PMR + osteoarthritis. Dear all, Can anyone relate to my combination PMR + osteoarthritis? I am 74, female.

[Karma]

PMR since last summer, at the moment 6.25mg Prednisolone daily, plus medication for its side effects. Knees esp. right knee badly affected with osteoarthritis. (Hands, fingers, etc. affected, too.) Still able to walk, even without a stick, but with some difficulty and pain. I would be most interested if anyone is in a similar situation. What treatment have you received? Thanks for sharing, Karma

[Annodomini]

Hi Karma

I've had surgery for osteo arthritis in thumb, hip and shoulder, but that was before I was afflicted with PMR. I doubt if there's a connection since PMR is auto-immune and OA is degenerative.

Annodomini

[Karma]

Thanks for reply. I agree that there does not seem to be a connection between the two. I had surgery for my left hand (carpal tunnel syndrome) just before the PMR set in last year. I had a problem after this operation - great pain in my little finger for a long time. Another osteoarthritis op. now seems far away considering the PMR. Once or twice I thought, why did the PMR turn up just after my left hand op? Best wishes, Karma

[meggies]

Karma, nobody knows what causes auto-immune diseases to appear,do they, though there seems to be a genetic link for some. One of the ideas is that stress, physical or emotional, can trigger them. It could be the case that the carpal tunnel op & problems with your finger was the 'stressor' that triggered the PMR. The same could have happened, if say, it was an appendix op - the stress being pain, anaesthetic, anxiety about the op etc.

It's only a thought - I know it's slightly different, but I had shingles shortly after a foot operation. My GP said, that not uncommon for an operation to trigger the shingles virus which has been dormant in your body since you had chicken pox as a child.

Margaret

[Karma in reply to meggies]

Meggies Thanks for reply. I have read about this trigger-effect, too. I wonder if there is any research re. this possibility relative to PMR?

[meggies]

I don't know whether there is Karma. One hypothesis is, some people are genetically predisposed to developing PMR/GCA and then something triggers it. PMR/GCA is genetically linked back to Scandinavia - there are clusters of PMR in the US where there were large Scandinavian settlers. We have to blame the Vikings (just joking of course!!!).

Margaret

[Karma]

Margaret - I had no idea about the possible Scandinavian PMR predisposition, really interesting. - I have for a long time tried to spot good PMR information sources hoping to find new clues to this disease. Also, I feel it is important to be updated when I discuss the PMR with my doctor. - I have not developed GCA, and would be most happy to be without it... - Karin

[Judi]

Hi Karma, I have rheumatoid arthritis, osteo-arthritis and etc.etc.

I had PMR several years ago, shortly after bi-lateral carpal tunnel surgery. Don't know if the 2 are connected, may be that the immune system is at a low because of the surgery, (I have to take immune supresents anyway to help the RA so I am always more likely to go down with something unfriendly).

Judi

[Karma]

Thanks for reply, Judi. Sorry to hear that you have got rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis in addition to the PMR. About possible connection between PMR and carpal tunnel syndrome - the following is a good website. I think it seems to show that there may be some connection between the two:

medscape.com In the Search square write polymyalgia rheumatica.

Best wishes, Karin/Karma