voltaren gel and new scarey possible disease

Joan, polymyalgia rheumatica is an inflamitory condition affecting primarily the muscles. In most cases it goes away after a year or two. One of the common treatments is prednisone. I don't keep up with this condition so there are possibly other treatments out there too and someone will come along to provide more complete answers. Also if you google it there is a lot of available information. Incidently if you are given steroids for this it will likely help your knee as well.
I hope you get answers and relief soon.
Sj

Joan!!!!!!! i have been so worried about you! been calling out for a post from you! i missed you so much ........

know i could be confussed but i think i once was told poly r is another name for RA without the RA factor? I think cuz when my RA doc left and i got a new one the bill had that checked vrs RA and i asked why the difference and she sid it is the same just without the factor? so idk guys but i think that was the word? but i feel bad cuz i am not certain?

i can find out in august? but i think you have all elevated blood levels and joint pain but no factor? oh well...

but joan is back!!!! whoohooo i so missed you! i wish i had an email for you....... hugs yally

hi, yally i do have a high ra factor which is 67.4 and the outer limit is supposed to be 13.9. My "sed" rate (whatever that is) is normal. My c-reactive protein is 55.9 and the outer limit is 4.9. also showed up with a vitamin d deficiency. I got to get ready for my allergist now. I will come back and post on the boards later today. My knee was very painful so i took to walking on a rubberized running track about 1/2 hour when possible and have been swimming a lot too. "Life is Hard and then you Die."

Post Edited (Joan M) : 7/1/2008 5:42:29 PM (GMT-6)

Just type it in to google the information in my earlier post is from mayo clinic site-it is a different condition entirely and the good news is it goes away.
Sj

hi erin! the tens unit has been very helpful with the shingles pain and next week will try it for the knee problem and possibly for the neck problem. The voltaren gel is good but as you say not terrific. tried the tramadol 50 mg. last night for the first time and it seemed to work. I am was very happy about that but am not sure with just one try if it was other factors. mobic has been excellent for me and the tens has been great. so hope the voltaren gel and tramadol and the use of the tens unit helps me turn the corner on this stuff.

erin do you use the paper guides when you apply the stuff?  I forgot the second time I put it on and just slapped it on my knee.  I really can't say yet if these two new things, the gel and the tramadol 50 mg are going to work for me but have to keep trying.

Post Edited (Joan M) : 7/2/2008 7:32:28 AM (GMT-6)