PMR myth busting #3 - that there's only one set of symptoms and treatment plan

[Fran_Benson]

The third post in our PMR myth busting campaign is live this week.

Another topic that comes up in our patient groups is how the symptoms of PMR can vary from individual to individual and also slightly from the textbook symptoms. This can sometimes lead to delays in diagnosis.

Treatment, as many of you will know, also varies from dosage of steroid, to tapering speed and additional treatments.

We have posts appearing on Facebook (facebook.com/pmrgcauk) and Twitter (twitter.com/PMRGCAuk), an email to all our members and information on our website.

Please share this information with other patients, friends and relatives, in other PMR forums and with your clinicians.

Visit our website for further information pmrgca.org.uk/pmr-myth-bust...

Be part of the campaign - together we can help more people.

Fran

[piglette]

Put it up on our community website.

[Fran_Benson Partner in reply to piglette]

Thank you ☺️

[krillemy]

"Patients typically have raised ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) and CRP (C-reactive protein) markers but in a small number of cases, the ESR may be normal. The CRP is almost always raised." I thought that "they" had moved away from the CRP is always raised, and more towards, that some patients up to 10-20% have normal CRP?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to krillemy]

Enlightened doctors have moved away from raised blood markers being a necessity-but until all the guidelines state same it won’t be accepted by all…

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to krillemy]

It is almost always though - only time my CRP was raised was during an atrial fibrillation episode!! My ESR was raised for ME - but still within normal range. That is the mistake they make, the fact it is really an individual marker.

[krillemy in reply to PMRpro]

Is or is not?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to krillemy]

It is "almost always" - sometimes it isn't, so not always, just almost always. And that means it may be normal but it IS PMR.

[Fran_Benson Partner in reply to krillemy]

kirllemy, the CRP is almost always raised. There is some research that suggests it's at 99%. There is various research that suggests more variance with ESR. There are various views on this, some research suggests 12% may have normal ESR.

[krillemy in reply to Fran_Benson]

So I guess a lot of the 1% with the normal CRP ends up in this forum