Community Chat

[RINGER]

Tried to put this on the health portion but never could get on. I have this disease and had a vector test yesterday to see how inflamed my joints are.

Let me know what meds you are on and what works best for you. I am on prednisone and methotrexate (dr. thinks I am undermedicated so think this is the reason for the Vector test) to see where I am and go from there.

My biggest issue is my left arm to the point I could not hold a saucer because it hurt so bad, etc and the weather be it cold or a front coming in, really makes my arm or neck hurt.

Let me know your issues and thoughts please.

[Joey Heatherton]

RINGER......I have no knowledge of PR but want to send good thoughts and best wishes to you..........You probably would get more responses on the health and fitness forum but I see where you say you haven't been able to get in there..........give a shout out here with reasons you can't post there and maybe I or another poster can help you with posting...........best of luck RINGER......I feel for you and all of us battling health issues.......no fun at all and depressing.......take good care.....xo

[Lucky Charm]

I'm sorry to hear about your issues, sounds really painful.

As far as posting, make sure when you go into Health and Fitness, you click on the other Health and Fitness line. There's a Sports line below that.

I bet you'll get responses there more so than here.

Good luck!

[feline groovy]

From the Mayo Clinic... HTH

Lifestyle and home remedies:

Healthy lifestyle choices can help you manage the side effects that may result from corticosteroid treatment:

• Eat a healthy diet. Eat a diet of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat meat and dairy products. Limit the salt (sodium) in your diet to prevent fluid buildup and high blood pressure.
• Exercise regularly. Talk to your doctor about exercise that is appropriate for you to maintain a healthy weight and to strengthen bones and muscles.
• Use assistive devices. Use luggage and grocery carts, reaching aids, shower grab bars and other assistive devices to help make daily tasks easier. Wear low-heeled shoes to minimize the risk of falls. Talk to your doctor about whether the use of a cane or other walking aid is appropriate for you to prevent falls or other injury.

Treatments and drugs:

Treatment can take a year or more, but most people with polymyalgia rheumatica will be better after the first course of treatment. And you'll start to feel better within days. Some people, however, will have a relapse and need additional treatment.

Polymyalgia rheumatica is usually treated with a low dose of an oral corticosteroid, such as prednisone. A daily dose at the beginning of the treatment is usually 10 to 20 milligrams a day.

Relief from pain and stiffness should occur within the first two or three days. If you're not feeling better in a few days, it's likely you don't have polymyalgia rheumatica. In fact, your response to medication is one way your doctor can confirm the diagnosis.

After the first two to three weeks of treatment, your doctor may gradually decrease your dosage depending on your symptoms and the results of sed rate and C-reactive protein tests. The goal is to keep you on as low a dose as possible without triggering a relapse in your symptoms. Most people with polymyalgia rheumatica need to continue the corticosteroid treatment for one to two years. You'll need frequent follow-up visits to monitor how the treatment is working and whether or not you're having any side effects.

People who taper off the medication too quickly are more likely to have a relapse. Twenty percent or more of people with polymyalgia rheumatica will have a least one relapse when tapering off the corticosteroids. About 10 percent of people who successfully finish corticosteroid treatment will have a relapse within 10 years of the initial treatment.

Long-term use of corticosteroids can result in a number of serious side effects. Your doctor will monitor you closely for potential problems. He or she may adjust your dosage and prescribe treatments to manage these reactions to corticosteroid treatment. Side effects include:

• Weight gain. This is a common side effect of corticosteroid therapy.
• Osteoporosis, the loss of bone density and weakening of bones, which increases the risk of bone fractures.
• High blood pressure (hypertension), which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.
• High cholesterol, which also increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.
• Diabetes, chronichigh levels of blood sugar that can cause tissue damage in a number of body systems.
• Cataracts, a clouding of the lenses of your eyes that can cloud or dim your vision .

Calcium and vitamin D supplements

Your doctor will likely prescribe daily doses of calcium and vitamin D supplements to help prevent osteoporosis induced by corticosteroid treatment. The American Academy of Rheumatology recommends the following daily doses for anyone taking corticosteroids for more than three months:

• 1,000 to 1,200 milligrams (mg) of calcium supplements
• 400 to 1,000 international units (IU) of vitamin D supplements

Other medications

Several other medications are being studied for use in polymyalgia rheumatica, including:

• Methotrexate (Trexall). This immune-suppressing medication may help lower the dose of corticosteroid that's needed, which can help preserve bone mass. It's often given long term, for a year or more.
• Anti-TNF drugs. TNF stands for tumor necrosis factor, which is a substance that causes inflammation. These drugs block that substance and reduce inflammation. Research results have been mixed on using these medications in polymyalgia rheumatica, but they might be helpful for people who can't take corticosteroids, such as people with diabetes or osteoporosis.

Physical therapy

Your doctor may recommend physical therapy to help you regain strength, coordination and your ability to perform everyday tasks after a long period of limited activity that polymyalgia rheumatica often causes.

[apple sauce]

I have PMR. I was treated 3years ago with prednisone every time it was tapered down to to 5mil.a day the pain would return. My sed rate stayed in the high 60's the pain in my legs was awful bad and my upper arms. I thought I would end up in a wheelchair. I was on prednisone for 9 months but could not get under 5 mil. Had very bad side effects from the prednisone all that were mentioned above. Finally had to get off it. Would not take methotrexate because it also can cause serious side effects. It is an autoimmune disease and after almost 3 years it just seemed to leave. I took a lot of Advil so much I damaged my kidneys. I am still being treated for ostio arthritist. And my sed rate stays in the low 40' do not stay on prednisone for too long the relief from the pain cannot make up for all the harm it does. My Dr. Told me my bout would last 2 years and it was 2 1/2. Good luck

[RINGER]

On 12/17/2014 Joey Heatherton said: RINGER......I have no knowledge of PR but want to send good thoughts and best wishes to you..........You probably would get more responses on the health and fitness forum but I see where you say you haven't been able to get in there..........give a shout out here with reasons you can't post there and maybe I or another poster can help you with posting...........best of luck RINGER......I feel for you and all of us battling health issues.......no fun at all and depressing.......take good care.....xo

What a kind response and FINALLY today was able to get on the Health Board. Why I have so much trouble is beyond me and be honest, I am not depressed. Having had 3 surgeries and nearly dying and being in and out of hospitals and rehab centers tends to make you GRATEFUL for each day you have so I just move on and deal. Thanks tho, your kindness really touched my heart!

[Kachina624]

Believe it or not, I have a dog (collie) with something called Immune Mediated Polyarthritis. She almost died with her first occurance and is now on prednisone after treatment by a canine internal medicine specialist. Every time I try to wean her off of it, she seems to regress to a painful state in her joints.

She was rescued in September with about 139 other purebred collies from a hoarder near Houston. She's had a litter of pups everytime she was in heat. She had a horrid life; now I'm trying to make it better for her. I adopted her. Very sweet girl.

[Mama Mia]

I was diagnosed with PM about six years ago. At first I was on prednisone, a low dose, not for too long because of it's side effects. I now am on Neurontin (gabapentin, generic, much cheaper). Three capsules, 300 mgs in the am, a couple or three at about noon, and three more in the evening.

mm

[Joey Heatherton]

On 12/18/2014 RINGER said:

On 12/17/2014 Joey Heatherton said: RINGER......I have no knowledge of PR but want to send good thoughts and best wishes to you..........You probably would get more responses on the health and fitness forum but I see where you say you haven't been able to get in there..........give a shout out here with reasons you can't post there and maybe I or another poster can help you with posting...........best of luck RINGER......I feel for you and all of us battling health issues.......no fun at all and depressing.......take good care.....xo

What a kind response and FINALLY today was able to get on the Health Board. Why I have so much trouble is beyond me and be honest, I am not depressed. Having had 3 surgeries and nearly dying and being in and out of hospitals and rehab centers tends to make you GRATEFUL for each day you have so I just move on and deal. Thanks tho, your kindness really touched my heart!

RINGER, your reply gave me a lift..........I love your positive outlook.........it's life-affirming...........take good care!........

[Joey Heatherton]

To all on this thread or just reading.........good luck with your health challenges.....stay strong, for yourself foremost, and for the ones you love..........Kachina624.......God bless you for adopting and taking care of your special-needs collie!........she's a lucky girl to have found you.......YOU are a lucky girl to have found HER...........my family and I have focused our love on rescue dogs for decades now...........angels with fur and waggedy tails...........take care everyone.......