Are steroids necessary to cure/alleviate the pain of pmr?

[mingie]

I am awaiting the results of tests for pmr and haemochromotosis, the results of both are almost certain to prove positive. I am concerned about my sight as I already have glaucoma. Anyone else in the same position?

[Lidybeff]

I have a friend in the UK, with PMR/Glaucoma. It's a tricky one.

As you no doubt know prednisone is the optimum treatment for PMR. But blindness is just too high a price to pay. There are other immunosuppressant drugs such as Methotrexate and Azathioprine, that are usually used with Prednisone, but they could perhaps be used without prednisone. I'll watch this post with interest to see what others say. Lizzie.

[mingie in reply to Lidybeff]

Thank you for that. I wonder what medication your friend has? Katerina

[soojay]

As far as I can make out the drugs named above may be used on their own.How about Naproxen ?Check with Doc.The most crucial thing ,is to treat the most serious condition first then subsequent ones in order of priority .Your Doc .will know what goes with what .Keep asking however fed up you get .It will all be o.k.Docs get fed up too and need your imput .Hugs.Good Luck.x

[mingie in reply to soojay]

My doctor has been fantastic - pulled out all stops to check on both conditions.

[Celtic PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Mingie

My answer to your question from my experience would be "Yes"! I suffered from severe, undiagnosed, therefore untreated, PMR for a year in 2006. I was bedbound and travelling to hospital by ambulance and wheelchair for all my appointments. I spontaneously recovered from all the symptoms towards the end of that year only for all the pain together with additional symptoms to return a couple of months later. A different rheumatologist finally diagnosed me with both PMR and GCA and I was prescribed 40mgs a day of the steroid, Prednisolone. I then discovered that untreated PMR puts one at a higher risk of developing GCA - I believe the risk for GCA is around 3 in 10 people on steroids for PMR, rising to 7 in 10 not on steroids.

Like you, I have Glaucoma. I use Xalatan eye drops daily and see an ophthalmologist 6-monthly. Although Prednisolone can have an effect on eye pressures for some people, the drops should keep the pressures in check.

Hope that helps to reassure you.

Celtic

[mingie in reply to Celtic]

Snap! Just over a year ago I could not lift either of my arms and tried massage, to no avail. The pain went as quickly as it came. Again, just five weeks ago....whoosh.....shoulder blades and arms excruciatingly painful, keeping me awake for two weeks. Visited a marvellous physiotherapist and with prescribed co-codomol this has taken the edge off the pain until definitely diagnosed. However, because of the discomfort, I am still not sleeping well and have to get out of bed to move about to keep the joints/muscles from stiffening. I'm just glad to be able to do that. Your condition was certainly worse thatn mine. I use Combigan eyedrops twice a day and have checks done 6 monthly.