does anyone have experience of pain other than in the shoulders or hip area? I had the ‘classic’ seized up shoulder muscles when first diagnosed. Now three years later and having reduced to 6mg but unable to go lower, I am having regular pain in my forearms, wrists and fingers but not really in the shoulders.
Is this likely to be a PMRflare or is it more likely to be arthritis or something else even? I’m 76 and pretty fit , taking regular exercise.
Any opinions welcome, thanks in advance!
Hi Yes I have joint pain in my wrists and fingers as well as muscle cramp like pain in my forearms as well as the normal hip and shoulder pain. I have a GP appointment next Wednesday to see if anything has changed as I now can not get below 8mg and was down to 4mg. I’m 62 and I’d say fitness wise ok walk 3-4 miles a day depending on weather.
Hi yes, I am on 7.5mg and have pain in my wrists, fingers, elbows and ankles as well as my shoulders and hips. I’m tending to put this down to arthritis, and have had x rays recently and a DEXA scan booked for 22 April. I’ll follow up with a GP appointment.
Sorry I can’t really help with the cause of your pain. Does it respond to painkillers like paracetamol? Mine does a bit which is partly why I think arthritis is involved x
Seems to be quite a common affect judging by the number of posts on here, but whether it’s purely PMR or Carpel Tunnel Syndrome [CTS] which seems to be a “friend” of PMR I’m not sure…
nhs.uk/conditions/carpal-tu...
If you type in Carpel Tunnel syndrome in search box you find plenty of related posts - here’s just one from a few months ago - with a whole heap of more related posts
I recently flared after going from 5mg to 4.5mg and the first signs were very stiff and painful fingers and wrist every morning, this was swiftly followed by arms/shoulders and, to a lesser extent, calves.
I also have stiffness and pain in arms, fingers and wrists when I wake in the morning. Once I start moving them it goes. Have come off pred. so constantly wondering if it’s a flare but I don’t think it is as I feel reasonably good and am moving okay otherwise. I do not think it’s Arthritis and have told so.
Gardening might be contributing to this but can’t give that up. Good luck with yours.
Same symptoms with me also. Rheumy told me 18 months ago that rheumatoid arthritis was a possible consequence of PMR and I have a GP appointment next month to discuss. Currently at 1.5mg.
If you have PMR-type inflammation around your elbow joints it will cause pain there. Some would call it tennis elbow but the correct term is lateral epicondylitis.
hopkinsmedicine.org/health/....
describes the position and effect but the long list of causes probably doesn't apply to us - it can come from PMR for us as it causes inflammation in the attachments of the soft tissues. I have had it particularly badly for the last year or so - it finally seems to be improving.
Yup, I have this too - but also what I’m pretty sure is arthritis in my thumb joints as it predates the PMR and existed on its own for some time before the PMR developed. Steroid injections for supposed carpal tunnel did help, but it’s not a long term solution. I tried wearing a wrist brace (available from pharmacies in the UK) but in my case (I think they work for some) it seemed to aggravate it, so I stopped
Hi. You have described my current situation, also 76 years old, as I have similar hand issues along with general aches and pains in joints and muscles. After just over 2 years on Pred I am on a very low dose, but I will have to contact my GP and Rheumie for advice now. Sorry that I cannot advise you, but it appears that we are in the same boat !
If it is both hands fairly evenly and also along forearms I would consider what my rheumie said - which is that PMR affects the sheath of connective tissue covering the tendons which, to me, makes sense of pains in forearms, wrists, upper arms etc not just neck shoulders and hips as often cited
Intially before PMR diagnosis had carpal-tunnel like symptoms in right hand. It began around them as stiffness and numbness and worked its way over to the middle finger. Had to wear a support and do some exercises. Was unable to work my computer mouse for work. After I started Prednisone, the symptoms went away, and right hand is fine now. Middle finger still has some stiffness which has never resolved.
When PMR came on I was in intense pain in the upper arms and had bags of inflammation on the back of my hands. Within 28 days I was seen in rheumatology with formal diagnosis confirmed. Started Pred at 15mg / day and a month later at the 2nd appointment I was also prescribed AA. About a month later I developed pain in wrists and fingers of both hands. This continued for approx 4 to 6 months until I read the information leaflet and found out a side effect of AA is joint pain. My GP switched me to Risedronate and within a few weeks the hand and finger pain rapidly receded.
So, are you taking AA? If so ask for the switch. It’s worth a try.
thanks for that bit of information, I’m due to see GP in a week to review everything so will throw the AA and it’s side effects into the mix!
79 & 8+ years on Pred. for PMR. Did get down to 4mgs and stable for 2 years. In the last four months, Pains in my right finger at odd moments, even to the extent of seizing up, very painful, then 10 mins later All O.K, following day it's now my left finger, then my knee, extending to upper thigh. This cleared up with an increase to 7mgs . Over the years these pains have come & gone, never quite sure why, little inflammation. Dr has said it's possible Osteoarthritis, but I haven't been convinced. I sometimes blame an odd Red wine, or maybe other medication/covid boosters. If it was continual I'd be more concerned.
When I had a flare over a year ago, it affected my hands and feet- both were very swollen. My hands were almost useless, it was like wearing sheepskin mittens. Therewas pain, but it wasn't wasn't so bad, more of a dull ache. Both hands and feet tended to be worse in the morning, and improve during the day. It cleared up in a few days when I increased the pred to 20 mg.
I also get sporadic sharp stabbing pains in the palms of my hands, don't think it's PMR, don't know what it is.
I develop a problem with my fore arms, wrists and hands every time that I try reducing under2.5mgs. of Prednisolone. Above 2mgs. I have no problem at all with this. It is quite severe when it happens making my wrists very, very painful and my hands and fingers go numb.
Apparently we can develop RA along with PMR. My rheumatologist said I have some results that suggest that. I don't have pain in hands, etc., but am having pain in my upper abdomen. Praying I am not developimg issues with my pancreas. Whew! Something all the time.
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