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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Arthritis / December 2006Polymyalgia
Does anyone know for sure if Polymyalgia Rheumatica is a form of Arthritis.. The Dr. has me on prednisone. Trying to take a low dosage, but 11 Mg. is bout' as low as I've been able to go..Does anyone take it for arthritis?. It sounded to me it is something entirely different from my Dr. as with Polymyalgia you can go into remission for periods of time..I'm mostly just weak in the legs. Not much pain, but can't climb stairs or it's hard to get up from a seated position.. I've lost muscle mass in my legs..I seem to be getting some of my weight back I'm happy to say... Everything I read in google puts it in the same category as arthritis.... Any help? Thanks....Nel > Does anyone know for sure if Polymyalgia Rheumatica is a form of > Arthritis.. > Everything I read in google puts it in the same category as arthritis.... > Any help? Thanks....Nel polymyalgia rheumatica: A rheumatologic illness marked by fevers, malaise, weight loss, muscle pain and stiffness (esp. of the shoulders and pelvis), and morning stiffness. It occurs primarily in white individuals over age 60. ...cause unknown.... Patients tpically have a markedly elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (>50 mm/hr) and no evidence of another disease. ....rapid and durable relief from corticosteroids but usually require a course of treatment lasting 6 to 18 onths. Pathologically, the syndrone is related to giant cell artertis. ... Old age: Your knees buckle but your belt doesn't. That's what I don't understand, the only thing that is weak and aches a bit is my calf's and some in the knees. Nothing in the shoulder, or pelvic. This keeps me from being able to walk very far. I love to shop, dance and garden but can't do it. Christmas is hear and don't know how I will shop.... Thanks for your answer.....Nel >> Does anyone know for sure if Polymyalgia Rheumatica is a form of >> Arthritis.. [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > ... Old age: Your knees buckle but your belt doesn't. Nel, next Christmas you could do what I've been doing for a few years now, with my own disability. I no longer am able to handle crowds, do a lot of store walking, nor stand in long lines. I start my shopping early. Most of my gifts are purchased via catalogs or laying items back and paying on them. I was sorry to hear that Walmart is discontinuing their layaway policy; however, I can understand why. I like the covenience of laying gifts back and having 2 months to pay them off, but what a mess it could be for Walmart employees. It used to make me nervous just watching things pile up behind them - almost to the ceiling, while other people waited in line to pick up, make a payment, or lay away. Anyhow, all that to say that I strongly recommend catalog shopping whenever possible. I believe that paying for S&H is better than crowds and long lines. Plus, you can see exactly what you are looking for while sitting in your easy chair. I don't think, however, that I'm very popular with our mail carrier. As I've continued ordering more and more by mail, you should see all the catalogs I receive, especially during the holidays. I have a few favorites I usually order from. Hope you can work something out that works with you.  SignatureI AM WOMAN; I Am Invincible; I am tired... > That's what I don't understand, the only thing that is weak and aches a > bit is my calf's and some in the knees. Nothing in the shoulder, or [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] >> >> ... Old age: Your knees buckle but your belt doesn't. Hi Nanny, I do order some of my own things from catalogs, such as blazers, blouses, skirts and coats, but I'm afraid I don't trust the sizes in pants..(I've got a big supply of catalogs too. Poor postman..) I don't want to get where I can't go to the mall and shop. I've always enjoyed it..I'm hoping I will see a change in the Polymyalgia before long, but don't know...I get so many different answers about it..I see my MD and he keeps check on my sed rate, but that doesn't seem to make a difference even though it's low as suppose to be..I scare m;yself reading books about the problems I'm having, like poor circulation in the calf and feet..could mean heart and all those things. I do have AFib and take coumadin for a blood thinner, and lot's of other meds.. My Cardiologist call to night to come in and get my blood pressure checked. IT always goes so high when I'm at the Doctors. Not bad at home.. Thanks again for writing me. We see eye to eye about the catalogs..;-) Nel you could do what I've been doing for a few years now, > with my own disability. I no longer am able to handle crowds, do a lot of > store walking, nor stand in long lines. I start my shopping early. Most [quoted text clipped - 42 lines] >>> >>> ... Old age: Your knees buckle but your belt doesn't. Well, that's one thing for sure we agree on - catalogs ;-) I've learned by trial and error which companies sell clothes that fit me. I'm short for one thing; I need petite pants; however, the petite shirts don't work, as I'm mis-proportioned, if you know what I mean. My husband is also very hard to fit. He's really tall. Blair carries the large petite clothing, also the tall and big man clothing. So, that's pretty much the catalog I choose when selecting clothing. If I walk in the mall or one of the larger department stores longer than, say, 1/2 hour, the pain in my lower back kicks up and it starts going down my hips and thighs. When that happens, I know I've been shopping and browsing too long. If I walk awhile, then sit awhile, I do pretty well, but both walking and sitting for extended periods is pretty painful too. Curses! ;-) Concerning reading for knowledge on a condition(s), it should not trigger fear in you, but help you be more in control of your life. However, I know what you mean about "symptoms" being rather scary. Our imaginations can go on a rampage wondering if we have something or other. Nanny > Hi Nanny, > I do order some of my own things from catalogs, such as blazers, blouses, [quoted text clipped - 60 lines] >>>> >>>> ... Old age: Your knees buckle but your belt doesn't. > That's what I don't understand, the only thing that is weak and aches a > bit is my calf's and some in the knees. Nothing in the shoulder, or pelvic. > This keeps me from being able to walk very far. I love to shop, dance and > garden but can't do it. I shop and dance.....in moderation. Well....a trip to the commissary every 6 weeks is a 4-hour ordeal. > Christmas is hear and don't know how I will shop.... I purchase collectables via catalogs for Mary, my sons and grandsons - Collections, ETC, Bradford Exchange, Lennox. For the grandgals, I get gift certificates from Bed, Bath & Beyond and similar stores. They can purchase their favorite smelly scents or whatever is the rage at the time. ... URA Redneck if you get a divorce and you're STILL cousins. PMR (polymyalgia rheumatica) is classified with the forms of arthritis, but I think it's more a matter of most of these diseases that cause widespread aching being lumped together. And for whatever reason, rheumatologists have ended up treating PMR along with the diseases that actually affect the joints. (Excuse me if I seem to lose my train of thought at times here - our overgrown kitten seems to think the time for some affection has arrived. He's big enough now that it's hard to give him headrubs and type at the same time!) PMR can cover a range from lasting only a eyar or two to being chronic. My mom apparently has the chronic type. She had to stay on 15 mg of pred for several years. She's finally reached the point of being able to maintain at a lower dose, but still takes, I believe, 7 mg/day. They tried her at less, but she could barely function. Her doc willonly go along with her staying on 7 mg if she takes Actonel with it so she doesn't get osteoporosis (her bone density is great, but was decreasing with all the pred. Like you, my mom's main symptom was muscle weakness, stiffness and achiness in her legs. She also just could NOT get going in the morning. While she felt much better on the pred, she's had to pursue physical therapy, keeping up with the exercises at home and returning for updates when she plateaus for too long, over several years to regain muscle mass and strength. It's been a long haul for her, but she is really doing well these days. In fact, it's a bit annoying to me that at 30 years my senior, she has more energy than I! (but also motivates me to keep working on getting around/along with my own health issues!) SignatureNann remove the Gator cheer to email me Simply the thing I am shall make me live --- William Shakespeare hi nel, my mom had PMR for about 2 years in her early 70's. the only treatment she had was prednisone and without it she couldn't get out of bed. the PMR gradually went away. when i've discussed family history with my docs, they view mom's PMR as an autoimmune disease, one of many in my family. if you're uncertain about your diagnosis, maybe a second opinion is in order? as for shopping etc--i have RA and can't walk much. i use a scooter at the mall. scooters are expensive and require a large enough vehicle and lift to carry around, but they're are smaller versions you might check into. it is an incredible feeling of freedom to be able to zip around the mall and i know i'm the envy of many people i pass! diane > it is an incredible feeling of freedom to be able to zip around > the mall and i know i'm the envy of many people i pass! How many speeding tickets have you collected? ... URA Redneck if you keep a can of Raid on the kitchen table. > > it is an incredible feeling of freedom to be able to zip around > > the mall and i know i'm the envy of many people i pass! > > How many speeding tickets have you collected? none, but that doesn't mean i don't deserve them. :-) diane >> it is an incredible feeling of freedom to be able to zip around >> the mall and i know i'm the envy of many people i pass! > > How many speeding tickets have you collected? I'm telling ya - I'm beginning to wish they'd start putting up those 3 way mirrors wherever a side aisle meets a major aisle in a store! Generally shopping ettiquette yeilds to the customer on the main aisle, but I've encountered too many folks whizzing around in those carts, assuming the rest of us will get out of the way! Time for traffic laws and traffic cops in super Wal Mart. SignatureNann remove the Gator cheer to email me Simply the thing I am shall make me live --- William Shakespeare I could not do without my scooter these days even for the little I use it. It is a heavy duty one because I figure I will need it forever now and has a large basket. I have a lift in the van (the van matches the colour of the scooter - had to have some fun this year) which is easy to use and have a can holder made of pvc piping on the basket. The travel scooters are lightweight but require taking apart to put in the car. They will fit into a medium to full size car apparently and can be delivered to hotels or airports in different cities for travel (we are having one sent to our hotel in Disneyland for March - then I know that I have one for sure. I am taking my daughter in law and my other son's girlfriend and we are having a "ladies" weekend. - they are so excited it should be a blast. I have never been to Disneyland and I am not sure who is more excited. Staying at the Candy Cane Inn unless I hear anything bad about it - my sons stayed there 17 years ago with my parents. ) The scooter and lift by the way were about $8,000.00 which is a lot but i figure they will last a long time and mean I have some mobility. Scooter 8,000; Van: 45,000 Mobility: priceless these days. By the way some malls and shopping stores have scooters - with luck they are even close enough to walk to the scooter area (unlike our mall which has them in the middle of the mall nowhere near an entrance - duh!) Kelly > hi nel, > [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > diane |
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