Discussions By Condition: Muscle conditions

Polymyalgia Rheumatica

Posted In: Muscle conditions 2 Replies
  • Posted By: maxietobias
  • February 11, 2008
  • 03:01 PM

Anyone else with this diagnosis? I have muscle pain in the thighs and hips, especially at night. I was treated with Prednisone 10 mg daily. I had severe side effects from the Pred.---swelling, wt. gain of 30 pounds in 2 months, shortness of breath at rest--- My dosage has been reduced to 5 mg and now I have symptoms of withdrawal --muscle weakness and fatigue.:eek:

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  • This probably doesn't help but....from www.arthritis.org/What Looks Like Polymyalgia Rheumatica May Really Be Systemic Small-Vessel VasculitisPosted 5/8/07 New research suggests that some people diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) actually may have systemic small-vessel vasculitis (SSV), which is inflammation of the body’s small blood vessels, including capillaries and small veins. If left untreated, SSV can lead to kidney failure, which weakens bones, affects the heart and requires dialysis or a transplant. The misdiagnosis occurs because SSV and PMR share symptoms, including achy and stiff upper arms, neck and thighs. The new study found 15 percent of people who were diagnosed with PMR actually had SSV. “The main consequence of misdiagnosis is lost time in getting appropriate immunosuppressive therapy , which may result in some permanent loss of kidney function in addition, of course, to being unwell longer,” says study author Ken Farrington, MD, a nephrologist at the Lister Hospital in Stevenage, England. But there’s no reason to panic. “PMR is much more prevalent than systemic vasculitis,” says Dr. Farrington. “It is not uncommon to find patients who have systemic vasculitis and were previously diagnosed with PMR, but this subgroup is small,” he explains. Doctors differentiate PMR and SSV in several ways. There is no single test to diagnose PMR. Patients with PMR typically respond rapidly to moderate doses of steroids; suspicions should be aroused when this does not happen, says Dr. Farrington. SSV is not treated with steroids alone but rather a combination of steroids and cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), which suppresses the immune system and interferes with the function of the cells that cause the inflammation of the blood vessels. Other tests pointing to SSV include blood and/or protein in the urine, abnormal routine blood tests and evidence of other solid organ involvement. If you’ve been diagnosed with PMR and have abnormal blood or urine tests, ask if your doctor has already evaluated you for SSV.
    Anonymous 42789 Replies
    • February 23, 2008
    • 07:31 AM
    • 0
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  • Prednisone saved my life! I was in so much pain I simply could not get out of bed! I know the weight gain is tough, no one likes to put on the pounds but for me it was lay in bed and cry or have a normal life as a chubby mom. I did loose the weight once I started to feel normal again. If you feel better you can start working out, or just doing activities that you enjoy. Hard part: food intake. Prednisone made me hungry all the time! So, hard as it is, try to be careful about what and how much you eat. Remember this, those that love you won't care how fat you are (or THINK you are), just that you are feeling more like yourself. Hang in there! Ask about other types of antiinflamatory medications perhaps like simple ibuprofen, that ones helps me alot as well.Dawn
    Byrdberes 3 Replies Flag this Response
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