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Could it be polymyalgia?

(5 Posts)
Ariadne Wed 07-May-14 17:41:16

Theseus (FH) has recently been diagnosed with PMR, and is now down to 9mgs of steroids. It has has been well monitored and he is feeling good at the moment.

anno is a fantastic one woman support group, by the way. Yes you are!

annodomini Wed 07-May-14 16:56:27

Dragonfly, the symptoms sound very like polymyalgia rheumatica and I have every sympathy. You really ought to see your GP and ask for a blood test to find out if you have raised inflammatory markers. You can have PMR without having raised markers though. Your GP may give you a prescription for prednisolone, which is a steroid. This is a good diagnostic tool as the pain and stiffness will magically disappear within days (even hours) if it's PMR. I was first diagnosed almost three years ago and, having managed to reduce my dosage from 20mg to 1.5mg, I was all ready to taper down to zero, when I had a flare-up and went back up to 5mg. Setbacks do happen, but I have hopes of beginning a reduction again soon. Do keep in touch and pm me if you need to find out more.

rosequartz Wed 07-May-14 16:51:16

It might be a good idea to ask your GP for some blood tests to get a first diagnosis, then he/she could follow up from the results of the tests, Dragonfly1

Nelliemoser Wed 07-May-14 16:50:33

Dragonfly Get thee to thy GP soon. It really needs investigating, as you probably realise. I hope you get it sorted soon, Take care.

Dragonfly1 Wed 07-May-14 16:43:56

I know there have been past threads about this so forgive me for starting a new thread. For some months now I've had dreadful stiffness in my hips, shoulders and arm and leg muscles, which are also constantly sore, as though I've overworked at the gym. Not that I go to the gym.... It's worse first thing, sometimes can't get out of bed; I can't sit for more than ten minutes without going stiff. My heels hurt, I don't have much energy and I'm finding harder to do simple things, like straighten my hair, because I struggle to lift my arms. I've put it down to getting older, but beginning to wonder if it is polymyalgia. Any Granspals out there who can help?