ultrasound scan

[Palgeo]

I was diagnosed with PMR in November 2023 based on typical physical symptoms and a blood test that showed high inflammation. In April, after 6 months of failing to make the taper from15mg of Prednisolone that my gp prescribed (I had made it to 13 after a relapse), I was referred to a consultant and referred for an MRI scan. I was fortunate to get a quick NHS consultant appointment. The MRI is next week.

The consultant said patients should have had an ultra-sound scan before starting on the Prednisolone. He said the Rheumatologists had written to local gps to this effect. I told my gp about this and she is investigating.

I now have to come off the Prednisolone to have the ultrasound. So far, reduced by 1mg per week without relapse to 11gm.

My query is, does anyone have experience of ultrasound and pmr? I’ve no idea what to expect.

My gp is seeing me next week to see how I’m doing and I hope to have some questions to ask. I am concerned that once I get to 7mg, my original symptoms will return. I have read the information on here about the adrenal system which was very enlightening.

Thank you.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Well that is nice - however, maybe providing easy access to the u/s as well as insisting it be done would be helpful. It's been in the literature for over 20 years - and they are just "discovering" it - there has been quite a bit published in the last 5-10 years.

They will just use the ultrasound probe to look at your shoulder joints and possibly your hips for bursitis and tendinitis in specific places.

And according to this

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/113....

the MRI will show the same thing in terms of PMR.

[Palgeo in reply to PMRpro]

Many thanks. Research very helpful.