I am in the process of being tested for PMR, but would like to know if giddiness, general feeling of illness/ weariness are symptoms.

[NonnieJ]

Please can someone tell me if giddiness, feeling of general weariness and just inability to do anything, are symptoms of PMR, apart from the obvious pain?

[NewPMR]

I’m recently diagnosed with PMR. I had intense stiffness in my hip joints shoulders neck and back. Any movement was almost impossible and painful but no feeling of general illness. You should be offered blood tests by your doctor to rule out other issues. I do however get a degree of giddiness now I’m on the steroids, 15mg for about 12 days now.

[NonnieJ in reply to NewPMR]

Thank you. Yes I'm in the process of getting blood tests.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

See this overview from the charity’s website -

pmrgca.org.uk/wp-content/up...

Dizziness is not always associated with PMR, but it can be and also in GCA. Your other symptoms most definitely are…

What tests have you had? There isn’t a specific test for PMR as such… other illnesses need to be ruled out.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Hi and welcome!

To some extent yes - quite often you feel generally sort of flu-ey. Dizziness isn't that usual in PMR but your ears can be affected in GCA so so mention the dizziness to your GP.

[NonnieJ in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you. Flu-ey is the right word.

I can't get my blood tests til next Monday.

I assumed it was arthritis initially as I have that in most of my joints , but it's more violent than that. Thank you for answering.

[PMRnewbie2017]

Dizziness and nausea are recognised symptoms of Fibromyalgia, as is vertigo. PMR can make you feel generally unwell and I remember feeling terrible until I was diagnosed and received Pred. Mind you, my ESR and CRP readings were very high so it's probably no wonder I felt rough. I do sometimes get dizzy spells if I stand up too quickly or turn too fast but that could be due to any number of other things and it's not incapacitating

[AtopicGuy]

Lots of experience has resulted in me thinking as follows:

1) Autoimmune diseases like PMR directly cause muscle weakness, stiffness and/or pain;

2) Continuing to push hard makes the symptoms worse and causes terrible fatigue after even light activity;

3) Before long, the chronic (long-term) fatigue turns into 'brain fog', giddiness and malaise (a general feeling of being unwell).

As well as medication for the primary symptoms, the secondary and tertiary symptoms suggest more rest and careful management of one's activity levels.

[Rosebud17]

yes, I have experienced the giddiness and brain fog associated with the collection of drugs prescribed for PMR. Am currently on 8.5 mg of Prednisolone, tapering slowly from 15 mg starting last February. The debilitating fatigue can be awesome and you just have to rest and let it pass ( hopefully). One thing I learnt from this site, is to not expect to be able to do what you used to, not even half!

[NonnieJ in reply to Rosebud17]

Thanks so much Rosebud. That's really helpful.

[KASHMIRI1]

I felt like that before I was diagnosed with GCA

[NonnieJ in reply to KASHMIRI1]

Thank you Kashmiri. I hope you are feeling better soon.