Hi Suzboop - I think I might have some info for you in regards to PMR. I visit this forum because my teenage daughter was diagnosed in February with fibromyalgia. Two years ago my joints swelled up and I could hardly get out of bed. I was 43 years old at the time. I went to a rheumatologist who ran some blood work. My sed rate and c-reactive protein were very elevated. My aldolase level was elevated too which only meant that my muscles were involved. Its usually the elevated sed rate, not able to raise your arms above your head, and can't get out of bed (have to roll), plus all the muscle pain that points doctors in the PMR direction. The average age of onset is 70 years old. Many doctors won't diagnosis this if you are under the age of 50. One way they confirm the diagnosis is to put you on prednisone (usually about
20 mg per day). You will get dramatic relief within a couple of days. I could climb the stairs within 6 hours of taking the prednisone. A few months later I was also diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. He said I had both. PMR usually goes away for most people (not all) within 2 years. Most people are on prednisone for the whole time. Some never get off a low dose of it, but manage ok. The medical profession doesn't really understand PMR so you will read conflicting info on it. Some say its inflammation in the muscle others say it is referred pain from inflammation in the larger joints (hip, shoulder, and neck). If you have PMR prednisone (the standard treatment) will give you alot of relief. Prednisone will not do anything for fibromyalgia. Good luck and keep us posted.
Kim
Post Edited (pksmdrag) : 5/5/2010 7:22:36 PM (GMT-6)