?

[Sharitone]

Sympathies re the sciatica. Just wondering: although most painkillers don't do anything for PMR, there are drugs that may bring relief for sciatica. Has your GP offered any treatment for that?

[Merryfield]

Epidurals and weight loss helped me with sciatica.