lynnj

[Kerr2]

hi all

Newly diagnosed. 2 months. Still in Shock ! GP excellent so far and referring to a rheumatologist but he’s querying my wrist hand pains. Stiffness Thinks it’s separate to the Pmr diagnosis.

I don’t. it came on apAll at same time as shoulder hip, pain Anyone else experienced this. ?

Thanks in advance for any response.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

hi and welcome ,

Could be carpel tunnel syndrome - that very often accompanies PMR - and many complain of it. This link does mention the connection -

emedicine.medscape.com/arti...

As you are new maybe have a look through for general info - and can I request you put a bit more info in your profile/ bio so we can give better answers specific to you…

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[Kerr2 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks very much Dlady for your response and others. Really helpful also the link which I will take to my GP next week . This is a brilliant supportive forum which I’m discovering. Thankyou. Will do.

[readingbooks in reply to Kerr2]

Yes, both handsand wrists were a part of my PMR from the beginning and my fingers were swollen. My excellent, careful, thorough Rheumy took several weeks after starting me on 20 mgs of Pred to decide whether it was PMR or LORA ( late onset rheumatoid arthritis . I was 78 ). It did pretty much improve along with my other symptoms and 6 years later my PMR is still with me but I am down to 3.5 mgms.

[Hildalew in reply to DorsetLady]

Is cauliflower known as a helpful vegetable?

I have been off prednisolone for some months - with no problems EXCEPT in the last couple of months, I have had painful hands - fingers and palm - Left hand more than right. (I am right-handed) - Usually most stiff and painful when I wake up, easing off during the day.

A week or so ago, I cooked and ate a small cauliflower, with some melted cheese on it. The following morning, 'running' a bath, I realised I had no pain in my hands. The only 'different' thing about the previous day was the cauliflower - I hadn't had any for a long, long time.

I read that cauliflower has a goodly amount of magnesium. - Could that be the reason for the pain disappearing for a while? It IS still there, but far less painful than before.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Hildalew]

Maybe -don’t really know -not sure I’ve seen it mentioned here before… but try it again and see if you get same effect….

[Croft9232]

hi and welcome, yes I did have wrist and hand pain at the beginning, the pain was awful when trying to use cutlery to eat I remember.

Other members too. Others with more expertise and better explanations will be along later .

[Kerr2 in reply to Croft9232]

Thanks very much Croft for your reply. Much appreciated

[Kerr2 in reply to Croft9232]

Thanks very much for your reply Croft 9232. Really helpful. Con firmed what I thought. GP can not know it all. This forum is great !

[PMRpro Ambassador]

My wrists have always been bad and were always the place a flare started. They have been better the last few months after a year on Actemra.

Leeds did look at data and have found hands and feet are often part of patient's complaints about PMR symptoms.

[Kerr2 in reply to PMRpro]

ThANKS VERY much PMRPRO for your helpful response. Will take to my GP next week and prob will help to avoid unnecessary carpel tunnel surgery!

[RedRum1968]

My hand wrist pain came on same time too. Diagnosed with PMR and carpel tunnel by Dr, rheumatologist said early osteoarthritis. I’m 54 and convinced it’s PMR (or related) as soon as prednisolone kicked in I’ve had no problems.

[Kerr2 in reply to RedRum1968]

Thankyou for this Redrum. That’s good to hear. Appreciated

[Jigsawlass]

Early on in my PMR journey I would have pain in wrists, ankles , fingers sometimes so I would say PMR related indeed

[Kerr2 in reply to Jigsawlass]

Thanks for your response. Jigsawlass That’s really helpful to know.

[WaltzG]

I had same pain in hands and wrists but for a month or so before the PMR symptoms began....so I don't know if coincidence or connected....stopped when the other symptoms started .....I wish you an easy journey....

[Kerr2 in reply to WaltzG]

Thanks for your response Sharon. Really helpful to know

[Allotmental]

Yes, and still get it. It comes and goes in severity and I often have pins and needles too. I am using a computer for most of the day and so that definitely influences it. My physio, who is doing research into the fascia and impact on pain, thinks that the reduced blood flow impacts on the muscles and nerves, and also the fascia so the muscles are not ‘gliding’ efficiently. Good wrist and hand exercises really helps, and big exaggerated movements rather than tiny little ones seems to work best for me. Think some kind of bizarre, clumsy Kate Bush impression!

[Mervetheswerve]

In my current (second flare up) of PMR I developed wrist pain too (as well as hips and groin).

[Kerr2 in reply to Mervetheswerve]

Thanks for your response. Hope things get better for you

[Thiago1396]

I was diagnosed early May this year, after 2 months of suffering which started in my right shoulder, then my left shoulder onto my hips and wrists hands fingers. Started steroids treatments and after raising my 15mg initial dose to 20mg, all pain and stiffness ceased. My PMR came 1 months after my only Covid infection which started Christmas Day 2022 and lasted 3 weeks, and was the worst illness of my life, thankfully I had all the vaccinations and boosters for my age, 77 at the time. I have absolute experience of my wrists hands and fingers suffering with PMR. Best wishes on your PMR journey!

[Bramble2000]

My hands and wrist are the only places I DONT have pain, lol. X

[Gimme]

Fingers and hands here too, wrists fine, comes and goes, depending on the dose of pred.

[jls93]

Wrists, hands,finger,thumb joints ,trigger fingers( index and long only). Bilateral

[Kerr2 in reply to jls93]

Thanks everyone for your great feedback re hand wrist problems consistent with Pmr . Much appreciated

[Hildalew]

Hi Kerr2,

When PMR first showed itself in its full glory I had immense pain in my hands and my fingers were very swollen The GP referred my to a rheumatologist at my local hospital and he told me I had PMR (which I understood the GP had tentatively suggested in the notes she sent.

Thankfully, when I got home and consulted Dr. Google, I found this Forum and was able to adjust my dosage within my prescriptions so as to go more slowly so as to avoid the flares that people wrote about on here.

Fast forward 3 years or so to what turned out to be the last 'face-to-face' I had with the consultant and he expressed pleasure that, (except for one unusual feature), my case having had proceeded so well. I asked what the unusual feature was - the answer was 'the hands'.

Some time later, when I was at a very low dose of Pred, I finally had a flare but only in my hands.

I posted about it to this forum.

PMRPro responded - saying that PMR affecting the hands and feet was still a bit of a puzzle - and that Dr Sarah Mackie (Associate Professor, Leeds University School of Medicine, Consultant - specialisms PMR ad GCA - had wanted to do some research on it but had not yet found the time to squeeze it in to her schedule. Here's hoping.

[pegpowell]

In the beginning of PMR, I had painful fingers, thumbs, especially at night when in bed. That gradually went away. Wrist, carpal tunnel like pain sometimes occurs when too much gardening actions although not lately, now that I am going on 8 years and 1/2 mg pred. No PMR pain at all currently, just torn knee and shoulder ligaments from overuse. Whatever you do, don't over exercise. My age, 85, is probably a factor.

[Kerr2 in reply to pegpowell]

Thanks very much pegpowel for your response. Much appreciated. Advice taken on board

[waltztherapy]

Yes, with my pronated ankle and subsequent impingement, causing further pain. My rheumatologist did suggest this was mechanical, which I kbelieve is the case. However a flare up with PMR does seem to make the ankle pain worse. It was the rheumatologist who came up trumps and referred me to a podiatrist (where the GP refused), who then upgraded my orthotics, which solved the problem at the time, and again since. Just lucky, as I see the rheumatologist only every nine months.Good luck!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to waltztherapy]

I think PMR always goes for our weak spots.

[marionofnorwich]

I have wrist and hand pains. Some of it is possibly arthritis around the thumb joint but definitely aggravated by PMR/inflammation/. I also get very tires forearm mucles if I try to hold them out eg certain types of bike handlebars where I have to hold my arms up

[Kerr2 in reply to marionofnorwich]

Thanks for your response Marion. Wishing you all the best for recovery

[marionofnorwich]

And you too!