HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Polymyalgia rheumatica

Support Forums
>
Rheumatoid Arthritis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 4/18/2007 9:27 PM (GMT 0)
I'm curious to know if anybody "young" has been diagnosed with this?

My drs can't seem to figure out what's wrong with me, but I guess for insurance purposes, they need a diagnosis when prescribing meds, doing billing, etc.. After my visit today, the CNP suggested it was possible I have Polymyalgia rheumatica. I've never heard of it before. And while in a lot of ways it sounds like my experience, every website I've looked at so far said it's almost always seen in adults over age 50. I'm 32. redface Also, according to the National Institutes of Health, it says "With treatment, polymyalgia rheumatica usually disappears in a day or two. Without treatment, it usually goes away after a year or more." My pains have been going on for like 10 times that. :( So.. this really isn't making sense? confused

Is there anyone else here under 50 that's been diagnosed with this? And are you sort of in diagnosis limbo like I've been for the last several years? (And what are you taking for your pain? I just stopped Topamax because I started having odd reactions to it. Now I'll be going on Elavil). I'm going to be seeing another dr, to check for chronic lyme... it's worth a shot.
Posted 4/19/2007 8:01 AM (GMT 0)

Hey, Sylvie, I haven't heard of it - but, I'm gonna look it up.

Yes, I was in diagnosis limbo for YEARS.....I still don't get definite answers, but at least a handful of Rhuemy's believe I have 'something' - I know, does 'something' help? Not sure - but they argue which type of arthritis I have, at least that narrows it down a little - ha ha. At least I'm getting some relief from Plaquenil. I've been thru the whole gambit of RA drugs with no results.  I'm getting ready to add (try)  Arava to that list.

I've been on Elavil for pain management in the past. I used to take it at dinner becuase it made me sleepy. Be aware - I know someone who became quite loopy on Elavil and had to be taken off it (elderly lady on other meds, so that may have something to do with it.) I did get a lot of help from it, I was a big mess at the time in severe pain (it was actually more like torture) when I was Rx'd Elavil.

****

Posted 4/19/2007 12:39 PM (GMT 0)
hi sylvie, i too looked up this on the internet and it does say if u do not react in 72 hours to steriod treatments that you may be missed dx? has anyone ever looked into fibromyaglia with you? i am sorry you have such chronic pain with no results but dont give up the search and working with doctors. take care yalinda
Posted 4/19/2007 4:07 PM (GMT 0)
My Neuro doesn't believe I have fibro. She said a lot of my symptoms fit, but others aren't really matching up.. LOL

Elavil isn't really a steroid, though. Is it?
Posted 4/20/2007 3:18 PM (GMT 0)

Hi  Sylvie,

Elavil is not a steroid.  If you do have a rheumatic disease of some kind, though, you might want to inquire about prednisone.  I know that's the treatment of choice for PR (forget how to spell it:)).  If you respond to prednisone, you definitely have something inflammatory going on.  A co-worker of mine thought he had RA.  Was dx with RA by first rheumy and put on mtx for 6 months.  Did nothing for him.  Went to another rheumy, was correctly dx with PR, put on prednisone, and it cleared up in a day or two.  He stayed on low dose prednisone for a year (I know it's a long time), and he is not completely cured.  If you haven't tried prednisone, ask your doctor about it.  It's worth a shot anyway.

El

Posted 4/22/2007 4:27 AM (GMT 0)

Elavil is not a steroid, it is medication to help you deal with the pain (pain management.) Depending on the dosage, it is given for pain management, depression, and possibly OCD and panic attacks (though, that might be Paxil only....I switched to that after a year on Elavil, it was making me too tired) It did help me a lot, I was able to deal with the pain a lot better after I started it.

I hope you are starting to feel better.

***

✚ New Topic ✚ Reply