Polymyalgia Rheumatica

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have any experience with this condition? I have an orthopedist who would like me to see a rheumatologist that specializes in this. I have some muscle wasting and atrophy in my upper back that has been going on for a long time. He is concerned that it could be this or polymyositis.

Any information would be appreciated. Any doctor suggestions?

[Anonymous]

DH was diagnosed with this at an urgent care but it turned out to be polyarticular gout as diagnosed by his rheumatologist.

The gout was a much better diagnosis. Polymyalgia rheumatica requires a very long course of steroids, which has many downsides.

[Anonymous]

Can you share his rheumatologist, if you like them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you share his rheumatologist, if you like them?

Loved, loved, loved his rheumatologist who sadly retired last month. Dr. Laukaitis. We have not yet found another.

[Anonymous]

I had PMR a couple of years ago - I think it was triggered by a lyme infection. the lyme was treated quickly by antibiotics but then i developed severe inflammation/pain in my shoulders and hips. I could barely move in the mornings. It helped to force myself to exercise. The rheumatologist gave me steroids and i felt better immediately. I was on a low dose steroid for about a year before tapering off. The rheumatologist was at Virginia Hospital Center but I think he retired.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had PMR a couple of years ago - I think it was triggered by a lyme infection. the lyme was treated quickly by antibiotics but then i developed severe inflammation/pain in my shoulders and hips. I could barely move in the mornings. It helped to force myself to exercise. The rheumatologist gave me steroids and i felt better immediately. I was on a low dose steroid for about a year before tapering off. The rheumatologist was at Virginia Hospital Center but I think he retired.

How old are you? How bad were the steroids to deal with? Weight gain?

[Anonymous]

This happened when I was 57. The steroids weren’t a big deal. It was10 mg of prednisone and tapered off pretty quickly. I think it was down to 1 or 2 mg within 4 months. When I went off completely it came back and I had to resume at 1 mg for awhile. It is fine now. Exercise really helps. I didn’t gain weight. As I recall the PMR was pretty bad before I was diagnosed and I had started to lose weight which was a bad sign.

[Anonymous]

This is wonderful information. Thank you for that. How long did you have it before you were diagnosed? Who did you see? If I have it, I have been misdiagnosed for a very long time. Appreciate your help.

[Anonymous]

My MIL has it and she takes steroids for it. She did gain a ton of weight, which she desperately needed. She was so skinny and fragile. She's still thin and fragile, but 20 lbs heavier, so she's thin not skinny. It took her about 2 years to get to the right diagnosis. She has other medical issues, so it was difficult. The steroids help a lot.

[Anonymous]

Previous poster with PMR. I honestly think I had it for at least a year. It was during Covid so only virtual doctor appointments and I thought it was the aftermath of the Lyme infection. My doctor didn’t think it was that but maybe wrote it off to inactivity due to remote work. I finally did a self diagnosis after searching the symptoms on the internet. I just made an appointment with the rheumatologist directly. After about a one minute exam he confirmed it. I cannot tell you how quickly it was resolved with the steroids- it was literally overnight. At this point I was even having trouble walking normally.

[Anonymous]

I went to Dr. Kempf at this practice https://myarthritisclinic.com/ I thought he had retired but he is still on website so perhaps I was wrong. I liked him a lot. I think I originally called this practice to see the female doctor but saw him instead. He is great.

[Anonymous]

Bump