Hello everybody from across the pond, I have been reading and benefiting from your collective wisdom for over a month now and I appreciate all your valuable contributions. This is my first post.
I have been dealing with PMR and GCA for few months now first diagnosed in August 2024 ,my full story is in my bio. I have started to feel a new symptom a swelling in my right wrist and a lot of pain to the point that I could not hold my large mug of coffee and my fingers hurt to move them. I hope this is not the progression of what I have to rheumatoid arthritis . The rheumatologist tested 3 weeks ago for markers for RA and test was negative . Could that develop in such short period.
I appreciate any thoughts if anyone had similar experiance.
I also also would like your thoughts ( for anyone that has the time) on my full story in my bio if you do not mind reading my long winded struggle with my GP. Thank you
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Pmr2026
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Hi, welcome to the forum and DL will be along later with a introductory post and further information. It's possible it could be Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, which often seems go hand in hand (pun not really intended) with PMR and other inflammatory diseases,
Link to information below. First one is NHS which is UK, second link is the Mayo which is on your side of the pond.
Hi and welcome, and thanks for completing bio, really does help us.
As mentioned by Bcol my intro post attached [I also had GCA] - and you are not alone in struggling to get a diagnosis- although your ethnicity may have thrown a spanner in the works.. not your typical background for PMR/GCA.
Bcol has addressed the swollen wrists, but you can find plenty of advice on almost everything in the FAQs, link found on this page as a featured content just under your post and also under the Pinned Posts
Maybe start with this on sleep as that seems to be your major issue [it does get better as you reduce the Pred], but just have a look at anything that interests you -
I'm glad your rheumy is so risk averse - the side effects of a few months of high dose pred are nothing compared to the ultimate risk of neglected GCA!
In terms of your weight gain - cut your carbs, Drastically! Pred changes how your body processes carbs and quickly lays down excess carb intake as fat stores - cutting the carbs will help reduce that and reduce the risk of developing steroid-induces diabetes. Cutting processed carbs such as bread, other baked goods, pasta and so on is relatively easy with the typical American diet. Also cut added sugar and limit root vegetables and most fruit - lots of sugar. Switch to lots of above ground veg and look at low carb diets - not keto, that is too extreme for health. This is also a fairly antiinflammatory diet - so good for the symptoms.
It is possible that it may be an injury that is making the wrist so painful - it almost certainly isn't PMR at a dose of 40mg but I had wrist pain that made lifting a mug of tea very painful! Having PMR/GCA doesn't excuse you from other illnesses - and pred does make it easier to cause soft tissue damage, However - an x-ray at least would be a good idea to rule out some things. And carpal tunnel is not uncommon - though again, surprising at such a high pred dose.
Having negative RA markers doesn't mean it isn't RA I'm afraid and inflammatory arthritides can present looking identical to PMR - although they don't often look like GCA, However, anklylosing spondylitis can cause neck problems that will mimic GCA so it should be considered. But you aren't complaining of back pain so perhaps less likely.
Hi Pmr2026! My temporal biopsy for GCA (positive) was done a month after being on 40 mg pred. Had a flare recently, and now reduced from 15 to 14 mg for a month. Like you, I am starting to experience problems with my wrist and occasionally fingers - a real bugger as I spend much time knitting for charity. Hope you get some relief soon.
If you get more pain as you taper you don't keep tapering! You are looking for the lowest dose where the symptoms are stable and like they were with the starting dose.
Sorry to hear about your painful wrist. I hope your GP is investigating it. You must get it looked at. it may something other than PMR.
I have carpal tunnel, RSI and de quervains in both (25 years on a PC keyboard), RF positive in blood tests but no RA diagnosis. Both wrists slightly swollen, but they've been like this for so long that i consider this my normal.
The advice was to use ice packs, anti inflammatory gel, physio, and continue doing everything that wore the joints out in the first place. Rest the wrists said no one ever, though they did supply Spica splints when I was diagnosed.
Read your bio. Sorry you had such a difficult time. One way and another you have a right to feel grouchy! I too had a risk averse diagnosis of GCA as the biopsy was inconclusive so the rheumy acted on the basis of symptoms (for which I’m very grateful).
I have a swollen and painful right wrist and have to lift cups etc with my left hand. It’s become a habit over the years….Mine is caused by osteoarthritis.
well aware we are all different, my story! Suddenly developed serious pain in left hand and lower arm, had me in tears and I’m not known for that, became swollen overnight. Went to hosp. Put in a splint, nothing on XRay. For 8 months I kept being told to keep the splint on. Could not use hand at all, had wedding ring cut off because of swelling. So terribly painful. Finally, after 8 months went to surgery and just sat and cried. Then they listened. Sent for a scan, showed myriad of issues, referred to rheumatologist ( urgent) but developed full blown PMR before seeing him. Within 24 hours of taking Pred swelling started to subside ( in wrist, hand, arm). All swelling and pain gone in less than a week and 8 months in to Pred has stayed away. Don’t know if this helps……..
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