Polymyalgia Rheumatica anyone

I am sorry to hear that. I do know a number of people who have it and respond to treatment but other thing will be important like nutrition and physio of course. Can't escape it for anything really. I hope all will be well.

I have had PMR and refused to take steroids as I was worried about taking them because of the side effects including weight gain. However, my condition progressed to Rheumatoid Arthritis which I now have for life rather than the shorter lived PMR. I asked my consultant if it was my fault for allowing my body to remain inflamed, but she couldn't be sure. I know several people who have taken the steroids and experienced immediate improvement. It took a while to ween themselves off, but after a couple of years all is well. Given the choice now, I would have taken them.
I understood that there wasn't a specific blood test to confirm PMR, but the immediate improvement with steroids was diagnostic. I am talking quite a long time ago, so perhaps there is now a test. I hope your husband will soon be helped.

I have a friend who had it. She took the meds and after 1.5 years she is all clear.

He is having a test to check his CRP level which, with the other symptoms, is a good indicator - according to the gp.

My CRP inflammatory marker is always high with my RA, but there is a Rheumatoid Factor test which is specific for that. I wish him luck!

The outcome of using steroids seems to vary from person to person. Our next door neighbour is still taking steroids after 4 years, whereas my BIL was able to stop taking them after about a year and is now fine.

I was diagnosed with PMR in June 2019 and the best advice I can give is to contact the HealthUnlocked website online and join the PMR forum. PMR is a very individual autoimmune condition, difficult to diagnose and treat and in my experience not often truly understood by GPs. If your husband is finally diagnosed with PMR the only relief from the unrelenting bilateral muscle pain/inflammation it causes comes from the corticosteroid, Prednisolone and the help and understanding supplied by the PMR forum aforementioned is invaluable in learning to manage the condition. I hope this information helps.

I have PMR and take steroids daily, down to two now but difficult to get off them totally. There is a very helpful book by Kate Gilbert on PMR and GCA and a charity, details of which are easily found on the internet. We are lucky in my area to have an excellent support group where we share experiences and advice, maybe one close to you also. Help from gps is pretty limited in most cases but the charity is working hard to bring the condition into public awareness. It took a while but I feel really well now.

My late father developed this and it was very , very painful for him. It was treated with "prednosilone"? think that was what it was called. Once prescribed the drug I think the condition was under control.

My late FIL developed it in his early 80's and was in a lot of pain which was affecting his outlook on life. When diagnosed he was put on steroids and it transformed his life.

I had polymyalgia 20 years ago. Its a very unpleastant painful condition. The only thing that chases it away is Prednisolone steriods.
I dithered whether to take it or not, my pain became much worse, and by the time I had agreed to take the steriods I had to go a very high dosage. I had to come off it very gradually, took about 14 months.

I developed PMR during Covid. I diagnosed myself from Google and spent £25 in phone charges trying to contact a doctor. In two years of treatment I only once saw a doctor, right at the end.
The pain was unbearable but quickly stopped by Prednisolone.
I sometimes wonder if the steroids have weakened my bones and also whether the PMR was triggered by my first Covid jab.
I’ve never been to our truly awful GPs since.