Newby PMR

[Peony63]

Hi 🙋🏻‍♀️

I’ve just been diagnosed with PMR and the diagnosis was quite quick once I got the right Dr as my symptoms were classic.

My symptoms started last November just after my husband had a total knee replacement and I’m wondering if caring for my husband in the first two weeks could’ve triggered my symptoms ? They came on almost overnight and started with very achey then painful thighs and I thought it was overuse but when my upper arms became painful I was suspicious. It was like I’d been to the gym or aerobics but I hadn’t. My shoulders and neck and side of head then followed.

As I hadn’t really been aware of PMR before , only fibromyalgia, I did some research and found this very helpful site 😀.

I’m a bit worried that I came out of the Drs with a big prescription of drugs to negate the side effects of Prednisolone but I hope I won’t be on it long.

I’m looking into diet and foods to help it along.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi and welcome,

If you haven’t read links then please do, and please don’t assume you won’t be on Pred long- it’s not your choice in all honesty. PMR is a self limiting disease and that’s an open book.. might be 2 years, probably nearer 4 and maybe even longer… just depends. Best to know that upfront so you don’t get disillusioned if it last longer than you hoped … but if managed properly doesn’t need to disrupt too much.

You should have a calcium/vitD supplement [AdcalD3 or similar], maybe a bisphosphonates [Alendronic Acid] if necessary- if DEXA scan proves necessary, and a PPI [Omeprazole or similar]- again if necessary. The first yes, the others maybe..

Introduction post -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

And one on tapering tips -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[piglette]

I am so glad you had a doctor who recognised you might have PMR. I got to the point where I was virtually unable to get out of bed and was told not to worry, I had nothing long term. I Had to go to a rheumatologist privately in the end who suspected PMR in thirty seconds.

[Lola62 in reply to piglette]

Hi. I am in the throws of being diagnosed with PMR and I also went private because the NHS wait was 43 weeks and I am in a lot of debilitating pain. My Rheumatologist knew straight away that it is PMR, but just did further blood tests to rule out Rheumatoid arthritis.

[Glads]

HI

likewise also new to this !

yes i agree!

I've also found this to be a very helpful site.

what i have found out has been so helpful about PMR and prednisolone

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Hi and welcome!

It depends a bit how stressed you were about your husband - but I also suspect that if you look back to the weeks and months before his op you would probbaly recognise the odd sign that the PMR was already making itself known but at the time it just felt as if you'd been overdoing it.

There really isn't that much you can do with diet - although avoiding foods that make YOU feel worse afterwards is obviously sensible. There are no foods that you can blanket say "pro" or "anti" inflammatory, what is poison for one may be a positive for another. But if you are concerned about weight gain, then cutting carbs, especially processed foods, added sugar and too much fruit should help with that - there is a lot of discussion on the forum about it. And a lot of people find that having cut carbs successfully, if they lapse for a holiday, party or Christmas or whatever, they get a carb hangover with worsened symptoms!!

Once you have read DL's links - and as she says, please do, they have valuable info that over time will make more sense and be very useful - ask any more specific questions you may have. You will never wait long for a reply.