have had pmr for two years now, and have had several relapses Does anybody else suffer with pain in their hands and arms

[Linbin1]

I have had several relapses over the last two years, and had to go back on high doses of prednisolone. The last few weeks I have really suffered with pain and stiffness in my hands and arms, so much so that I am struggling to use my right hand at all. I seen so many posts about how it affects shoulders and hips , but no mention of hands. I wonder if I have a different problem.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Some do get pains in hands - and arms. Hands could be PMR itself or carpel tunnel syndrome - which often comes alongside PMR..

I’m surprisedyour question didn’t bring up more related posts- but that seems to be an oddity of HU. Have found one which does bring up others -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

Has that been the issue with your previous flares? Does sound as if your illness hasn’t been very well controlled.. or is it happening at a specific dose?

[Charlie1boy]

Well yes, I developed pain in wrists and hands some two years into PMR. I was advised to increase my dose by about three mg, and that worked in 24 hours.

So, for me it was clearly PMR, but there may be other things going on which you may have to consider.

Good luck

[Golf-1]

I posted a few weeks ago that a Pharmacist had suggested mixing an equal amount (about half an inch) of Deepheat and Voltarol on my right hand and gently rub it in. It works - I cannot honestly say that I do not have any pain in the hand, but it much better than it was and seems to have reduced the area where I feel the pain. No guarantees, but it is worth a try.

I have not found that increasing Pred had any effect on the hand pain

[PMRpro Ambassador]

You say hands and arms? Where exactly?

I have had PMR for 20 years - and despite being on pred and Actemra to manage the inflammation the one thing we struggle to manage is the arm pain: less pred than I am at at present and over a few weeks I develop upper arm bicep pain. Probably bicept tendinitis. I find it painful to rotate my forearm and eventually my wrists hurt. The elbow pain is probably bursitis and the forearm pain stems from that as well. All can be put down to PMR.

And since I am in the UK at present - cool, windy and wet weather makes it worse!!!!

[LocalHero42]

Yes prior to my PMR diagnosis I reached the point that, in addition to shoulder, arm and hip pain, that my wrists and hands were so stiff and painful that I could hardly pick up a knife and fork and I had to give up driving. My Rheumatologist Prof Hughes thought that I could also have arthritis but the Pred fixed it just fine. My hands are the first to stiffen in response to a taper step if I have overstepped my PMR needs.

[bluecheck]

Hi I have PMA and PMA and had a lot of pain in my hands and wrists along with other painful areas at the time of diagnoses, January 2024, . my consultant said it wasn't usual to have pain in the hands but I think this was incorrect. Once on pred the pain went. Though now tapering I had a flare up when going from 10 mg to 9 mg and awful pain in the top of my arm which lasted for weeks, also pain in my hands and wrists which got better once I upped pred to 10 again.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to bluecheck]

PMA and PMA - do you mean PMR and GCA?

[bluecheck in reply to PMRpro]

I have just re-read my above post, don't know where that came from PMA and PMA!! I think it's time I went off to bed 😴

[bluecheck]

Oh sorry yes I mean PMR and GCA, 🙄

[Irishfurbaby]

Have you been tested gor PMR.Also my pharmacist told me to do stretching excerises for your hands as his effects had your problem.

Good luck

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Irishfurbaby]

Have you been tested gor PMR

Title of post say so ‘have had pmr for two years now,…’ 😊