Polymyalgia Rheumatica/Giant Cell Arteritis (PMR/GCA) Survey
Demographics	Progression of Your Symptoms
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I had a flu vaccination the day before I started the PMR symptoms
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I noticed that I had lost weight before the diagnosis
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Started in soles of feet and spread up gradually to neck and shoulders.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Had recently started walking the dog, up and down hills, and at first it was just some stiffness in the hamstring which I attributed to the unaccustomed exercise. Gradually got worse, spread to hips, eventually to upper arms & shoulders so I had a hard time turning over in bed, getting up, putting on clothes, getting in and out of the car, doing my barn chores (although I kept up with my activities the best I could throughout). Originally sent for hip x-ray (before arms got too bad) and GP suggested it was moderate osteoarthritis. Researching arthritis on internet, I ran across PMR. Went back to my GP, who suggested PMR before I had a chance to say the name.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	The onset was quite sudden after a series of injections for a foreign holiday + the flu jab. I had flu-like symptoms for about five days and then the aches and pains, lethargy, night sweats and depression gradually developed. It was six months before I was diagnosed, having been told by my GP that I had a virus which would work its way out.. I was diagnosed by a rheumatologist after a five day stay in hospital. I was prescribed prednisilone at 15mg plus all the other preventative medicine such as Omniprazole, calcium, iron and Bonviva. After a year I was down to 6mg but the condition flared up again in the New Year 2008 and I went up to 10mg. At present I am on 71/2 mm and usually pain free but I have very difficult days sometimes after a particularly busy or stressful time. I am finding it difficult to reduce the dosage. I have put on 3 stone in weight now weighing 14 stone. The beneficial effects of the tablets kick in about 17.00 hours when I have taken them at 8.00 hours. I have asked if I can take them at a different time but have been told that the morning is the best time. I suffer from an irritable bowel and I wonder if this effects the absorption of the drugs. I am sleeping very well but also take naps during the day as I get easily exhausted.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	It began with an old knee injury and moved upward, thighs,hips, bottom,lower back, upper arms, then shoulders,and collarbone, thumbs. Lost 20 pounds
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = Under 50 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I first noticed what felt like fluid behind my knees. I couldn't squat. Then I noticed some swelling in the knuckles of my hands. Then within a few days I had swelling in my feet and had to wear wider shoes. Then within about two weeks I was retaining 10 pounds of fluid all over my body and had lots of swelling in my ankles, feet,etc. At that time I didn't feel anything going on with my muscles. I only had severe joint pain in ankles, knees, wrists, and fingers. It was hard to move and roll over in bed due to joints, not muscle pain.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	I have suffered with spondilolysthesis (a slipped vertebrae at the base of the spine) for over 20 years. Towards the end of 2005, I had a tumble when alighting from a train in the dark where the platform was an unusually long way down from the train. Soon afterwards I started suffering with serious pain in my lower pain eventually leading to severe pain in my hips, legs, shoulders, arms, rendering me unable to walk or get out of bed unaided for several months. Over the course of the following year, the rheumatologist did not know what was wrong with me other than a "severe rheumatic inflammatory condition". I am convinced that the trauma to my already damaged spine from the incident on the train caused this "condition" for which I took low dose Ibuprofen and Paracetamol for about 7 months, gradually making a complete recovery. However, on having my blood pressure medication changed from a Beta Blocker to an Ace Inhibitor in early 2007, I became very ill, at first being diagnosed with either acute allergy to the new Blood Pressure tablet or Giant Cell Arteritis. Finally, a diagnosis of Giant Cell Arteritis was made, pain and stiffness returning mainly in my legs, and it was now considered that I had been suffering from undiagnosed PMR in the previous year. Again, I am convinced that GCA was lying dormant in my body (due to the undiagnosed PMR) and the new Blood Pressure Tablet brought it out.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	I had a strange cough some week after I retired from working at the age of 68 (had part time work until then. The GP tried to follow a plan he had and after a few months I was sent to a specialist at a main hospitaql for the final blood tests. I also had a biopsy that showed I had GCA
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Do not know ESR at onset; know it was 44 a few months ago but is now 8. Unless I ask, i do not get told. Took 20mg prednisolone; then 15, then 10; now going down in 1's i.e. 9 then 8; on 9 now. Under control but take 2 painkillers 12 hourly (Dihydrocodeine Tartrate 60mg DHC Continus; under control at the moment.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I thought it was from exersise that i had just gotten into after retiring.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	I experienced PMR symptoms for several years (neck, shoulders, hips) without a diagnosis, but then suffered a GCA attack that sent me to the ER, where a diagnosis of GCA/PMR was made due to elevated ESR (about 88).
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Nine months prior to onset I finished weaning off hormone replacement therapy, but ... continued with intense hot flashes every few minutes. I thought something must result from the continued fluctuation in body temp! Body pain followed headache pain and within a few weeks I was unable to walk. One month prior to onset I was vaccinated against shingles.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Started as a pain in my right knee. A knee specialist recommended physiotherapy ( I have a weaker right knee due to a very old accident). During physiotherapy pain spread to shoulders and hips and arms/hands form time to time. Next visit to specialist, he guessed at PMR, gave me predisone and sent me to my GP for confirmation.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Started several years ago, with a hot flushing up my legs to my knees. Feet felt hot with a pin and needle sensation and some numbness in one foot. This was worse at night when legs and feet were elevated. Over a period of time it spread to arms and hands. Muscles in upper arms became extremely sore to the touch. Pain and stiffness is mostly in shoulders, arms and neck. Extreme fatigue and some loss of weight also occurred. PMR was diagnosed early this year when it hit really hard. A couple of years leading up to this I experience lots of sinus, ear infections as well.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Started with pain in foot - like a strain - then next foot - couldn't go up or down one step easily. Then swollen cold hands and feet plus swollen ankles. Very tired with low grade fever. Don't have info for no. 8
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	My current rheumatollgist thinks I have early RA and my Rh factor did elevate. I am not convinced - but I guess they are not mutually exclusive diagnoses. My internist and 1st rheumatologist diagnosed me with fibromyalgia. I argued for PMR and the 10mg prednisone I starated with gave me 85% improvment within 36 hours. I could move my left arm freely, my neck was not as bad, and my hips, legs etc had less pain and stiffness. I have been on pred since Sept 07, was tapered too quickly, changed rheumatologists 3 mos ago and am now on 5mg pred , 200 -300 prednisone daily and 12MTX once weekly ( and folic acid and leucoverin, and prilosec, and zantac and Boniva etc etc etc).
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Though I had lower back pain for around 10 weeks before it hit the rest of my body, I say it was overnight because I have suffered with lower back pain for years (so I am not sure if the lower back pain was part of this). Also above question 8...I do not know my C reactive protein level as the first doctor the cardiac c-reactive protein level and that was around 80+.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Unanswered	I really have no knowledge of these other tests, but I awoke one night with such intense pain I was unable to move I had not been feeling too good prior this I thought in morm it was a nightmare now 3 years down it is still at times a nightmare I started on 20mg of pred and swiftly was put on 40mgpred I had just got down to 4mg with the help of 17.5mg of methotrxate weekly now it seems this isnt working so am back on 10mgpred the symptoms are the same and I am struggling to keep my sanity at times. I know there is nothing really wrong with me but it is so bad at times I feel like jumping off the mountain. no one can really help me I felt relatively well a month ago and now I am desperate again, I wish there was some help, now my hands and feet are starting to claw up with rheumatism and find so many things impossible do hope this helps some one or you to do some stuidies on
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I was very fit and healthy walking 6 miles 4 days a week and swimming 20 lengths 3days a week. I started taking simvastatin in January 2006, bby mid February I started getting pains in my arms and neck,by May, I was totally disabled, couldn't get out of bed or walk with horrendous pain. I am 100% convinced this was brought on by taking symvastatin. My Doctor diagnosed PMR immediuately, however my consultant rhumatologist was dreadful had no conception of the effects of PMR or the treatment, I was told to play around with my steriods depending on how I felt. My private insurance company stepped in and refused to fund him and advised me to find another rhumatologist, I have and he has been fantastic with a full understanding of PMR and the treatment, I am now on a good steroid reduction programme.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	knee was very swollen .. surgery performed..knee got worse ..upper arms became so painful I could not lift my arms ..burning sensation in my legs
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I an currently in my third and longest spell. Will get down to below 5g. of predisone and it will flare. My doctor told me I may have to take meds for the rest of my life. Am now taking 1600 units of Vitamin D as well as 5 units of predisone and hoping to be able to ween down to no predisone soon. No side effects except about 10 lbs. weight gain.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	symptoms started through pain in right shoulder which spread to left shoulder then abdomen over 3 days. This was accompanied with extreme stiffness and fatigue. Also lost a stone in weight in about a week. From onset to aquiring all the symptoms I would say this was about 3/4 days.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	My PMR started with my left shoulder and arm stuck in one place. I could not drive or move my arm , not even to do up my bra. Then my GP did a blood test and put me on Preds. I had a course of physiotherapy on my arm and shoulder. I had a lot of problems with infections and virus and lost my job because of time of sick. So now I am at home and do what I can , each day is different, somedays I feel better than others. I have reduced from 10 mg pred down to 7.5, My doc tried to reduce me to 5 a couple of months ago that did not work so I am still on 7.5. I have had another blood test and am waiting for the results and will try to reduce again. I have had a bone density scan back in May. However I am still waiting for the results its all a bit slow here in the UK.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Cannot answer no.8 as I did not get this info from my dr. She actually diagnosed PMR and the Rheumatologist confirmed it.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I was told my CRP count was 139 and I'm not sure how this relates to mg/dl. The first symptom I noticed was discomfort in my thighs when wearing heels and climbing stairs. Within a week there was increasing pain in my neck with what appeared to be swelling at the connection with my spine, the pain also spread out across my shoulders and into my upper arms. Initially I assumed I had overdone the DIY or hill walking, so I underwent some physiotherapy and acapuncture for 2 / 3 weeks. However, the symptoms progressed over a few weeks until they became unbearable and I sought medical advice.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I exercised one day on a stationary bicycle and the next morning the backs of my knees hurt and the muscles in my crotch hurt. I figured I had overdone a bit on the bicycle for 30 minutes. Gradually it got worse and then my arms started to hurt. I went to physical therapy which probably kept me moving but the pain didn't go away. It started the end of August 2006 and I was diagnosed the end of December 2006. I first took 20 mgs of Prednisone and within the hour the pain started leaving. I also started on Methotrexate. I found out in June 2007 that I could not take either one of them because of high liver or kidney count. I have been on NSAIDs and aspirin. I am now on one aspirin and one Tylenol per day and still get stiff when sitting for too long a time. I am thinking that by this August....two years....PMR will gone away. I just hope it doesn't come back.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Low grade fever. All happened a few weeks after intense work of mowing a lawn and after having gotten 35 insect bites in three days.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	My ESR was not present for 1st year but all other symptoms were & I was treated with Prednisolone. After a period of NSAIDs treatment instead of Prednisolone, symptoms became acute & required hospital admission with ESR well over 80 & weight loss of 28 lbs. I was re-introduced to Prednisolone & have gradually reduced to 5mg a day over a period of 4 years.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Really painful knees started in March this year, this spread to hands, elbows and neck. Transient pains along the sides of my head. Initially I thought it was just my arthritis flairing up. Then my blood pressure tablets were changes and I thought it was a side effect. These tablets were changed again but the pain continued to get worse and I could barely take the weight on my right knee and my thumb joint was making it difficult to write.. The doctor stopped the blood pressure tablets and order a full set of blood tests. These showed the ESR to be slightly high at 25mm and the CPR at 1.15. PMR was diagnosed and Prednisolone 20mg prescribed in JUne 2008. The relief was gradual over 10 days. I am still on 20mg Prednisolone but will reduce to 17.5mg in a few days time. I am not in pain now more discomfort. The joints feel unstable, I get extremely tired suddenly and have transient excessive sweating bouts both day and night.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	STARTED IN LEFT UPPER ARM. PROGRESSED TO BOTH UPPER ARMS, UPPER BACK, AND BOTH GROIN AREAS PRIOR TO DIAGNOSIS.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Sudden onset but probably about a week of stiffness and then one morning I could not get out of bed.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I did not have the usual high sed rate and CRP at time of diagnosis. However, I had an almost immediate response to 20 mg Prednisone. I have been on high doses (20 mg) of Prednisone and low doses (2-3 mg) and have never been able to stop the Prednisone as hard as I try. Right now I am on 6 mg alternating with 5 mg every other day. This is barely keeping my symptoms under control, but I do not want to increase the Prednisone. I have developed osteopenia, had atrial fibrillation recently and two months ago had a malignant melanoma removed from my back. I believe all of these conditions are related to the Prednisone.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Started with aching in shoulder, then hip bursitis, after that sciatica and pain and stiffness primarily in hips lower back and down into legs.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Severe acute pain in left shoulder for approx 2 weeks then went to Right shoulder for approx 2 weeks then left upper waist. IT would seem to circle around these areas intermittently.( thought I was going mad. ) White Cell Count was way up and increased for the 4 months until diagnosis and treatment with prednisole was into second month. Anaemia, weight loss and severe fatigue were other things happening. I had numerous bloodtests, Xrays, CT scans and Bone Marrow Biopsy.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	After knee surgery my calfs became sore and the knee seemed to get worse. Then my shoulders,arm, hips all became unbearable to the point I could not get out of bed by myself and I could hardly walk.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 75 to 79 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Have never had osteoarthritis, but an Xray at the time revealed Lumbosacral joint thinning and lumbar and lower thoracic lipping. This caused a misdiagnosis of osteoarthritis until raised CRP and ESR lab results performed.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 75 to 79 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	From being completely unable to move over night. To being back to normal after blood test, diagnosis and taking Prednisone, three days in all. My Glaucoma flared up after 16 weeks giving me double vision, which settled 10 days later on the day I visited the hospital to see a fast track doctor. The Doctor said the pressure in my eyes was fine and thought the double vision may have been caused by the muscles in my eyes not helping each other. I was given drops for dry eye which eased my eyes and they have now improved. Before diagnosis I had to be helped from my chair and bed. I needed help being undressed and dressed. I couldn't prepare meals or do house work. Now I can and I am enjoying cooking once again.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	started after flu like illness, thought it was an exacerbation of pre-existing back condition, muscles extremely sore, especially at night, hard to get out of bed, steps especially were a problem, very fatigued. Eventually insisted on rheumatologist as last resort before back surgery.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	It seemed to start a few months before, with a sharp pain in my right groin. Didn,t last long but was very acute. This happened a few times. Was feeling tired,then one day just couldn,t manage to make dinner. Felt exhausted. Just went downhill after that. After numerous blood tests Doctor diagnosed PMR. The second time the Doctor put me straight on 10 mg Prednisone.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I felt as if I had the flu, severe pain in my hips and thighs. Could not move to get out of bed in the morning- felt paralyzed. Had a fever and was very tired. Surprised when after initial dose of 15 mg. of prednisone, I felt great immeditely the next morning. However, that did not last too long, and I then had to split my dosage between morning and evening, so that I cold get out of bed in the morning. Rheumy had me on methotrexate, 10 mg. once a week, however, I just quit due to brething problems which I believe developed when I started the methotrexater. Now on 3 mgs. of prednisone and doing okay. Anxious to see if this continues now that I have stopped the methotrxate ( a nasty drug) !!
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I saw sudden but sometimes wonder as because of back problems I actually thought it was that when I started to feel pain in my hip in fall of 07, diagnosed in 6-08. Also had shoulder pain & I already had injured my right shoulder but this was my left. Started to feel tremors in left had before diagnosis. Suddenly woke up one morning & could barley move, it hurt so much to raise my arms, let alone get out of bed. Would try to read the paper & to move my arms just to turn the page was more than I could handle. One day could not move my arm from my body without intense pain like after surgery when surgery used to hurt! The pain from PMR is horrendous.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Copied email to Pam. I live in York in North Yorkshire. It is early days for me with PMR, as I said I am on 15 mg of Pre... steroids a day, They have put me back 3 years and I have seemingly no problems, A worry! I started with PMR a couple of months ago. knees, top of leg front and back, and lower back, also a pain at the front very low down, and back of neck, not shoulders. The steroids removed everything within 8 hours for the front pain, and in 2 days all other pain. after a week I was as I was 3 years ago. I know what u are thinking. Yes I understand, it is the steroids! So I have always done a lot of exercise, I am waiting to see my Dr who picked this problem up very quick. I take 3 types of tablet. Steroids a chew Calcium. and a weekly tablet. I either Swim half a mile + Walk 4-6 miles or cycle 10 miles a day, I think i am lucky. I don't play squash, the Dr said lay off for a month. (used to play 5 times a week) will ask Dr at my next appointment next week if I can play! Ask for any other details
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Some minor pain in shoulders for 2 weeks prior then within 2 days incapacitating pain in upper arms and shoulders
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 80 or over Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Diagnosed Feb. 2007. Started at 20 mg., had internal bleeding, cut dosage in half, then up to 15 mg and back to 20 for 2 months; stopped acidic foods, caffeine, wine. Reduced 1 mg every 2 weeks. Needed prescription sleeping pills for insomnia and antacids for stomach pain. Had to wear wig due to hair loss. Before Prednisone I couldn't sit or stand for more than 15 minutes. For a year or more after Prednisone, sitting for more than an hour was painful, and worse in the evening. Most of the pains have been around the neck, lower back and thighs. Went down to 3 mg too fast; had severe pain, headaches, exhaustion. Am now at 6 mg (July 2008; still need sleeping pills and heating pad, but no antacids. Get tired and tingly after 5 pm. I'll be 82 next month; still go line-dancing 3 times a week and hiking in the mountains sometimes.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = Under 50 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	DO NOT KNOW THE CRP LEVEL AT TIME OF DIAGNOSIS SYMPTOMS STARTED IN LATE MAY 2007 I HAD DIFFICULTY IN RISING. PUTTING ON PANTS AND SOCKS. INITIALLY STIFFNESS IN JOINTS IN LOWER BODY. AFTER GETTING UP FROM SEATS IT TOOK A FEW MINUTES FOR MY LEGS TO WORK PROPERLY. I WENT TO THE DOCTOR IN THE AUGUST BECAUSE THE PAIN DURING THE NIGHT WAS UNBEARABLE. THIS PAIN HAD GRADUALLY GOT WORSE. THE LOCUM AT THE TIME IMMEDIATELY DID BLOOD TESTS AND 2 WEEKS LATER HE DIAGNOSED ME WITH PMR AND PUT ME ON PREDISOLONE. FROM THE WORD GO I HAVE FOUND THE PATIENT UK SITE AND PATIENT EXPERIENCES VERY INTERESTING ALTHOUGH I HAVE NEVER SUBMITTED ANYTHING TO THEM. WHEN I READ ON THE SITE ABOUT YOUR SURVEY I FELT I SHOULD I AM ONLY 48 AND THE PAST YEAR HAS BEEN VERY DIFFICULT. I WAS ON 20MG PREDS. AND HAD WORKED DOWN TO 7.5MG WHEN MY GP DECIDED THAT I SHOULD COME OF MEDS AND BE RETESTED. I THEN CAME OF THEM GRADUALLY AND SYMPTONS RETURNED. THE DOCTOR THEN PUT ME BACK ON 20MG FOR 2WKS THEN 15MG FOR 2 WKS THEN 10 MG AND THEN IN AUG I HAVE TO HAVE MORE BLOODS DONE AND HE WILL TAKE IT FROM THERE IT HAS BEEN ALL ENCOMPASSING AND I HAVE FELT VERY LOW AT TIMES. I HAVE HOWEVER KEPT GOING AND FEEL MUCH BETTER WHEN MOVING.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Had had shoulder and neck pain for years. Had had muscle cramps in legs and hands for years. Went from mildly disabled to totally disabled in the period of 3 1/2 weeks. Body was going back into the fetal position and hands into claw shape. By the time I was diagnoised I couldn't even rise from a chair to get to the bathroom 4 feet away. Had slept, exhausted ,in chair for almost 3 weeks. Saw internist, and neuroligist both only ordered more and more tests, They hadn't a clue. Finally got to a rheumatologist who diagnoised PMR immediately.A shot of Prednisone (80MG) brought me back to basically functional. Been on that steroid for slightly over 2 years. Finally down to 3MG a day and headed to 2. Started at 10MG and sat at 71/2 for 6-7 months before I was able to reduce it to 6. There is a period of 7 to 10 days of achie adjustment at each decrease, but very much bearable. When i flared, in the past the flare would happen after 3 to4 days. Your body seems to let you know when it's ready to reduce the drug. ie: is ridng itself of the desease.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	For almost a year, after sitting I would have to stand for a minute or more before I could start to walk. I felt stiffness in my inner thighs and hips.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	it came suddenly after menopause and after getting off antidepressents there had been some tramatic stress issues in the past year.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I was given NAPROXEN and DICLOFINAC for the pain and felt no relief from these prescribed meds.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Consultants thought I,d got carpel tunnel and wanted to do op but I refused,then hurt pretty much all over BUT had already got arthritis in my back so assumed it to be this,so extra brufen, then moved and had blders in for 6mths and furniture in store, gradually got worse and then changed to a new DR who is v good --things had got so bad I thought I had M S.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Started in left sterno clavicular joint one evening - next day walked one mile to minor injury clinic. By next day pain had travelled up neck across shoulders down back to hips and full movement was limited.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	Started with chest cold that did not go away. Fatigue and muslce cramping were intense but the bronchial cough was the most troublesome. Saw Rheumatologist who placed me on prednisone then methotrixate, then stopped the prednisone. After two years my sed rate was down around the 20-30 mark so he told me to stop the methotrixate. I continued to have mid thorasic back pain- saw my doctor to investigate back pain further. A chest xray identified an aortic anurism. The anirism was removed 6 weeks later, and tisue sample indicated giant cell arteritis. Have continued to take methotrixate- first as 10 tablets, now down to 7 tablets. I continue to have back spasms and left neck muscle spasms. My sed rate is down to 8. This is now my 6th year of illness. I had bronchial problems most of the winter, starting in Oct and ending in May. I have been chest symptoms free since May. The muscle spasms are daily. I walk daily and am able to garden.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 75 to 79 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	My symptoms are up and down like a yo-yo. Stress always brings out the worst. I was diagnosed in 2003 and have never gotten below 7mgs of Prednisone. Right now I am at ll-1/2.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 80 or over Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	afer a while on simvastatin I started to get muscle cramps in the backs of my legs, then it developed in the shoulders
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	When I moved house and my mother died three years before onset of PMR, I lost an aweful lot of weight, and suffered the usual stress accompanying a move and a death. PMR also occurred exactly 9 months after I retired. The early symptons were stiffness in my neck and head. During the last year that I worked, prior to retiring at the age of 62, my level of fitness became lower and lower. Fatigue set in to such an extent that I used to fall asleep on the train both going to work and coming home. During the first 9 months of retirement, the period leading up to PMR being obvious and being diagnosed, I never felt really well and then I found I was losing flexibility. Gradually after this I had the normal pain across my shoulders and down through hips and thighs. Bending down became almost impossible, and looking back I realise that this was the first symptom of PMR. By the time I knew something was seriously wrong I could hardly sleep with pain, hardly dress or undress and every day simple tasks became monumental.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Onset was, if not sudden, reasonably quick. As an active sportsman, I was unable to exercise as my hamstrings in back of thighs were badly affected.I am now in the 6th month since it started.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = Under 50 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Age at onset: 44. Anemia (hemoglobin approx. 70). High fevers daily (40 C). Rapid weight loss. Anorexia. Underwent a year of extensive testing to find out source of bleeding (none found), including a bone marrow biopsy, barium enema, multitudinous blood tests to look for things like Lyme, etc. It took more than a year for a diagnosis. Diagnosis occurred when a co-worker of mine found info on PMR on the internet. At the time I was under the care of an infectious disease specialist, and was taking massive doses of tetracycline. My symptoms seemed to fit PMR. I took the info to the infectious diseases Dr., and he promptly got a Rheumatologist. I have been under a Rheumatologist's care ever since. I've had PMR for 10+ years.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	General aching of joints ie:arms,shoulders,thighs,neck& back, especially mornings.Unable to walk far,fatigue,depression& co-ordination problems.Diagnosed with Temporal artiritus, after a flu-like cold for 3 weeks.complaining of severre headache in left side of head and eye. Blood test revealed it..Different GP this time who also said I had PMR.Hence was put on 28mgs. prednisolone. Visit to Rheumatologist who did not diagnose PMR.more blood tests revealing Calcium in my blood stream.Still no confirmation from Rheumatologist about PMR.After a visit to him about 2 months later noticed my blood referred to me having Hyperparathyroidism.Sent me to General surgeon to arrange removal of Parathyroid gland . Surgeon said I had to lose at least a stone before he would operate ,gave me 6 months. Another visit to R specialist told me to wean off Steroids.So did this and and paid to see a Hypnotherapist lost 27lbs in 3 months got down to 3mgs of steroids then Temporal A.returned .so had to go back up on to higher steroids, consequently put back almost a stone by the time my appointment with the surgeon came.Had all the tests needed for the operation, but due to the increase of weight again the Surgeon said he would perform the operation with Local anaestcetic.I must make a note that the R said if I had this operation most of my symptons would go after a few months.I had the operation, which was a failure as they could not find the problem parathyroid gland. Another operation was booked for 6 months later, but this time by a General A.This time it was successful. The R had handed me over to the Parathyroid doctor to keep a regular check on my Calcium count and bone density.Which I still see him for 3 yrs later. Each time it has been fine.I unfortunately have not been.After numerous visits to my GP A new one I now have who is very supportive of me and hence I must add I have been on anti-depressants for a while now ,something I have never had to resort to in my life before.He is adamant due to my continuos blood tests and my raised ESR level that I have PMR. After continuos feeling ill my GP.referred me back to the R. a different one this time. More blood tests later, came to the conclusion I needed to try and wean right off the Steroids and also come off the Oestrogen tablets I had been on for 20yrs after having a Hysterectomy ,also to lose weight.. My GP. has been working with me himself ever since and I have been up and down on the Steroids since according to how I am+ I am back on Primarin for the sweating.I have been on 5 mg Steroids now for 9 months trying to perseverre with the pain. I need a wheelchair when I go out and cannot stand more than 5 mins.I am almost immobile ,cannot even dress myself ,but know with testing my comfort zone with the Steroids is about 12-15mgs.but am fighting not to go up again as have put on so much more weight. It does not help as have in the last 3 months been diagnosed with Diabetas2.This diagnosis was reccomended by my Parathyroid doctor to be tested for.My GP said my ESR.is still raised. The R has not suggested for me to see him again. I was 65 last January and my life has completely changed.Reading other peoples symptons on the Patient UK about PMR.I am 100% that is what I have.The pain does not go away now and other parts of my body seem to be affected also ie:hands,fingers and feet.I know I have osteoarthritis in my knees ,but avoid taking painkillers with all the other tablets I am on.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I am amarathon runner and I found I became very fatigued even after running just 2 miles. Afterwards my leg muscles became sore, then hips and back and now my neck.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I woke up one morning ,could hardly get out of bed . I could hardly walk,was having severe pain .It took afew years and another doctor ,a bad back and a couple of back surgies coulded the picture.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Had several months of irritability (according to others!) Had extreme pain in both shoulders for several months Difficulty using hands in mornings, ie struggled to lift cup with little water, difficult to tear toilet paper along perforations Couldn't take weight on arms/shoulders so couldn't move in bed, difficult to get up in morning More latterly, severe pain in thoracic spine, like hot rod - progressively worse if sitting Would stand in hot, hard-beating shower until pain eased each morning
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	Started in my feet with inflammation and pain,progressed to thigh muscles, difficulty walking and very painful. Went to body and couldn't turn in bed then to jaw and found difficulty eating. Not much shoulder pain, worst pain in legs and thighs, awful stiffness and found difficulty climbing stairs. Had 2 colds prior to symptoms developing and my husband was in intensive care over Christmas prior to that - very stressful time.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I injured myself at work and was a chronic pain person in my neck and shoulder from 97 till April 2007 when I could not pull the covers over my head and could not get out of bed. That is when my neuro Dr reconiganized a problem and set me to see a Rhuemy Dr and had the blood test and started on 20mg of pred. By Oct I couln't not stand the way I felt on the pred and started the anti inflamatory diet. I was off the pred in a week. My sed rate droped and my C Reactive Protein also droped. As of Aug 2008, it is not nornmal yet, but I feel much better. I am still stiff from my accident and do have hip pain that can be quite bad at time. But I am managing.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	The symptoms coincided days before my mother died, I wondered it there was a connection. At first my arms and then all my body. Prednisolon did not have any effect after a few months. Since then I have been on cocodamol or?/and morphine patches only when the pain is severe. There has been no improvement and indeed symtoms are worse.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I went to see my GP about my asthma which had been exacerbated by a chest infection and at the last moment mentioned I had backpain, middle back which appeared to be in a vertebra. She decided to take blood tests which came back the next day with raised ESR and CRP. Went for further tests to exclude myeloma. Then only had hip and back pain, particularly at night. Five days later Myeloma results came through and was excluded and GP was baffled as to what it was. However, my husband, a retired GP on hearing that I was running a low fever every day, felt 'fluey' and was losing weight decided it was PMR. The pain rapidly became very bad and now included shoulders as well so my husband treated me with diclofenac at night. With the hospital appointment still a week away went to my GP who agreed with my husband about the diagnosis and started me immediately on 20 mg prednisolone per day. Magic!!!! However, in response to the questions down below my GP wanted me to have all tablets in am. My husband said no - split the dose. I tried both and only splitting the dose am/pm kept me comfortable. This is a regime I have followed since taking the higher dose at night if the dose is uneven.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Had been taking crestor (statin) and had sore shoulder but was told by doctor it was due to my age and nature of my job so started taking Celebrex for it. After a few years of taking crestor I developed what I thought was the flu in March of this year and went to clinic and was given Tamaflu. A few days later I sprained my wrist at work,saw my doctor,was given arthrotec and triatec but instead of getting better my shoulder locked. Both sides of my body were intermitintly affected,my knee,groin,foot,hand,sprained my thumb opening door. My wife asked Dr about crestor but he said it had nothing to do with it. My wife researched online and was sure it was statin induced so I stopped taking crestor and my wife insisted Dr test me for certain conditions,one of them being polymyalgia rheumatica. Was given xrays and blood work,my Sed rate was elevated (don't know exact number) Dr confirmed PMR. Was given Apo prednisone 50mg for 10 days and had relief but had a reoccurance 2.5 months later,lost use of thumb,foot and ankle swelled,neck stiff and sore,shoulders ached ,took 50mg prednisone again for 10 days and seemed better, afterward took celebrex ,but had another reoccurance 1 mth later, prednisone didn't completely work this time so called Dr and prescribed Voltaren rapide,50mg 3 times a day, am still very stiff all over ,especially mornings,shoulder very sore, have trouble if stay in same position too long,Dr doesn't want me to take more prednisone ,wants me to continue taking Voltarin, am not able to work when bad flare ups occur. Dr did not think it nessesary to see rhuematologist but wife insisted and found one that I will see in three weeks.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	4 months previous had g roin pains and Christmas 2004 serious viral infection followed by shock of daughter being diagnsied with brain tumour in February.
Gender = Unanswered Age When Symptoms Started = Unanswered Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I had been taking statins for 6 weeks before my muscle symptoms. I am quite convinced statins were the reason I have PMR. The onset was sudden. No symptoms on retiring but woke up next morning unable to move. Stopped statins on Doctor's advice.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	PMR was diagnosed in October 2006 ( although I had had the symptoms for a good 4/5 months) and at almost the same time it was discovered that I had endometrial cancer ( resultant Hysterectomy in Dec 2006). I had been complaining about stiffness in my shoulders to the GP for about 4 months before I was referred to the Rheumatologist. I was on longterm HRT following the removal of an ovary and the ovarian tubes at the age of 36. Finally managed to come off the HRT at the age of 58/9.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	First as No 9 above 2000. 2005 obtained a Blue Card for Car as unable to walk more than a few steps, usual intense pain in groin, hips and knees. 2006 ubale to get out of bed or move. GP called after neighbours called in. Prednisolone 60mgs for two days. Took longer to improve this time. utumn 2007 intense pain shoulder, arms and hands. 2008all aches and pains come at all times.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Had been swimming regularly for a week while on holiday thought the symptoms were due to this.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	07/27/07 - 07/29/07 had the runs all 3 days, the following monday I felt fine except my right upper shoulder had extreme pain. I went to work thinking it would go away but did not. The next morning both shoulders and both hips were very painful to where I couldn't get out of bed... After taking tylenol, ibuprofen, and indomethacin (my GP recommended) I told her that I still had intense pain; where upon she prescribed Pred. I insisted on a second opinion and was referred to a Rhumatologist his diag was PMR or maybe Reactive Arthritis...I asked if this was caused by the viral thing I had and he said "No"?? Anyway I started tapering off the Pred during the next 6-7 mos and during that period tried Chinese herbs and accupuncture (this didn't help), took Sulfasalazine (antibiotic) after insisting that possibly my condition could have been caused by an infection (Dr Rhuma. said it's possible...). the antibio didn't help. By Mar '08 I was down to 2mg of Pred along w/200mg Ibuprofen in the AM and PM. I started taking Omega 3 fish capsules and Curcumin from ZoneDiet, multi-vitamins, vit C, B- complex, Citracal w/D. Started eating better (alkaline diet) and taking more nutriments (liquid Calcium/Mag, super greens like wheatgrass, barley, spirulina) and slowly started to feel better. Oh yea I stopped taking Pred 3-15-08 yippee! I do still have some stiffness but it's nothing compared to the past months. It is now Sept '08 I've lost 10 lbs, my blood pressure has gone down, I strongly feel that diet, nutrition, and most importantly exercise are the keys to improving one's quality of life.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	i had 3 different viruses, 1 throat infection 2.sickness and dipherea 3. flu symptoms i had mild flu yhe cold went but the pain`s got progressivly worse, i made a visit to the dr. after 2day`s
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	severe in back (hardly able to hold upright position) then in shoulders and upper arms R/H worse + thighs - magical improvement after steroids injection
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 75 to 79 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	even after taking steroids symptoms never went away. They stayed until late afternoon for the first two months then gradually decreased till about midday. Now often have them for 1 or 2 hours after getting up
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	Started with gastritis and high fewer over 2 days. Went to hospital for 6 weeks.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I had a feeling of general lethargy, pain and stiffness for approx 8wks before referral to a rheumatologist by my GP. I was depressed and frightened by the symptoms and the pain which was very severe and prevented me from sleeping properly. The rheumatologist diagnosed my problem immediately and suggested that my relatively youth had probably prevented earlier diagnosis by my GP ( I was 52 at the time) There was an immediate improvement under Prednisolone and I have been able to reduce down to 2.5 mg from 20mg over the past 5yrs, however I have been unable to reduce beyond this maintenance dose as the disease is still active.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	dID ACHE FOR A WEEK BEFORE. BUT THEN SUDDENLY OVERNIGHT COULD NOT MOVE OUR OF BED
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Following an energetic session of yoga had pain in area of hamstring insertions. Over period of weeks this did not improve and I found I was having difficulty getting out of bath and standing from sitting in a low chair. Discomfort in area of hamstring insertions when sitting on hard chair. My upper arms began to feel uncomfortable. I put this down to having to rely on them to 'push up'. Stiffness & discomfort was more intense in early morning and imroved during day.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = Unanswered Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	a few months before onset my legs got very weak and tired like trying to walk in water after a short time of use
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 80 or over Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	My symptoms worsened fairly rapidly over the course of the 2007 summer, and became quite bad by September. Before the PMR diagnosis, a doctor believed I was suffering from arthritis.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 80 or over Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	re ESR and CRP - our doctors only say if it was OK or not Had high temperature 104
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	into hospital 19/7/05 -3 weeks tests incl biopsy - negative. discharged on 40mg prednisolone re-admitted on 30/8/05 with steroid psychosis. then commenced 3 years of treatment with prednisolone and painkillers. During this time dosage has been reduced on a number of occasions with no effect. I am as bad as i was in the beginning. My consultant says my body has little tolerance to steroids
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I have now had PMR for 5 years, the Dr. said it would be "out of my system" by then. It isn't. Lastnight I had a severe re-occurance in my shoulder and hand and today it's back in my hip. I am taking Methatrexate and Plaqunil and also Folic Acid, it's very disheartening to ask the question - Do the Doctors really knows what they are talking about
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	very suddenonset - tremendous pain temporary paralysis. told it would last a year. my ESR is still 50 now more than 12 years later in spite of many drugs
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Pain from my neck down to my knees, difficult to walk or stoop down especially in the morning.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Unanswered	Had it for years before it was diagnosed. Have arthritis with PMR
Gender = Unanswered Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	had PMR for 10 yrs. Do not suffer from much stiffness
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	I thought my fibromyalgia was flaring up. I was stiff, unable to climb stairs and my neck was hurting a lot. I was having more headaches than I normally get. I was also seeing double at times, and had blurry vision a lot of the time. Most of the vision problems have lessened, but my neck has been extremely stiff and painful lately.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	unable to get of bed, severe pain in shoulders, hips, difficulty dressing and siting on toilet
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	The worse symptoms began suddenly overnight, not being able to get out of bed and not being able to dress without help etc. However, a couple of months previously I had experienced muscle pain in the mid back area when I breathed in. This was investigated by the GP who could not find the cause. I still have this symptom along with the other pains in shoulders, arms, hips and legs but they are all milder due to taking Prednisolone.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	the only hint of a problem was a carporal tunnel indication in my left hand. other than that no problems except on a cold winter day after chopping ice with an ice chopper it suddenly came about
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	ESR 113
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Pain in almost every joint. Sent to hospital as an emergency admittance. In hospital for two weeks.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	FROM WHAT I TOLD THE RHEUMATOLOGIST UNKNOWN TO ME I HAD HAD PMR IN THE 12MONTHS PREVIOUS TO BEING DIAGNOSED WITH GCA
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	at least 6/12 prior to diagnosis- aching thighs and buttocks. Also both knees painful -had 30mls + aspirated from rt knee. 1 month prior to diagnosis couldn't lift arms above shoulder height. Also had occasional shooting pains in head. Immediatley prior to diagnosis excruiating headache
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	All symptoms were in the upper right quadrant of the body. Headache, neck spasms, shoulder spasms, and stiffness of the hand. After about a week the left side exhibited the sme symptoms and the hands swelled up to "paws." Rheumatoid arthritis was ruled out by two different blood tests. Finally the rheumatologist agreed I had PMR. I had no symptoms in the hips. In the worst period of pain, I still went to water aerobics and the stretches I did after class may have prevented pain in the hips and legs.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Began to ache and lose strength at the end of a family visit to Norway. Could hardly walk to airport. Saw own doctor 2 days later and he actually diagnosed then, and gave me a steroid injection - after blood test. It was amazing. Then I saw a Rheumatologist who confimred the diagnosis.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Symptons became apparent after coming off HRT
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	The first doctor didn't recognise the symptoms. Only after seeing another lady doctor -she sent me for blood tests
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = Under 50 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I had the flu and the aches and pains never went away but somehow i developed stiffness i never had before in my lower back,neck,shoulders,thighs,pelvic region,knees,calves and feet.Ribs were so sore i could not sneeze for fear that they would break. LowerBack and neck felt the same. Shoulders felt like they were frozen. Lower arms ,fingers and toes were all okay. Took the flu in February 2007,diagnosed at out patients in hospital September 2007. Could not drive by this time as could not turn my neck to reverse the car,could not put my socks or shoes on. ESR at peak was 185 and constantly 120 -130 thereafter. CRP constantly around 40 during this period. Could not stand still for 2 minutes or sit as i would seize. Staircases were very difficult to ascend and descend. Aged 44,very very fit when i took this. Resting heart rate was 44 maximum heart rate 195. Never had any swelling. Occasionally when lying down took very severe piercing/stabbing pain across the front/side of my ribs,this was almost unbearable, but went away as quick as it came, would last up to 30 minutes.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	All through my treatment for PMR my CRP was always higher than my ESR My GP diagonosed correctly but because of my blood results not being standard for PMR I had to see a Rheumatologist to confirm and to get steroids prescribed
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Started overnight, thought it was aches and pains (flu?). Two weeks later went to doctor, put on 30mg prednisolone. This was Jan 07. Gradually reduced dosage,when feeling ok. Continued cycling until I fell in July07. Managed rest of year ok. Dosage down to 15 mg in Jan 08. Since then have reduced further but am always aching now. 2 1/2 mg + anti -inflam. Just want to cease steroids as its now nearly 2 years, not doing me any favours. Carer to my father who has Alzeimers, lots of stress. Weight gain. Walking horrendous, just feel awful most of the time not being able to exercise.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I was just diagnosed a month ago. I am/was VERY active.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = Under 50 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	No progression or symptoms although I do remember occassionally being bothered my a sore shoulder but though nothing of it. I was diagnosed in April of 2003. I lost my father in 1997, had a parital hysterectomy in 1978 and also in 1978 had 32 blood transfusions. I say that only because my mother is convinced the blood transfusions may have led to Polymyalgia. :)
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I was diagnosed first with a massive kidney infection and continued to have after effects with "flu like symptoms". I was just so tired and achy all the time and lost weight. I was off work at least 1-2 times a wek and then off for 2 weeks. I had electrolyte imbalance and needing IV's and finally they did sed rate and CRP.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	the usual, woke up feeling intense pain, eventually diagnosed and put on prednisone, tapering and now at 5 mgm. still have pain in a.m.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	The symptoms started suddenly seven days after a 'flu jab and minor 'flu symptoms. I had a 15 year history of tendon problems (Achilles and knees), Prednisalone 15mg removed most of the symptoms and was gradually reduced to 3/4 mg over two years. It is now 3 years since the onset, and having reduced the steroid to 1 mg per day, I took my last dose 10 weeks ago My body is now very sore especially after sitting or rest, slight pain in the shoulders and more severe in the thighs and around the hips. The pain seems to be partly muscular but more tendon-based as it occurs nearest to the joints Have difficulty standing from low chair and going upstairs. Walking more than a hundred yards or so becomes progressively difficult I do light execise daily on a variety of gym equipment, partly to keep flexible but also as cardio exercise arthitis in hands and wrists has developed over 2-3 years
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = Under 50 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I had flu like symptoms that came on suddenly-just no congestion.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I actually noticed symptoms in 2005. I had extreme neck stiffness and couldn't bend down. they went away. In July 2006 I started to have the same symptoms and they went away. In September of 2007 I developed full blown symptoms in shoulders and hips and had extreme pain and very little mobility.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I had piggy-backed my 65lb niece on the friday, around tues/wed I felt I had strained all my muscles from this, but over the next couple of weeks the muscle pain got worse resulting in 3/4 visits to the doctor and going on anti-inflammatories. The pain was all from knee up to pelvis initially, but then couldn't turn over in bed, get out of car, cross my legs etc. Had a 2 wk holiday in USA which I coped with but on return severe pain came into my upper body; the muscles clenching so tight across my chest I couldn't breath properly when exerting on exercise or when upset. My regular doctor said I over-exerted and it was old age creeping up! (I'm slim, fitish and a non-smoker, and 51). Different doctor referred me to rheumatologist. Don't know my markers yet but will find out.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Feb 04 first noticed pain shoulders, arms, getting dressed/undressed then very bad stiffness in legs in the mornings. Difficulty with stairs, getting out of arm chairs etc, Very painful legs and hips. Could not turn in bed would cry out with pain. Had three episodes of pain from wrist into arm and elbow. Tendonitis. Got depressed, affected marriage. Activities curtailed. Could not bend knees or get down on floor to play with Granchild. Not diagnosed for 5 months. GP baffled. Lots of tets. I asked for referral and wa instantly diagnosed and put on steroids with good effects. 07/04. But since had at least 4 relapses but feel I am now recovering.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	flu like symptoms then muscle pain to the back of my legs this happened over a fortnight then very severe carpal tunnel. This the hospital dismissed as arthritis. I sweated profusely every night at the same time.the biggest problem was getting to see a specialist,my doctor did not seem to know what was wrong
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	It started in my hips and knees; I could hardly go up and down stairs, get out of the car or even go for my usual walks (instead of being able to walk 2-4 miles, I could only go a half block). I thought it was just a progression of the aches and pains I'd been experiencing from previous disc problems and back pain. Then it went to my shoulders, to where I could not get a t-shirt off without help. I'd had what felt like the flu twice in the two months previous to getting the aching hips.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	Gradual onset of pain, stiffness and backache, then headaches, jaw, stiffness and then eyesight problems, it tok the doctors a long time todiagnose and had to finally be admitted to hospital in a state of collapse with an ESR of 140
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 75 to 79 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Since I was diagnosed over five years ago it has gradually affected my walking and now I have to use a scooter. Iget so tired and even little jobs tire me out. Iwas 83 in Sept and two months ago I was diagnosed as diabetic. I am attending hospital as I keep getting water infections.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Suffered severe allergic reaction about 1 week before onset of PMR...severe case of hives started to fade just as Pmr started.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I was diagonosed with PMR August 2007. Prior to this I was very active, but over the 6 preceeding years I suffered from a shingles/herpes blister type outbreak around the lower waist/buttock area, not particularly painful - cleared up within 7-10 days. Over a 6 year period I have suffered at least 15 similar attacks. My GPs have not been able to identify the problem. My consultant dismissed any possible link!
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Pain, stiffness, weakness over entire body but worse in my legs. Also worse for 4-6 hours after awakening. Prior to the development of these symptoms, had migraine headaches and fragility of blood vessels (slight injury led to permanent bulging of blood vessel in the injured area). Falls due to weakness becoming increasingly frequent.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	Woke up one morning with pain at the top of my neck and it gradually worked down the body. Also inflammation of 3 discs at the top, middle and low part of the spine. Had a mystery flu-like illness with fatigue and poor leg movement for 3 weeks in my 40s. Carpel tunnel symptoms followed in my right arm. I have also suffered severe pain in my jaw intermittently since my 20s (usually during stressful periods).
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Apologies for not been able to ener ESR AND CRP rates was never told them. I had a stressful life prior to this and put my symptoms down to this. I can ony describe the feeling when it is at it's worst as one of giving up completely and feeling like 'death'.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = Under 50 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	Flu like symptoms and high temperature for 2 weeks, aching all over. No specific pains i,e, hips, back, shoulders until weeks later. Pains in head, jaw and eyes first, progressed to shoulders and gradually down body over a period of months.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	,Started in Feb 2007 with pain in upper legs and buttocks which was worse in bed. Also sitting in a chair in the evening seemed to bring on this pain. It was difficult to stand up from the sitting position. (I am a fit woman and have never experienced this type of problem before.) After a period of approx 3-4months when walking became affected and the pain started in my upper body, I visited the doctor. Various blood tests were done but evidently my blood did not show the correct results. I was put onto Co-Dydramol. I visited the doctor a few times in this period..and a letter was sent to the local hospital for an appointment. Eventually the doc decided I was looking "rather ill" and put me onto 15mgs Prednisolone.This was in late August. The difference was amazing....I felt 100% better. Have since been at hospital with blood tests being done. Again I was told that my blood did not show the expected results, but to continue with Prednisolone,gradually cutting it done. At my hospital visit in August'08 I mentioned I was getting some pain in my buttocks and was told it could not be polymyalgia and must be something else. Continued to cut dosage of prednisolone to 4mgs but pain in buttocks has worsened, so have increased to 6mgs without any improvement. Am now waiting more advice from doctor.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	It started with what I thought was 'flu. According the the doctor it was a 'virus'. I started to get a pain across my back, just under the shoulderblades. In my doctors surgery there is a piece of wood behind the seats on the wall and I really thought that because I seemed to be spending so much time there that the pressure of this piece of wood was causing the pain!! It travelled down to my legs and was so bad that I had to drag myself up the stairs and come down one step at a time. I couldn't get out of the chair without feeling intense pain. I couldn't turn over when I was in bed without great pain and the same pain when trying to get in and out of bed.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = Under 50 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	started with difficulty lifting my arms above my head in Oct. of 2006 (age 32) has since progressed to stiffness in neck, hip pain and stiffness, sore wrist, hands, certain fingers and a swollen stiff knee by Dec. of 2008. My friend found Diagnosis on Mayo Clinic Website in January of 2009. The Rheumy still won't consider PMR as a diagnosis because of my young age.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	My symptoms started in August of 2008 with the inability to use my right foot to push down on my pedal for my typing. I do medical transcription at home.. My right hip and back were also hurting.. I thought I had sciatica. When it progressed to me having to rig up something to keep my foot in a certain position then I knew something was wrong. I then had to lift my leg up to get in and out of the car, shower, etc.. Putting on my clothes became difficult over time... The worse part was trying to get up and down off of the toilet and up and down out of chairs or the couch... I started to use a cane to help also.. I thought this was all in my head but I finally went to the doctor sometime in September of 2008. She thought that I had RA but my RA factor came back okay. When I continued to hurt she checked my sed rate, which has been 43, 48 and 60. The next time she checked my CRP, which was 42.2 and 50.8 at different times.. On one of those visits she checked my Parvovirus B19 human, which came back positive. She still thought that I had RA.. and that the parvovirus thing could resemble RA. She placed me on a short course of Prednisone, which was like a miracle drug... In the meantime I was waiting to get into the Rheumatologist... I saw the Rheumatologist on 10/31/08 and was DX with PMR immediately. I have been on Prednisone since 11/1/08. We have been tapering down and now I am on 7.5mg per day...My sed rate has gone down to normal at last blood work. She thinks this is going to take at least one year.. I don't feel as good as I did on the 7.5mg of Prednisone than I did when I was on the 10mg but she said the dosing is all up to me and to listen to my body. I had only gained 2 pounds on my second visit with the Rheumatologist but now that is changing.. I am eating like a horse and trying not to.. I am suppose to be exercising but I poop out so quickly.. I sleep a lot during the day or at least try to rest.. I can only do a few things at a time until my hips start to hurt really bad. Right now as I type this it is my hips that hurt.. Everything else feels pretty good but then you never now what will start up hurting again and when.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	experienced symptoms for many yrs - didn't complain enough to get anyone's attention [md]. figured out the disease myself and told my md what I had. I went to the md when the pain was interferring with my life on a daily basis
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Aug 2006 felt unwell, Sept felt worse, flu symtpoms, cold, hot, tired. Care team came is as I woke one moring and could not lift arms off my chest.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Records of ESR and CRP are with my Drs. Neck and shoulders, upper arms, thighs, hips and lots of headaches.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I do not know that figures for ESR. The result came back only last week. CPR still has to be done
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Went to doctors with sore throat prescribed penicilin. Feet and hands swelled so taken off penicilin and put on antibiotics. Then upper arms and thighs became extremely painful, more so on the right side of body.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I'm unable to answer a couple of the above questions - not only do I not know the answers, but I don't understand the questions either.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Symptoms appeared probably over 6 months - tiredness, stiffness, back ache. depression, just not feeling well
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Thought symptoms were a result of heavy exercise- then I realised I was unable to bend down. The became more difficult to get out of bed in the am or even out of a chair.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Incredible weakness in the small of my back & legs and due to this weakness I had a lot of problems walking. Neck was ever so sore.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = Under 50 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	40 years old. NO previous symptoms like it ever.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	it began with pains in my upper back and then affected my kneck and shoulders. I eventally sought a diagnosis from my gp because my mother aged 78 had been diagnosed 6months earlier and the symptoms seemed the same . I was initiially told that I was too young. After being unable to turn over in bed, crying with hip pain as i climbed the stairs and trips to a chiropractor who felt that my symptoms were more medical than phisical and an ESR test of over 80 i was diagnosed.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	came on suddenly and increased over the next week when i visited my gp. a trainie doctor spotted the condition straight away, and treatment of steroids commenced.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Originally (a few months) only pain in the neck when turning the head. Later I had fever (to 39 centigrade) and sweating every evening and night and a sensitive scalp. Stiffness in the shoulders, arms and thighs followed.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I had very tender back muscles and felt like I needed to be stretched "on a rack" for a couple of years beforehand
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	My symptoms started with flu type aching then progressed to chest pain when sneezing. Then pain in shoulder area and in the occipital region. No aches in legs or hips.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	It started with slight pain in shoulders and hips. Over a couple of months, the pain grew worse, and my thighs and knees became stiff, and painful. It was difficult to stand up and walk. If I squat down, I could not get back up. My shoulders became stiff and sore, and I had difficulty lifting my arms above my head. My neck hurt. My Dr. appt. was about 3 months after my initial slight shoulder and hip pain. My Dr. referred me to a Rheum. and he did not think it was PMR. So the pain and stffness grew worse and worse. My Dr. put me on Diclofenac and Lyrica. My knees became so painful that I cannot kneel down anymore. My recent sed rate was shown to be 123. I think that the Rheum. believes it now. The Diclofenac seemed to cause the pain to be worse at night, not in the morning.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	Began with hip pain and stiffness, blamed it on my age and just carried on. It slowly subsided, but then the headaches started. Waited three more months before seeing the doctor as had never heard of PMR or GCA and didn't know the risk for blindness.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	In early February 2009 I had sudden onset of Temporal Arteritis accompanied with flu-like symptoms and fatigue. Six days later PMR pain in my hips and shoulders began.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Had surgery on knee to repair torn meniscus, pain started the next day.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I was having physiotherapy for pain in my knee & hip which was thought to be the result of an old injury. After some weeks I started to have pain in the buttock and thigh of one leg, then after a while the other and also developed stiffness and lower back pain. From one day to the next the pain started in my shoulders, neck and upper arms. At that point it was obvious something else was going on, especially as by this time I felt unwell, like I was going down with 'flu, was exhausted and not coping too well.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I've ticked the gradual progression as I originally visited my doctor with what were thought to be stressed induced problems following a very difficult, stressful period in my life coupled with a lot of physical activity. I had physiotheraphy and was also advised to have massages and take up yoga. This was followed by my returning to my parents' for a period of five weeks following my mother having a heart attack which was followed by quadruple heart surgery. By which time I was in a lot of pain most days but there was always other people to look after and no time to go to visit their local G.P. It wasn't until I returned to our flat in Hong Kong which I'd left 7 weeks earlier that I realised how seriously my freedom of movement had deteriorted and I was no longer to reach into cupboards or put away clothing which I'd been able to do so when I left. Fortunately I have a wonderful G.P in Hong Kong who realised that I was now talking about different symptoms-although to me they still seemed to be the same pains, and she tested me for PMR.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	The pain started with a stiff neck which spread all over the body in the next 3 months then told i had pmr.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	For 12 months had severe pain in head when coughing or laughing also blurred vision in right eye. Referred to ENT specialist. Steroid nasal drops gave no relief.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Had flu like symptoms. Developed a rash on both legs with blisters that mirrored both legs. Could barely walk and had terrible stiff neck.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	My ESR rate was normal .the rheumatologist said there was a low presentage of people with normal sed rate I was started on 20mgs of prednisone I felt relieve almost immediately.I got off the prednisone twice in 3 years & had to go back on. Now the 3rd time around I am down to 2 mgs a day & feeling almost well
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	I believe that eye difficulties and pressure in head were first symptoms, although I had experienced a great deal of neck, shoulder, and hip trouble also. Was diagnosed with early macular degeneration, glaucoma, and retina problems, had retina surgery, which left one eylid very droopy. Surgeon who later repaired eyelid, suspected Temporal Arteritis.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Some symptoms when just turned 50 and following probable flu. pains in shoulders elbows hips and knees at night and unable to get out of bed or up from a chair. Normal ESR at the time so told diagnosis of Fibromyalgia presumed. Symptoms waxed and waned along with 4 attacks of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome until 53 years old when severe stiffness and arm and thigh pain ensued. In addition to night time stiffness unable to climb stairs, dress myself, had night sweats and felt exhausted. Took list of symptoms to GP and had another ESR which was 39. GP agreed likely PMR . On 20mg Prednisolone and within 24 hours was feeling the benefit. Now 6 days in and just a bit of residual pain in one shoulder and knee, can dress and climb stairs unaided, feeling better in myself.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = Under 50 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	i was not diagnosed with PMR until last october but have had pains which were thought to be osteoarthritis and relating to a fall which damaged my left knee since 2003. Before that have had pains in hands, neck, back 7 general aches all over body for at least 10 years.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	At the onset of the illness I was diagnosed with sciatica. After a traumatic time with a chiropractioner my symptoms gradually got worse over a period of 8 months until I started on steroids. Incidentally I have not been diagnosed with PMR by the consultant as he has said I am too young. Although both my doctor and I are convinced I have got PMR and that is why I have taken part in this survey.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = Under 50 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I woke up one morning with a terrible pain in my neck which i had for a few weeks before going to my GP, she told me i had pulled a muscle it could take 8 weeks to feel better. Within 2 weeks of first seeing her the pain first moved to my hips then my shoulders. In the mornings the pain was very bad, i would take ibuprofen first thing and thorough out the day and by lunch time things would feel a bit better but it would return in the evening after sitting down for any length of time. I returned to my GP she mentioned PMR sent me for a blood test and then phoned me 3 days later saying she thought it could be PMR and put me on 30mg pred immediately. I had an appointment to see her a week later, she told me i had all the symptoms of PMR and the ESR was raised but she was not convinced as i was only 47 and it was people of 70 that got it. While waiting to see a rheumatologist my GP told me to reduce the Pred from 30mg to 20mg in 1 week, from 20mg to 15mg in the next week, 15mg to 10mg in 2 weeks, then 10mg for 4 weeks and then review it. I went back to the GP once during this time because i was in so much pain, she told me to stay on 15mg a week longer and basically ignore the pain and have a paracetamol. By the time i saw the rheumatologist i was in a lot of pain and having horrendous headaches. After an examination and lots of questions he said there was no doubt that it was PMR and put the pred back up to 15mg. The dose is being tapered by 2.5mg and i should be on 7.5mg when i go back to see him in Dec which will have been 3 months . The pain and discomfort i was in was due to the pred being tapered too quickly. My symptoms have improved enormously, some days a very good and some are quite bad but it helps knowing there are going to be good days after the bad.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Don't know my CRP level and not sure I'm accurate about ESR, but the doctor said my time-of-diagnosis blood tests showed typical much-elevated levels of both. Onset was a little confused with a groin-pull injury, but from start to full disability was just a couple of weeks. I live in Seattle, WA, USA. Onset was September 2009, diagnosis early October. Entering into acupuncture and Chinese medicine treatment to see if I can get better faster.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = Under 50 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I have always felt that I have had "weak" joints and muscles, compared to other people, and that exercise that would not normally affect others, brought me pain in muscle and joints.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	It satarted as what I thought was toothache in right side of jaw and went to dentist,who couldn't find anything, but gave me antibiotics. I then had pain in my jaw and went to GP. He gave me anti inflamatory drugs which helped. The pain then moved across to the left hand side of my temple and eye. At this time the pain was bearable and I was functioning normally. About a month later they did a blood test and ESR was 90. They put me on 40mg Predesolone this was when every thing went mad the headaches became unbearable it was like it was all in my bones in the back of my head and ears. The eye pain was like needle pricks I was terrified. I saw a rheumotoligist, an omphalogist, and an neurologist they all stated they didn't have GCA but they could find nothing else. They decided a rapid reduction in the steroids but that didn't work, although the headaches improved a little when they reduced them, I have never gone back up to 40mg, but I was up and down like a yo yo. 3 months later they did a biopsy and and confirmed GCA that was 9 months ago. since then I have been up and down between 30mg steroid and 20mg. The last 4months my ESR has been stable at 8, and CRP is 1, however if the steroids go down below 20mg the headaches return. They can't understand this neither can I. Also, I don't understand why the headaches got so bad when starting the Predesolone.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I think on looking back, the first symptom may have been severe dry skin on mainly my left leg,I think this may be relevant as the pain I still have is mainly on my left arm .The first pain was carpal tunnel then stiff legs then buttocks,being a builder at the age of 53 it was a struggle so i had to give up work.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Had oddball aches and migratory pain for 6 months, then some severe stresses (deaths in family) and then overnight I COULD NOT MOVE.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Was initially diagnosed with a virus and given no treatment, on attending the GP surgery again and having blood tests, I was then told I was likely to be suffering from TB, I was then given a diagnosis of sinusitis, myringitis, bronchitis and acute upper respiratory tract infection (by the Infectious Diseaes Unit). I then went on to go into kidney failure, in response to Augmentin, was diagnosed with acute kidney injury following a kidney biopsy, told I had vasculitis, with lupus anticoagulant in my blood, put onto steroids and after six months or so the Renal Consultant referred me on to Rheumatology. I went to Rheumatology in March this year (10 months after my initial presentation) and am taking Prednisolone and Methotrexate.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	felt like coming down with a flu. the ff day I had a hard time getting up ,my back hurts and then some discomfort on my chest.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I had a very bad chest infection a few weeks later developed pains in shoulders and neck as suck with neck was not to worried went to osteopath did not help pain then moved to the tops of my legs though I had strained myself. Pain in neck and shoulders was unbearable started taking diclofenic. went to the doctors with my legs as they were getting worse. Did X rays and blood test slightly raised ESR by this time the pain was in my hips and I was not sleeping and feeling in pain all over and felt depressed, was also getting worried as to what was wrong with me. All this time taking diclofenic which then upset my tummy. Within a couple of days of stopping diclofenic I was in agony could barely move and the pain in my neck and shoulders. Made an emergency appt at doctors who fortunately diagnose PMR and put me on 20 mg of steroid. Within 24 hours felt a heaps better that was 20 months ago. I am now on 5mg have been up and down 7.5 then 5 back up to 7.5. Had problems with steroids panic attacks weight has not been too bad. Have managed with steroids to live a near normal life, but like others have to pace myself. My family dont really understand as I look well. I do get very tires but I try to do the same as before PMR and do find it difficult. Am going to cut my work down to 3 days which hopefully should help.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I suffered serious pain & fever for two days in May 2009 and was left with pain and stiffness in right shoulder. After little or no problem for 3 months I woke up one morning to find I couldn't turn over in bed or indeed, get out of bed.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	started in hips then neck arms and then back. Also prior to diagnosis had heart pain and troponin showed in blood but no abnormal ecg. had angiogram and arteries were pristine !! Was this more to do with pmr than an actual heart attack/episode !!
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	not sure of my esr or crp at time very tired at begining very painfull had to roll out of bed so painfull could not bend to pick things of the floor depressed i worked in retail so had to give up could not stand too long or lift very much . before it came on i had what the doctor thought was viras or yuppy flu .a few months later it started at first thought it was athritis or old age .
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I already suffer with Ulcerative Colitiis (another auto-immune disorder which was diagnosed 18 months ago) and I started suffering muscle and joint pain and stiffness in neck, shoulders, elbows, upper arms, hands, knees hip/thigh areas. The symptoms gradually increased in severity. I visited my GP as the pain was becoming unbearable and she took a blood test for Sed Rate and CRP. My Sed Rate came back at 133 and my CRP was 56, confirming the suspected diagnosis of PMR. Started immediately on 30mg Prednisolone for 4 days which gave immediate relief but also caused terrible palpitations and increased anxiety. The dose was lowered to 25mg and then 20mg all within one week. Currently experiencing increased pain at 20mg and seeing GP for review this week.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	my syptoms came firstly in my legs and hips and legs , I thought it was arthritis , when I told my GP the symptons he tested me for PMR the test was negative. Three months later I had pain and stiffness in both shoulder that wore off throughout the day,the symptoms became so that i coild not hardly move needed help to get out of bed shower and dress and panic was setting in. At this point I went to the internet and looked at all the syptoms of PMR returned to my GP and explained the total imobility and pain this was causing. Althought my test was negative he prescribed me streroids with worked quickly.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I have had PMR for 2 yrs. for this period I have been on 15 mg of prednislone per day and have been unable to reduce the dose. I am now also taking 15mg of methtrexate a week. I am about to increase my methotrexate to 20 mg per week and reduce the prednisilone to 10mg per day.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	over two weeks stiff neck / headaches
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Onset over several weeks starting with pain below the coller bone and spreading to neck shoulders and arms then finally legs some weeks later.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Prior to PMR, i was very active and training to be personal fitness trainer. I simply woke up one morning and was a struggle just to roll over in bed let alone get up and move. I have this now for almost 3 years, up and down on preds. Currently taking 5mg daily, lowest i have been on is 3mg. I now take savella and a muscle relaxer which seems to be helping. I do take preds at night, i can cope better if i can move better in am and soreness setting in during evening hours, i take meds, go to bed very sore, and wake up feeling much better. Heat and warmth seems to really help along with my hot tub. Really ready for this disease to go away.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	It started in my lower back - assumed it was a strain or sacroilliac joint from doing a lot of exercise. Then progressed to neck and shoulder and then to thigh muscles - it was difficult to sleep as I couldn't turn over in bed. Get out of the car go up and down stairs, bend down. I just felt generally tired.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Unanswered	I have had PMR forabout 12 Years. I have been taking Prednisolone. I was on 3mg daily. I developed Microscopic Colitis last year and was put on Budesonide. It was suggested I stop Prednisolone as I was taking 3ms of Budesonide. The symptoms of Pmr returned with a vengence. I am awaiting advice fron the Ruematologist.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	It started in my lower back on the right side then steadily progressed to shoulders and neck sternum and thighs and groin pain. Tried every possible treatment as apparently my blood tests were clear? Eventually, went to see another doctor in the practice as the one I had consulted was retiring and I was extremely upset so he did all the blood tests again and my ESR level was 75 so was immediately diagnosed with PMR.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I was being treated for tendinitis and bursitis in my RT-shoulder rotator cuff. I hurt my shoulder lifting my invalid Mom (who just passed away 2 months ago... cause of stress). I was getting physical therapy for my shoulder and noticed some hip pain when getting in - and out of my car. Then my left shoulder started feeling like I had tendinitis there too. One morning I had trouble getting out of bed. My quads, glutes, hamstrings, really hurt. One morning was so bad that I could hardly turn on the faucet to brush my teeth. Bicep muscles hurt too. After searching the internet, I thought I was suffering from a rare side-effect of muscle pain from taking Lipitor. I stopped Lipitor, call my MD - who ordered blood test of Adolase and CK (both were normal). I then went to a Rheumatologist who did a pelvic X-ray (normal), and blood test for ESR and CRP1 (85 and 6.5 ). Dr put me on 10mg pred in AM; 10mg PM. It's now been 10 days & feeling ok.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	Already diagnosed with RA for 10 years so assumed initially that it was a flare up of this. Suffered greatly for about 3 months before seeking help and was diagnosed with PMR, 3 months later CGA followed. CGA is more troublesome and I am now in the middle of my third flare which is not responding to treatment as it should. prednisolone now at 60mg, MTX 25 mg and still have some symptoms.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Probably developed over 2 months but as I also have MS (diagnosed 30 years ago but now mild) I put down the fatigue to MS. However it was when I found my shoulders so stiff and painful, then my knees and hip that I had to crawl to the DR.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Started in the cold wet summer of 2009 when stiffness started in buttocks and thighs when walking the dog in the evenings. Thought I was coming down with a cold but the pains got worse and my husband took over walking the dog in the evenings. Difficulty in getting to the bathroom during the night hours due to the pains which sometimes caused me to cry out. I have had osteoarthritis from my early twenties, particularly in my fingers and it was only when my GP sent me to a Rheumatologist in July 2009 with a particularly painful, swollen finger, that the PMR was diagnosed. I now know that I was fortunate in being diagnosed early with treatment starting immediately. (The finger was never treated however!) I had never heard of PMR and do not know anyone else with it. Now affecting left side of head and eyes.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	June 7th 2006.....after two visits to the GP for stiff neck, jaw claudication, headaches, general feeling of malaise..........I was sent for blood tests. The GP referred me to a Consultant where I was kept in Hospital for 24hrs and Diagnosed with GCA. Started on 40 mgms of Prednisolone. Drugs tapered according to ESR CRP. In August 2009 my blood results were "normal" and I was free for 6 weeks. The old symptoms reappeared and was advised to start the meds again. Today 31st March 2009 I take 7.5mgms Pred. and will have more bloods next week. Apparently my B/P is elevated and the GP said if the my B/P remains elevated I will have to start some form of beta Blocker ( which I do not wish to start)
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	It was both - started head and neck and progressed from there all overlungs badly affected
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Sept 2008 I had a bacteria which caused cellulites in my right leg from toes to above knee. Later this was called scalded skin syndrome. I was in hospital taking intravenous antibiotics when it was discovered I was anemic. This was due to bleeding in the esophagus which was caused by many years of taking anti inflammatory (diclofenic). I was immediately banned from taking diclofenic. This caused many aches and pains which were put down to arthritis. I was also diagnosed with sciatica and prescribed strong painkillers paracetamol 500 codeine 30 (these had little or no affect on my PMR. I was diagnosed with PMR (after being old I may have two frozen shoulders) in November 2009.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Sorry I don't have my CRP levels information available (can't remember it, either!)
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Just couldn't move into certain positions and ached everywhere OVERNITE
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Started in shoulders and neck and did not experience any hip/leg problems until months later
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Four years ago, I went through the menopause and gave up smoking. Two years ago I suffered a attenpted burglary and threats from tthe perpetraters who had done this- it was an extremely stressful time for me and followed a series of other stressful events in the few years prior to that ( death of father, re-location accros the country, change in job and ending of relationship. I became ill with flu like virus and my child hood asthma seemed to return. I gradually felt more and more tired. Eventually i was sent to hopsital for checks for pneumonia and discharegd in the same day saying there was pleuratic pain and a sloghtly enlarged heart. 1 month later I was unable to work due to extreme pain in my right side and upper arm and chest... i was never given one true diagnosis. Instead i was given diamorphone and co-codomal over 3 months and laid up with what seemed like extreme nerve pain, fatigue, breathlessness. I had a series of MRI scans on my spine and head, X rays of my chest, saw a variety of consultants incluidng : Neurologist who said i had re-current shingles caused by herpes simplex rather than herpes Zoster. I wa told i also had some disc generation in my neck and thoracic spine with perhaps a compressed nerve, but no real explanation for the what seemed like a 'sudden crash' in what had once been a very healthy mind and body. I was seen by a gastrologist who told me i had esophaguitus and a hiatus hernia. I saw and ENT specialist ( because my sinus were completely blocked and bloddy crusting was constantly there. The ENT specialist said i had silent reflux and didn't seem to take things that seriously at the time. It was the chest specialist who finally saw me and prescribed 2 weeks worth of steroids which eased the symptoms and meant i could walk further than accross my living room without getting out of breath. I had to give up my job and became very depressed and even suicidal . I had previously been an extremely active person( teaching aerobics, running, swimming up until this. I lost all motivation, but gradually with the help of my mother and gentle walks each day, i managed to get back a level of health to work again. This helped my confidence and things seemed to improve for a while. But within 3 weeks of starting work i suffered from a very bad cold and sinus problems. Over the next year i was back and forth to the doctors with a variety of infections: sinusitus, flu viruses every other month and each time i was prescriebd a variety of antibiotics and prednisone. I also suffered severe cystitus, developed varoucas on my foot ( something i had never suffered from in all the years i had been swimming. I found i was always tired and except for working had no life at all. I found it really hard to concentrate and focus on even the smallest of administrative tasks at work and despite having taught English prior to this, i found i was finding writing and drafting reports and emails very difficult, often muddling for hours to get th right wording. After about the 6th sinus infection/flu like virus since the beginning of the year, my upper arms and shoulders started to ache terribkly and I found my upper legs seemed stiff . I couldn't get up from the chair and walk accross the office. My head started to feel really foggy, my speech seemed to be slowing down and i had terrible problems breathing through my nopse. In fact i could hadly breath at all, there seemed to be growths in my nose blocking the passages. I had to move in with my mother in order to continue to work as i was so tired i couldnt cope with cooking, washing and ironing on top of working. I had lost my sense of smell completely and couldn't get in and out of bed very easily. Even turning over in bed was really difficult and my head ( particularly on one side) was really tender. i was having regular nose bleeds too and a terrible smell/taste inside my nose of ammonia. I was referred to an ENT specialist who for the second time on the advice of my chest specialist and was admitted to hopsital for surgery to remove multiple polyps from my nose and the sinus cavaties. Within one week of the surgey i had my sense of smell back, i could breath easy, but soon after the aches returned in my upper legs, buttocks, shoulders and head. My scalp was so tender i couldn't bear to touvh my hair even and now i couldn't get out of the chair, bed turn over in bed, or get in and out of the bath. My brain felt foggy, i was so exhausted mentally i couldn't remember or focus on anything. My jaw was aching on the right side and my knees had swelled up with my upper thights looking unrecognisable as they had seemed to grow old overnight. If i got up from sitting or laying after several seconds my ehad would throb, i could feel a pounding pulse in it,. severe pain, and really dizzy for a few seconds and then it would pass. I went to the optiocian to see if my head ache was to do with my eyes... it was she who told me i should go to my GP urgently as i may have GCA. I hadn't heard of this condition but as she had said it was a potentially dangerous condition in terms of vision, i took her advice and went to see my GP. My GP immediately carried out blood tests and within 24 hours reported them back to me saying he suspected PMR. He started me on 30mg prednisone per day and because of my age he referred me to the local rheumatologist and i was seen within 4 weeks. The rheumatologist took another x ray of my chest, various examinations and bloods and then increased the dose of steroids to 60 mg per day for one week only and then back down to 30mg a day for two weeks at which point i am to see them again ( next Friday). How have i felt as a result? Well on the 30mg a day i found some improvement within 24 hours and within a week the aches were less severe, i could get out of bed easier and although still foggy not quite so tired. But the stiffness hadn't gone completely and my head was still so tender.Once the rheumatologist upped the level to 60mg a day, i felt better and after 3 dfays at 60mg i felt better than i had for years: The pain had gone from my ehad, the foggy feeling had cleared, i felt uplifted, my mood jhad lifted and i was smiling and looking forward to each day, I could turn over in bed, walk faster, breath better, focus more at work, the change was remarkable and i realised just how unwell i had been for such a long time. I had normalised the tiredness etc for far longer than i could remember and the steroids gave me a reminder of what life had beenbefore. As the rheumatologist prescribed- i went back to 30mg after one week and within a few days didn't feel quite so good, although not as bad as before treatment. There was no tenderness in my scalp, but the heasdaches came back ( although not so severe) in teh side of my head and i found i became foggy andless focused as the day progressed at work and as i got tired). My speech began to slow again and i got some words muddled, but no where near as bad as before the treatment. I am currently on 30mg a day until i see the rheumatologist again next Friday and then they will decide what the long term treatment plan will be. I can tell you it is a real relief to finally having a diagnosis. At times i have felt i was imagining the symptoms and yet couldn't undertand why i was getting so many infections and no one around me was.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Always seen as a person with a strong, outgoing funloving personality......ready to take on a challenge. Returned to U.K in September after spending 4years on and off renovating a small property in Portugal....this was to either sell or keep for retirement .A project. I suffered 3or 4 bouts of shingles whilst there particularly when under severe stress. Having previously experienced shingles in the U.K I knew when to spot the tell tale signs, aches & pains in legs & lower back accompanied by feelings of depression & tearfulness.Taking the expensive "aciclovir" a weeks dose of tabs within 24hours of symptons, I was able to zap the virus.The "pox" pustular always inthe same place, base of spine. After discussions with my family (father ex Military & a Bully, only daughter 3 brothers.... I am the blacksheep!) in July o9 . It was planned that I would stay with my parents for a couple of months,find some work to enable me to finish project & return to Portugal. I am single & afriend was to accompany me back to the U.K in my Demountable campervan. I ended up driving back on my own & parents didnot want me to stay. My feelings of rejection coupled with exhaustion took me off my own usually strong Richter Scale. Feeling totally alone and helpless on a campsite in Sussex contemplated suicide......I awoke on 2nd day to awful pains in left shoulder, assuming this to be stress of jouney taking its toll.With support of friends got myself off campsite (late Sept, early Oct) & was allowed into parental home to house-sit whilst they were away on a three week cruise!!!! During this time the pain worsened. From shoulder into neck & I became further depressed.Made an appointment to see a Dr.(Sadly, my usual and well experienced Dr. had recently left the Practice...she knew that if I ever paid her a visit, it was because I really wasn't well !) I was diagnosed with Frozen shoulder, appointment would be made for injections into shoulder and x-ray taken, followed by physio. 17th Dec. 2 cortisone injections given. nothing. Taking 8 paracetimol per day for pain.Allergic to co-codemol etc. Jan2010 appt. with Physio, usual arm capability movements, I ended up in tears due to pain! Next Appt. a week later, pain excruciating and explained that I felt I had been Thrown Around A Room by my arm. Aching all over & having difficulty with walking. She looked at my X-ray and noted that calcium deposits were seen. From then on I was diagnosed with Supraspinatus Tendonitis.I visited my (young) Dr.and ASKED to see an Orthopaedic consultant , meanwhile I was to continue with physio. (12thFeb) On 14th Feb my left arm above elbow swelled & I also had a Pile ! Concerned I saw my Dr. yet again, who suggested I had another blood test. . Meanwhile I have not slept in months now due to PAIN. On the 5th March I rested most of the day because I could hardly move. (incidentally, I moved out of my parents home on 17th Nov '09 to House-sit for a brother, who travels alot and I am still here) Keeping a diary helps! I am feeling really rough, all joints, particularly spine & legs around crotch area. Tried taking Aloe-Vera Gel. 9th March appt. with Dr.reveals High Inflammatory levels in blood. She says I'm a complex case and may be suffering for Polymyalgia Rhumatica but wasn't sure, more tests would be needed. I explained it was taking me about 1-11/2 hours in the morning to get dressed!!.On 12th March I am called to the surgery by my Dr.who now confirms it is PMR & I will feel truly wonderful once I take THE TABLETS. I was prescribed 20mg of Prednisolone which I took infront of the pharmacist .The following afternoon I was virtually painfree and almost on a high. I had another follow up appt.on 17th whereby I was prescribed more Pred. and to continue the dosage for a month, Iwas also prescribed Alendronic Acid (which I haven't touched, as I felt it to be another step too far with possible additional unwanted consequences) calcium +D. I haven't had a bone density test ! I saw the Ortho. Consultant on 22nd March , and have had soft tissue scans to left shoulder and have another appt. to see him again on 7th June, when Iam to undergo some clinical tests of local anaesthetic into my left shoulder to check whether surgical treatment is going to be of any benefit to me.Meanwhile I have stopped Physio & my Dr. has lowered my dose of Pred.to 10mg. This was to take effect from 12th May, but like yourself prefered to listen to my body..... had had a few stressful days prior to this and continued my 20mg for a further 2 days. Iam now on 10mg. and have some pain. Tops of arms (both) feel as though someone has given me a "Chinese Burn!" Legs ,Lower pelvic joints are still stiff & sore. Thighs feeling tight. Face,mooney, Weight gain, stone. Awful hot flushes & feeling fatigued. Had dental implants a year or so ago and now appear to have perpetual tooth ache. Apart from this I'm fine. I really believe my autogenic System simply bombed out. Keep up the good work, as this thing is Terrible. No plasters to show how we are feeling. My father keeps asking me if I have found a job yet !
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = Under 50 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	in the beginning. i had difficulty taking shower, raising my right hand, then b/l arms, hands weakness, severe pain , generalized fatigue, after going to neurologist. rheumatologist they didn't find any abnormal labs result. they put me on all kind of fibromyalgia medication ,but no help , when i saw my orthopedic md he ordered esr, crp and it was first time elevated; then i went to my rheumatologist she repeat the tests again ,then the pmr dx was made then the severe stiffness all over ,difficulty writting ,driving. going down and upstairs.unilateral headache, i felt i am paralyzed with severe spasm and rigidity
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I have always been very physically active, doing yoga, aerobics etc but this condition crept up on me when my lovely husband suddenly took ill and it was discovered that he had lung cancer (he was a none smoker). It was only five weeks after diagnosis to his death. From then I just became stiffer and in more pain. I couldn't turn over in bed and that was what sent me to the doctor. I have an excellent GP who immediately did blood tests and told me it seemed like PMR. He has put me on 15mg Prednilisone I have only been on it for three days but feel as though someone has waved a magic wand over me. I am scared of the possible side effects but can see no other way of being able to live a good quality of life
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	After 5 days of intense flu-like symptoms, I went to the ER. After many tests the ER doctor diagnosed ? of GCA. Living in a rural area, I opted to have temporal biopsies at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, 2 hours away. The ER doctor prescribed 60 mg. of Prednisone. My biopsies, done 2 weeks and one month later were neg. However, the Rheumatologist dx. GCA. My bloodwork also showed markers for SLE. I am now down to 3 mg. of Prednisone and 400 mg.of Plaquenil. I also believe that I have PMR also. The day I came down with GCA I also experienced extreme pain and stiffness in my lower back and hips area. Since I have an on-going back problem (I had a laminectomy/fusion L4-L5 in 2005 with mixed results), they didn't think this was the result of PMR. I know the pain was different. I am now in pain all day particularly in my neck, shoulder area as well as lower back.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	I say sudden because of the time that caused me to go to emergency doctor. But I had already over many months had severe random shooting pains which may have been the start of GCA. THIS SURVEY IS BEING COMPLETED WITH REGARD TO GCA AND NOT PYLOMYLGIA R.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	My GP treated me for bursitis in hips and shoulders, beginning in Jan. 10. By March I could not get out of bed until noon and could barely walk by 3pm. Finally was able to see Rheum. and was sed was 97 and he put me on 15 mg. of pred in the am. I have been on pred now 2 months and I can walk and do my normal activities. Lots of pain and stiffness still exist in upper arms. He is watching closely for gca, as my veins in my temples are visible and some dull pain., no bad headache so far. I was so shocked at this happening, I was very active, golf was my game, but not now...I have to rest, am still loosing weight, I marked wrong weight above, weight was gained due to cortisone shots in shoulders, 12 lbs. I have lost 14 lbs. I am thankful for pred. as I could not even pull the cover up, or turn over in bed. what a blessing to be able to move.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Started in Rt shoulder and Ortho surgeon diagnosed me with bursitis and tendinitis. After it spread to Lt shoulder and hip area, I went to see a rheumatologist - who diag me with PMR. That was March, 2010.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Started with discomfort between shoulder blades. This continued as the only symptom for three months. Then after two reasonably strenuous hill walks (separated by about two weeks) pain and stiffness around the thighs started making it difficult putting socks and shoes on and getting in and out of the car. Very soon after this I began to experience severe pain in the upper arms and shoulders.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I had a nasty fall that disrupted my well being for several weeks. I also had a CT scan due to the fall. I also work near a radio broadcast tower.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = Under 50 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	terrible low back pain, buttocks, arms, shoulders
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = Under 50 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	had nasty virus for 3 days had general neck and spine pain but over the next 2 weeks developed burning pain in all muscles shoulders neck and upper back
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	My symptoms came on 10 days after I started taking Crestor 10mg.Woke up with hands and feet tingling and pain in shoulder, within days pain had spread to both shoulders and hips. I am convinced that the Crestor was a factor but my doctors will not believe me and say it was a coincidence. Three years previously I was prescribed simvastatin 20 mg and had muscle pain and also developed rosacea. This too was apparently a coincidence. I will never take statins again but will have a battle on my hands with the doctors, Im sure.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	It began with some stiffness in my thighs, also some pain, I worried about arthrosis in the hips. Then I started to feel pain in shoulders and forearms, especially at night the pain would be very disturbing so I did not get much sleep. Started to take Voltaren 50 mg twice daily, it helped but not at night and not against the stiffness in the mornings. The doctor did not think it was PMR because of my relatively low ESR and CRP. Then it became impossible to SIT for longer than 15 minutes, because then I would get pains in my buttocks and legs. And I could not take walks longer than 15 minutes either, because then my right shoulder would start to ache. And I could not lift my right arm to shoulder-height. I also developed neck stiffness and pain and I had difficulty dressing myself, cooking, cleaning, going anywhere... So after three months I was most of the time lying down with cushions under my arms feeling sorry for myself. I had to cancel all planned activities and trips. The steroid treatment started after four months. I felt a lot better the next day and now, after six weeks, all my symptoms are gone and I can do all the things I used to do again.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	right hip then both hips then thigh soft tissue then shoulders
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	Started in left knee which became swollen and sore when walking. Since I had knee surgery on this knee in the past (cartilage problems) thought it was possibly osteoarthritis and physiotherapy prescribed. Gradually got worse and worse and then stiffness (bilateral) in other joints (shoulders, hips) developed and knee became excrusciatingly painful. Typical PMR symptoms then and my doctor made a diagnosis of PMR which was confirmed by blood tests at which point she prescribed prednisolone.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	doctor has diagnosed pmr and prescibed 15mg steroid tablets but as i am not responding too well has referred me to a rheumatologist in three weeks time. I have really bad pain in neck shoulders arms wrists thumbs,& backs of thighs. I have also had spinal surgery for discs and have osteoarthritis in knees, so it is a bit hard to diagnose. reading all your comments i do feel i have pmr. i take the steroids in the morning and by the late afternoon /evening i feel slightly better, although today is a very bad day. I have a very bad headache my eyes feel slightly blurry, and i feel very depressed. As you all say no one seem to understand how you feel as yesterday i felt much brighter.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Have had osteoarthritis in right hip for approx 5 years.Took glucosamine with chondroitin with measurable improvement during all of this period. In March this year thought stiffness and pain in hip and thigh associated with this, then in April knees prevented me fom crouching and getting out of bath painful. In early June suddenly over 2 or 3 days rest of body also stiff and painful, described arm muscles as having taken part in marathon tug of war. GP suspected rheumatoid arthritis and carried out special blood tests which were negative but recommended seeing consultant rhematologist. He diagnosed PMR but puzzled by pain in hands, wrists. feet and ankles. Prescribed Prednisolone and shoulders and hips improved during 4 or 5 days but hands , wrists, feet , ankles and knees show very little improvement after 3 to 4 months.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Went from swimming 2km a day, four days a week for past 10 years ...to few days off at a time. Condition worsened. Gave swimming away to rest muscles (pre-diagnosis) and condition became debilitating.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	A year before had carpal tunnel, shoulder and thigh pain which cleared up. Then PMR started this winter in neck area followed soon after in shoulders and pelvic girdle .
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Stiffness in hips, become very painful and stiff in the hips, then spreading to shoulders at which time I visited doctor who immediately diagnosed PMR after test on prednisilone. Diagnosis confirmed by rheumatologist
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	I may have not know what was wrong with me for a long time. I had general fatique, soreness in my legs and back issues for a long time in my 40's. Doctor's dismissed it as "lack of exerise". Gallbaddler came out in Jan, 2009. Three months later I had all classic symptoms of RA. Rheummy put me on prednisone 5mg "maintenance dose" as they called it. On that for over a year, good day, bad days. After feelings of getting nowhere with Rheummy I was seeing...time for a change. New Rheummy ran baseline bloodtests and needed to start "from beginning". After starting to ween off prednisone (getting down the 3mg) symptoms came back full force but different than the RA symptoms. Bumping back up the alt days of 4mg and 5mg. New symptoms, temple pain and jaw ache when chewing. Had Temporal Artery Biopsy yesterday and waiting test results.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	GCA began with a severe headache unlike any headache I had ever had. I had problems with my vision for the first year after diagnosis. The PMR was incapacitating with pain in large joints. I developed severe Raynaud's symptoms, secondary Raynaud's.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I also have hypothyroid, partial thyroidectomy, addisons disease, diabetes on insulin, also fybromyalgia and spondloarthropathy
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Symptoms started in my hips - for instance difficulty getting out of chairs. They then progressed very rapidly over a period of 2-3 weeks to a level where I could not dress myself without help or raise my arms above shoulder height. I also experienced some weight loss and fatigue. My GP initially suggested osteoarthritis in the lower back, but then after the symptoms had worsened I was tested for PMR. At the time of testing my ESR was 106. I was put on a course of steroids (initially 20mg per day) which reduced the ESR within two months to 16. However I am still experiencing pain in my hands and arms every morning which tends to ease a little as the day goes on. My doctor is not clear whether this is caused by the PMR itself or as a result of lowering the dose of steroids.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = Under 50 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	The first occurance happened 3 1/2 years ago and I came of steroids 3 weeks ago only to find that it flared up again. I am now back on the steroids!!
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I have had MS for 35 years albeit benign prior to diagnosis of PMR. Although the onset was quite rapid and progressive over a period of a month, I recognize that I had been having mild symptoms for over a year. I paid little attention to them as I accept various problems with gain, stiffness or pain as part of MS.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I was on prednisone for 18 months and successfully tapered off from 20 mg to 0 mg. Had a knee replacement 1 month later. Did well for 6 months and then the symptoms of PMR returned. Had extreme weight loss of 40 pounds(185-145 lbs). Started on 10 mg of prednisone yesterday. Feeling better already. The symptoms in my relapse are similar and different. In my relapse, I had most of the classic symptoms(not as intense but still awful). In addition, I had terrible pain in my right thumb joint. My Dr. does not think the thumb pain is related to the PMR but it has already improved significantly with 2 doses of prednisone.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Initially pain in right hip and groin. Thought it was a muscle strain. Increasing lowerback pain and stiffness put down to too much sitting about resting leg. Problems getting in and out a car. Eventually after about 3-4 weeks quite suddenly could not turn over in bed, straighten legs at the knee, go up or down steps and shoulder and upper arms were affected to such an extent that I could not dress myself or brush teeth or hair. My appetite was affected and I lost half a stone over a week. I could not sleep for the pain in my pelvis, legs and shoulder girdle.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	had underactive thyroid,and had to increase dose,doctor thought this was causing my problems,which was aching all over and capal syndrome ,which was making sleeping imposible,as was stopping my circulation.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	My symptoms began after a 2 day workfest cleaning out a fence row. I ached all over and then a couple of days later, the PMR started.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I had persistent hip pain for a couple years before waking up with "alligator fighting" soreness. This soreness didn't make any sense, I hadn't done anything physical that should have caused this. I diagnosed, MD confirmed high SED & ERP & prednisone efficacy coincided with PMR diag. Tapering off from 15mg to 5mg over months, a sudden bilateral shoulder soreness developed. My last appointment with the University Hospital, new doc says: "not PMR" get off prednisone, taper 1 mg a month. Tylenol, Ibuprofen for arthritis pain. $1,200.00 please" Waiting on xrays of shoulder. Raised not take medicine I was resistant to Tylenol, Ibuprofen. But they work better than anything else.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Developed over an eighteen month period, peaking six months before a diagnosis. Was referred to rheumatologist at this point even though my ESR was only 12.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Athough I have stated gradual there were two incidents prior to symptoms where, on rising during the night, my whole body was awful and I can remember saying to myself, "Nobody should feel this bad.' For about 2 months my physio was convinced that it was my iliopsoas muscle that was causing my problem. As it grad got worse I asked my GP for blood tests [she suspected pmr]
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	stiff neck,followed by some pain&stiffness in shoulders &upper arms.2 months later pain in thighs difficulty getting out of bed.GP prescribed 40 mg of pred.reducing by varying amounts over 5months to 10,now at 8.5 and finding it difficult to reduce further.Throughout it is neccessary to take co codamil morning and night as pain/stffness evident in shoulders and neck
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I was experiencing a major emotional crisis due to the death of my stepdaughter & my concern about my husband.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	The initail typical symptoms of PMR were accompanied by a urinary infection. As I did not respond to 15mg prednosilone as prescribed by GP this was tapered off and I was sent for consultation to rheumatologist for examination, he confirmed PMR and recommended 30mg which made me painfree.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I was on holiday and woke one morning with what I thought was a 'stiff neck' Later on that day I developed painful left hip and knee. Once home, I felt a bit better, that was on a Friday. By Monday morning I could hardly get out of bed but I crawled to the bathroom and got in a warm bath (thought I had flu), when I tried to turn over in the bath to go onto knees, the pain was excruiating and I fell foward and could nnot get out of the bath. After a few days, it did not get much better so managed to get dresed with help, get into car and down to GP
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I had been doing minor remodeling and repainting of our house (interior) for about two months, then had an extensive Wii golf tournament Thanksgiving evening (2010). I woke up next feeling pretty sore around shoulders then worse each successive morning until I was getting unable to do usual activities. I then went to my MD and got a pack of Medrol (short course of steroid, about 6 days). It was like a miracle with relief during first hours of first day on that med. Within two days of finishing the pack, I was back in same condition. MD gave me another pack before going to Vegas, but again, soon after finishing, the pain was back in full force. It was not until I was on a regular dose of Prednisone that I had sustained relief. As of today (3-15-11) I am at 9mg/day and after third day on this dose, had some trouble this a.m. so may have to resume 10mg and go slower. My current plan is 1mg/week decrement, but going from 10 to 9 already may be showing signs of moving too fast. Will see how today goes. Please note that it was about mid-January 2011 that I was actually diagnosed with PMR and did not start regular dosing of Prednisone until after that; so have been on the med for about 2 months now, going from 30/day down to current 9/day.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	symptons first started as paralysis in different areas diagnosed as frozen shoulder housemaids knee and the one in wrist
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	As I already had serious problems with my cervical and lumbar spine it was hard too know when it started. Looking back I would say the time period of the worsening of pain started ~ mid December 2008 My hips and legs muscles became sore (cramped alot at night) this progressed to not being able to use my legs to get out of tub. I became super sensitive to cold. The only way I could get warm was to take hot baths. It than went to my shoulders, neck and arms. I could not roll over in bed - My body felt fused together in the morning - I needed help to move. The stiffness would get a little better during the day. I could have not taken care of myself. This process took more than a month. When I finally went to my regular neurologist she knew it wasn't all from my spine and sent me to a Rheumatoligst. Feb 09 -He reconized it as PMR and put me on 20mg prednisone that day. 10mg in am 10mg in pm with food. My sed rate was 119. CRP 4.08, synovist wrirsts , swollen knees. It was amazing the how fast the pain went away. Unbelievable. From than to December 2010 I had a pretty unremarkable weaning of the prednisone. I got the sweats and the fat cheeks - upper and lower and fuzzy face and side burns. Fatigue at times. They decrease with the dose. Except I could not seem to get below 2mg. This has been a painfree experience for me as it also kept the inflamation from my spine. Both December 08 and 10th I had gone north to the cold ???? This January I returned south with edema one arm. Worse GERD I could not get rid of, soon I had bladder infection and in mid Februay 2011 I noticed I was getting headaches. Antibotics fixed the bladder infection and the GERD?? Headaches moved around head almost always unilateral. Felt at times like I had a helmet on Head sensitive to touch - Bad ringing in ears - one ear and mastoids involved, jaw claudication - no temporal pulse Ran to my Rheumy - March 4th -GCA put me on 60mg than. Its April 15 and I'm down to 35mg. I don't have and pain but I feel lousy alot. Some nights I only sleep 3 hours. get real hyper and even grouchy - hope this goes away
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Woke up one morning and thought I had a stiff neck but my hip hurt too. Within three days I hurt all over
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	No abnormal bloods , no raised esr or crp
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	The condition started with pain and stiffness in my thighs and hips. Similar discomfort to recovery from extreme exercise. These symptoms spread and moved into my lower back, shoulders, neck and upper arms, plus quite often sharp pain in the muscles and rib cage. The condition continues to evolve. My hips are now much looser and near pain free, but my knees now get stiff and painful, plus my upper arms are more painful than before. The condition eases in the late afternoon and evening. I'm generally in pretty good shape at 2 am which isn't the ideal time really. V puzzling condition!
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	At the same time I had a knee injury (torn miniscus) on right knee that had been previously reconstructed and had an arthroscope to fix it. Surgery as successful. Before start of steriod use for PMR there was severe swelling in this knee.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	breast cancer 2005. 2009.started with severe pain in head down left side, soreness of head ( could not stand it being touched) blurred vision, tender jaw that hurt and creaked when opened, loss of weight,thought it was caused by stress due to domestic circumstances, did not go to doctor until january2010.Joints in arms and legs very sore and muscles painful
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	Been "off colour" for approx 6 months, picking up throat, chest and urine infections easily, when used to be really healthy - but nothing awful, just thought getting older and not coping with full time work any more (57 hrs), so cut to part time. Had mild UTI, then quickly became very unwell with fever, severe chills/shaking, vomiting (overnight), following day started with intermittent severe, pulsating headache. Was on holiday in London, so put up with it for next day and returned home and saw GP (day 3 of symptoms). Got antibiotics for UTI, GP mentioned GCA, looked in eyes...but we decided to see if just infection. Very severe L head pain that night, back to GP in morning and commenced of 40 mg prednisolone, bloods also taken. Relief from symptoms within a few hours.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = Under 50 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Pain in Right hip,.. unable to turn over in bed in the night. Central back spasm on awakening.(Put up with this for a long time because I thought it was gas under my ribs from IBS) Increasingly hard to get up in the morning,this went on for at least 9 months....just felt like an old woman. Unable to recover on my day off ,..from a 12 hour shift the day before,...coming home feeling like id been 'hit by a bus'...ultimately just feeling really unwell, fluey...tired tearful depressed. Then i went to the GP..suggested that it might be fybromyalgia,.. on examnation GP said it could be PMR...took 20mg Pred Fri evening, stopped taking painkilers, had a further 20mg next morning,. with miraculous response.That was in Oct 2010, Dec 2010 got down to 10mgs but had to go back up to 12.5 when dad died..got right down to 5mgs by mid february... remained on this for 6 weeks, no problems but pain crept back and since then have steadily needed more,.. now on 8mgs.....and fed up!
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Summer of 2010 - Pain in right shoulder - Dr diagnosed as bursitis administered cortison injection Dec. 2010 - severe pain in right wrisand hand - cortison Jan. 2011 - general malaise and pain in shoulders referred to Rheumatologist who diagnosed arthritis and tendonitis - prescribed Garbentin100mg, Meloxicam 25mg, I refused Prednisone. April 2011 - prescribed Trazodone 50mg - Prednisone 15mg - had bad side effects from P. May 2011 - Meloxicam 25mg - discontinued Prednisone July 2011 - Prednisone 10mg for severe pain in hands, arms, shoulders, hips - Extra Strength Tylenol
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	In retrospect I suspect PMR was "grumbling away" at a sub clinical level for a few years prior to diagnosis. In the two months before diagnosis the symptoms were very much more acute.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	also had a bulging disc so medics were confused about my intensity of pain
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I HAD RECOVERED FROM A FLU VIRUS AND THIS WAS WHEN I EXPERIENCED THE ONSET OF PAIN WHICH GRADUALLY SPREAD UNTIL I WAS UNABLE TO GET MYSELF UP FROM MY BED, COULD NOT CLIMB THE STAIRS AND COULD NOT BEND DOWN OR REACH TO PUT MY ARMS UP ABOVE SHOULDER LEVEL. I BECAME VERY UNWELL RAPIDLY OVER A PERIOD OF A MONTH.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	My PMR started some 6 weeks before being diagnosed with a sore left hip this went to the right hip over the next few weeks i started have problem just getting into the bath and then problems started going into both of my arms with not much strength and then pain and stiffness moving into my neck. My lowest came one night (late) when i could not get up from the chair now strength in arms legs all joints painful. I trip to the hospital in the morning had a very long examination where i was informed by the doctor that i had a total of only 4% mobiltiy! Blood tests followed by then being prescribed Prednesone (20mg) followed by another blood test and then reduced to 15mg 2 weeks off work sick daily walking exercises and feelin so much better and still working.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = Under 50 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	Commenced June 2010 - intense pain hips Following week - intense pain hips and shoulders August 2010 - diagnosed GCA/PMR - prednisolone + methotrexate = relief in 24 hours from pain Neurological symptoms from outset: Confusion Significant memory impairment Impaired judgement Balance Coordination "Lost" time - most significant 4 hours of ???? Balance Coordination Continuous pins and needles left side of body Perception (eg. walk into post, miss door and hit doorframe) Speech problems (eg. stuttering, mispronouncing words) Can't spell Currently being investigated by neurologist and testing by neurpsychologist (results due in 2 weeks) ECC, MRI and CT Scan don't show anything To test if methotrexate causing above - ceased for 6 weeks June 24 (last does) 5 August (recommenced) - neurological symptoms remained same GP has tested for steroid induced metabolic derangement (eg. diabetes, etc) - nil; GP indicated not steroid induced psychosis From 5 August I commenced internet research - believe it is possible/probable GCA has resulted in claudication of arteries = reduced blood supply to brain = hypoxia = vascular dementia. Also possible that I have something "other" along with GCA/PMR with the diagnosis of GCA "clouding" the identification of. NB pain = 5 distinct types 1 = pain on movement 2 = ache (all the time) 3 = intermittent sharp stabbing pains anywhere in body (head to toes) 4 = burning pain (intermittent anywhere in body (head to toes) 5 = pain on touching (like there should be a bruise there but there isn't - most common under breast, ribs and back)
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	Pain in shoulders and upper arms for some months. Also pain in thighs, and difficulty in walking. "Muddy" feeling in legs and feet - felt as if they were encased in mud. Real problem started with severe headache located over my right eye. (I never suffer from headaches). My GP just gave me stronger and stronger pain killers. It was my oesteopath who diagnosed that the problems PMR and GCA when I went to her for relief of the pain in my neck and shoulders and my legs.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Had a really bad episode of influenza which made me take to my bed for quite a few days - very unusual for me! After a few months the following ocurred. First a year of headaches and feeling as though scalped, then back pain which was not relieved with ibuprofen -GP suggested this- then proceeded to neck and head feeling to heavy to hold up. Next sudden stiffness appeared and could not rise from chair or bed without great difficulty.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	My symptoms began two days after flu vaccination - there seems to be a pattern emerging from what I read on the Web.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Very virulent pain especially in morning and during night
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 80 or over Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Unanswered	Started during extrmemely busy year - was local councillor and, for one year from May 2009, mayor of my borough. By September 09 was aware of increasing tiredness but thought simply had been 'overdoing it'. By the end of the mayoral year I was exhausted, aching and stiff, to the point where I could brush my hair only by lowering my head to my lap and dressing was seriously difficult. Even turning over in bed became a task. I spent a couple of months mainly horizontal - cared for by relatives. First response to medication - in July 2010 - was miraculous - told my consultant a month later that I was 95% back to normal. Unfortunately, now less well than that - not much stiffness but weakness, exhaustion and breathlessness: walk to local shops fairly happily but return journey with modest bag of shopping is really hard work. Attempts to lower prednisolone below 10mg have not been satidfactory.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Stiffness and swelling in knees (difficulty lifting legs in/out of car, getting up off floor together with pain in knees whilst trying to sleep) commenced 2 weeks after receiving news of impending hysterectomy due to a pre-cancerous condition. I was very emotional at this time about losing my womb - I never once believed I had cancer. At pre-op assessment 2 weeks after first symptoms, I now had difficulty getting up from a chair - I needed to push myself up - and raised this with the surgeon as I was concerned how this could affect my post-op recovery (Not meant to lift anything heavy etc etc). He advised I saw my GP - who took a blood sample and confirmed raised inflammatary markers. Until biopsy results 2 weeks post op confirmed no cancer present, no action by GP. He now arranged an X Ray - (which was clear) and prescribed an anti inflammatery cream for my swollen knees (no use) and painkillers (also no use). Then put on waiting list for an MRI scan. By now walking was becoming difficult. As part of my post op recovery I was trying to exercise by walking - I'd managed 1.5 miles a week after the op but by week 3 post op I struggled to keep up with my 80 year old mother. By 4 weeks post op I couldn't move on waking - felt like I was paralysed !! Hobbled like an old lady (I'm 55), had to crawl up stairs and couldn't stand from sitting without using great exertion to push myself up with my arms. (Fortunately it only spread to my shoulders just before I started on steroids!!) Final straw - pulled my stitches due to the stress on stomach muscles - which bled - trying to sit up in bed. Finally put on prednisolone (20mg) 4 weeks after my operation - which was 8 weeks after initial symptoms began and 6 weeks after first visiting GP about my aching muscles. Within 2 hours I could move - heaven !!
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = Under 50 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	always hungry, snacking during the day and night - I really trying hard to put this into check. Now I am reducing the dose - all went well until I reach 10g a day now my hair is shredding and falling out
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	For many years I had many aches and pains and felt exhausted all the time. My neck shoulders and arms made me feel very miserable. I could not sleep because of the pain. I was seen on numerous occasions by the Orthopaedic doctor at my surgery or a specialist at the hospital, but none had diagnosed PMR. I had a history of back pain because of degeneration of the spine ( Osteoarthritis ) and also Cervical Spondolosis. By November 2010 I had lost 3/4 of a stone in weight and had a very severe bout of Cervical Spodolitis and felt very poorly. I went to a private Physio, because the one at my surgery could not see me and he said he thought I had PMR. He wrote to my doctor to say so. In the meantime I got an appt. to see the Physio at the surgery, who also diagnosed PMR independently. My doctor was dubious, but said the only way to tell was to put me on Steroids. A miracle happened, and for a while I was pain free. Bliss!!
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = Under 50 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Stiffness after resting on and off for two years prior to more acute symptoms. During daily exercise routine became unable to raise legs, then arms - eventually seized up all over and unable to get out of bed without prolonged shuffling to get on hands and knees. Unable to rise easily after 10 minutes of sitting.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	During the 3 days before I got GCA I had been working long hours and was under alot of pressure. I went to bed feeling tired and something happened overnight!. Next morning could not get out of bed without help. By the time my G.P diagnosed ,I was having problems with my sight. Fortunately this was resolved 48 hours after starting Prednisolone (40m.g. daily dose). One year later I was ill again, severe hip and shoulder pain, this time my G.P. said it was P.M.R. This was 4 years ago. Am now reasonably comfortable but have good and bad days. I have learned to accept it , and changed my lifestyle accordingly. Still taking Prednisolone.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 80 or over Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	I have GCA, not PMR. I had double vision, jaw claudication, facial pain and earache. I was diagnosed in hospital by an Ophthalmic consultant.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	Diagnosis confirmed by Rheumatolgist but I have a slow response to Prednisalone and to most other drugs.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = Under 50 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Originally shoulder pain over a period of 3 years. Both shoulders but left worse than right. Then neck pain with muscle pain in upper arms and neck and V at top of neck pulsating in head. After 2 years of shoulder pain, had onset of unstable vision and the double vision with pain at back of head, ringing in ears, pressure like a tight band at the back of my head and dry eyes simultaneously when pressure at the back of head increased. Muscle pain in uper arms worsened and sometimes radiated to lower arms even at rest. Pain in hips developed about 10 months ago with pain around groin and then radiated down thighs making it difficult to walk far or even get into a bath. I struggled for long time just to turn in bed with shoulder and hip pain. Knees then became worse and also feet including achilles heel. Muscles ached after use even to touch. This could happen even if the same task was being performed daily using the same muscles daily.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	i started seeing an orrthepedic assuming i had torn a thigh muscle plating tennis...4 week and got horribly worse and went to internist...sed rate 130...went straight to a rhmey....since aug started on 20, now on 9 an started the meth shot a few weeks agoto help bring down the pred's....still very stiff in am and never has gone away....playing some tennis and walking a bit...keeping things as usual...new yrs resolultion to loose some pred wait...25 lbs since onset...my rhemy wonders and thinks he has seen a pattern with women using HRT and autoimmune issues and he said stop it....i did for 3 months and started it back...Horribly hot flashes and icky inside....but glad i can move...was unable to even get out a bed without help in the beginning...the whole thing took i think about 6-8 weeks to hit hard...before that had a sense of malaise and a weird internal feeling i cannot explain...had gone to my internist about that...always very active and independent....i dont let it get me down
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Began with stiffness around my sitting bones and tender sitting bones, then spread up my spine with a tender spine, then affected muscles into my scapulae, with particular tenderness and swelling at the back of my neck, lower cervical spine, stiffness in my neck most of the way through, seemed to be going down my arms and towards my knees at which point I went to my GP who checked blood tests finding raised ESR and CRP, everything else normal, before starting prednisolone I seemed to get a bit better for a week with a reduction in CRP from about 30 to about 20, but then felt worse again in particular getting odd sensations paraesthesiae and fleeting headaches which Drs do not think is GCA, no tenderness or other symptoms and reducing ESR and CRP which were both down within normal limits within a week of starting prednisolone 15mg. Stiffness worse in the morning or after sitting for a long time eg a car journey, better once I got going but then I would get tired achey muscles more quickly. Up and down general fatigue and in the last two weeks before starting prednisone I lost about 7 lbs weight. No fever.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	With hindsight, I did have a slow progression of symptoms e.g. very stiff if driven car for 20 mins and aching hips in the morning. I then had a very rapid escalation of symptoms within a week, in partic, I could not turn over in bed, lift my arms etc and severe pain - both muscle pain & 'hot' pain (bursitis in hips). For several years, my ESR had been elevated around 30 - 40, but as I was asymptomatic, this was not investigated.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Developed over the course of about 5 days. Progressive inability to get up from a chair, get up from bed, or get off the toilet without help. Rapid decrease in strength, upper arms, hips. Both knees seemed to be swollen and would not straighten out. Treated with high dose steroids (60 mg) before diagnosis was made.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	spring summer 2009 pain,stiffness,headaches,fuzzy vision, ended up with chest pain in Oct, ambulance. hospital,raised troponin only symptom of heart attack, angiogram, pristine arteries except for signs of a small incident in a minor upper torso artery. Later at gp diagnosed with pmr. Iam convinced that the heart problem due to pmr/nearly gca, and that the enforced 10 day bedrest brought it back to pmr only
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Appeared to follow a URTI viral infection-PMR symptoms appeared 2 weeks later and gradually worsened over 2 week period
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	initially stiffness in ankles and feet, now pain in legs ankles and feet but few symptoms anywhere else, lots of fatique and muscle weakness and inflexibility
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	In Nov 2009 diagnosed with Reactive Arthritis. Following Jan 2010 GP diagnosed GCA after a 7 week cold and 'slight' pain on temples and jaw and was put on 80mg Prednisolone. Biopsy was negative. Suffered Steroid Myopathy when I reduced steroids, admitted to 2 hospitals, had high blood pressure on arrival (steroid induced) had emergency brain MRI which revealed 'white matter lesions'. Next day the diagnosis was changed to Cerebral Vasculitis (diagnosis made from MRI + CRP of 73). Weaned to 5mg steroid by Aug 2010 when I sought a 2nd opinion from top Neurologist, who confirmed my suscpicians of NOT having Cerebral Vasculitis! By Sept 2010 I was off the steroids, for 6 wks, when I was diagnosed with PMR and resumed (very reluctantly) 10mg steroids, followed by 100mg Azathioprine. I weaned off all steroids in June 2011! I'm still on 100mg Azathioprine and Amitryptiline for foot nerve pain and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome! Just starting on Omega 3, Vit C, E and Magnesium to help with the thigh pain. I've resumed Yoga and Pilates which helps with muscle pain.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = Unanswered Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I have not taken prednisone. The side affects scare me. I have been able to stand life with NSAIDs only. But that does give me complete relief. I was given prednisone for another problem and got much relief from the PMR. I have had the fun thing for a year and a half. My symptoms have very slowly gone away. But, I have my ups and downs. It seems to be completely on the mend and then will fall back two steps-forward three steps-back two steps. I still have pain in my right arm and shoulder area and my lower back. My left arm is pretty much normal (on most days). I don't have the debilitating stiffness that I had at first. Will be glad when this condition (or whatever) is gone. Does it ever really go away?
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I thought I had general lower back pain and gradually could not lift my legs or stand without pulling my self up by my arms.Walking up stairs and getting out of bed was difficult.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 75 to 79 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	started as ache in hips. X-Rays were clear, then scans on hips and lower back were clear. finally suggested blood test, result PMR the shoulder pains developed after a month or two. at time of diagnosis, couldn't put on my socks, nor lower myself gently into sitting position. required great effort to stand, needing both arms, full pressing power
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Tested for RA first.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Gradual over several months, Previously very active and strong. Carrying a heavy rucsac and rushing seems to be linked with the first feeling of being slightly unwell and some stiffness across buttocks in Sept 2009. gradually became worse .In Feb 2010 I tried to push the car as it had stopped and from then on my shoulders became more and more painful and stiff as well as the circle around the hips and upper legs. between April and beginning of June 2010 I saw two GPs at my surgery and was told to take painkillers, given Adcal and then given some acupuncture by the practice physiotherapist. The pain became insufferable and on advice from NHS direct they told me to take alternately at 11/2 hr intervals paracetamol and Ibrufen 7doses in total and get an appointment with my GP. An emergency appoitment was with a different doctor who sent me imediately for blood tests and within a few days was on 30mg of prednisolone with miraculous results and a very shamefaced usual GP when he returned from holiday. Over the last 20 months the dose has been lowered I have got down to 5mg and relapsed, going back up to 7.5mg. This time in Nov 2011 I saw a consultant who recommended I took Azathioprine while still taking the steroids and then gradually reduce the steroids. Having come away from the appt I read about the drug and was not impressed and prefered not to take it and told my GP I prefered to try and lower the steroids very slowly and this time I am at 4.5mg in March 2012. My GP agreed I should do what I felt comfortable doing. I have some stiffness in the mornings and can not carry any thing heavy without siezing up. I have been fortunate not to have major side effects from the steroids other than skin thinning/bruising particularly on the forearms. I had a bone scan after taking steroids for some time and was put on Alendronic Acid. As no baseline scan was done we do not know if the results would have been different had I not taken steroids! The Consultant also found with a hospital blood test I was hypothyroid and recommended I be put on Thyroxine. My GP has subsequently had two more test done and they show normal thyroid. After hearing the consultants result I obtained some dried seaweed and sprinkled a very small amount on soup a few times a week. The GPs thyroid tests were done after 3 weeks and 8 weeks of using the dried sea weed. Possibly coincidence or the result of a very small amount of iodine?! I was not put on Thyroxine.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	Eight month progression of illness after a fall in the kitchen when a door handle came off in my hand, of the door I was closing and I lost my balance and fell backwards onto the left side of my pelvis
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = Under 50 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Starten with hurting hipp for about à year, stiffnes in neck, arms and knees within à few days.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	left shoulder pain started in muscle moved to joint, about 4 mos later same thing with rt shoulder, didn't bother me too much during day but whenin evening and at night if I sat still, became stiff and painful to move esp to raise arms over my head. About 1.5 yrs later took statin to lower cholesterol for 4-5 mos had some muscle pain stopped statin, with in a week my rt knee swelled after a routine on treadmill. Couldn't bend my knee, very painful. Pain was spreading to neck, pubus area,other knee. Very stiff in am, sometimes needed help out of bed, in late morning was able to move enough to function, was tired a lot, still in pain and stiff during day but tolerable. Routine blood tests for yrly physical sed rate was 91 CPR 50.8. My ex husband is a Fam Practice doc and diagnosed PMR my GP said no that is not it and prescribed pain meds and referred me to Rhum. Earliest appt I could get was 3 mos away. Ex wrote me a prescription for prednisone, 20mg/day split dose, tapering 1 mg/day every week and got me an appt with Rhum in city-40 miles away. After 2 doses I was pain free. Rhum agreed with diagnosis, new blood tests SED & CPR normal. Just had appt with Rhum(the appt that was 3 mos out) in my town and he wants me to stay on 10mg/day (where taper was at at the time) with whole dose in am for a month, then lower 2.5mg for another month etc. Two weeks ago spent two days standing and rt upper calf started hurting, rt knee swelled after Rhum visit, tolerable this time can bend a little. noticed my rt ankle is swollen so I split dose to 8 in am and 2mg at dinner-for two days, seems to have reduced the ankle swelling. Tomorrow will go to 7.5 in am and 2.5 at dinner just because I don't have enoug 1mg pills to split the dose 8 & 2. Was worried PMR pain would come back when my knee swelled again but only have a little pain in neck-tolerable. Knee seems to be a trigger but MRI and ortho don't see any probs.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I experienced extreme pain in my neck, shoulders and hips and thighs. The pain would sometimes run down my legs. This went on for almost 4 yrs. About every 6 months I would have, what I call attacks the dr calls flares, that would last about 2 wks., then back to pain at night and the mornings. I take 5 ml. a day of Predisone. I am having a flare now even taking the Predisone and a steroid shot a few days ago. When it flares up, I can't work, I can't relax, the pain becomes more severe with inactivity.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = Unanswered Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	my first symptoms started on holiday abroad. I walked very slowly into a cold swimming pool on my first swim stroke I had a shot of pain in both arms at the same time. I had not experienced any thing like it before.Nothing else occurd for 2 weeks.I then started getting unbearable pain at night in right upper arm 2 days later both arms ,neck ,shoulders and hips became very stiff .Doctor then new I had pmr.Started on 20mg got downto 5mg in 12months. Back up to 10mg reduced to 3mg in 9months .Now on 10mg again ,this time it doesn,t seem to be working.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I was not diagnosed until I had the PMR for 5 months. Previous to diagnosis, I was treated with physical therapy for "sciatica" for about 7 weeks and then I realized I had bilateral arm pain too. Then they diagnosed me with shoulder tendonitis and I begain physical therapy for that. After 5 months, I had an annual check up with my primary doc and he seemed to immediately suspect PMR. I started on 15mg of Prednisone today.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = Under 50 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	all pain at base of skull and burning in arms and shoulders
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	10 years after my first bout with PMR I developed it again and worse..
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	Within two weeks approx stiffness so bad in arms groin. Doctor missed it as had been chopping down spinney and heavy gardening. Second doctor spotted it went next day to rhumertoligist, had injection and results of blood test next day.Ist July 2010. GCA confirmed one month later. Had six pulses of chemotherapy Harley St clinic GCA in remission. Still have PMR to date.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Started with rt shoulder pain then spread to lt shoulder. After 2 months of physical therapy, my hips were painful.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	The entire year of 2009 I felt my body was going wrong. First my feet in January, then my knees in March, then in July, my legs. I tried to sit on the ground at an outdoor art class and I couldn't make my legs get comfortable. Starting around then, I also had strange electrical sensations running down my back during the night. Pretty soon, I had trouble getting into my car--had to lift my left leg in after I was seated. In the morning, my legs were stiff, they felt really clunky, like I was walking on tree stumps. They didn't feel better after moving around in the kitchen in the morning...within 15 minutes they felt worse, and sitting down didn't help--lying down didn't help that much more. No otc medication helped for very long--ibuprofen gave slight relief but only for an hour or so. I tried tylenol, aspirin, too.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	Pain started in neck and travelled down both arms, balance problems, stiffness and pain, graduated to lower back and pelvic area.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	In May 2009 I suffered very high temperature, raging pain in all limbs and felt semi paralized in my arms for two days. This then settled and the PMR symptoms started in August 2009. I feel there was a connection.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Symptoms came on over two weeks
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Always had been very healthy. Woke up one morning with a sore right hip that progressed to the left hip and then to the neck and shoulders. This progression continued quickly and by the end of two weeks I knew that something was very wrong. I work for a pathologist and she suggested I get a sedimentation rate...it was double the normal high. She told me to go to my doctor for a prescription of prednisone because she felt that I had PMR). Within 24 hours of the initial prednisone dosing, my pain had greatly diminished. I have been in treatment for 19 months (initial prednisone dose 20 mg....currently I am at 2 mg). Lots of side effects with prednisone but it is a wonder drug. I am pushing through this taper with great determination. At 2 mg my shoulders are very sore and stiff. I remain hopeful that this will go away if and when my adrenals start producing.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	It started suddenly with bilateral leg, hip and hamstring pain and tightness, then groin pain. I could barely walk.Then pain and stiffness went to my shoulders and neck. Burning Tongue syndrome
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I went to bed fine. I woke up and couldn't move my arms and body from the waist up.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	PMR started in Aug 2011, it was very sudden, could not get out of bed. GP started me on 40mg prednisolone, after 6 months I was put on alendronic acid, which the side effects were not good, so was taken off them. I havea good diet, with plenty of fruit. veg & fish ( no red meat). Walk dogs, swim and do alot of gardening. Here we are in June 2012 and I am down to 15 mg pred. I feel good and have not had any bad side effects of the steroids.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	18 months prior to onset involved in a high speed car crash resulting in mild traumatic brain injury from which I 'fully recovered' and returned to work, but a month before onset I had to resign my job as I could not manage the ongoing stress and fatigue I felt.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = Under 50 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	The first two sets of blood tests taken three weeks a part came back negative. Then four weeks later they showed positive. It took six weeks from the onset of symptoms for the blood tests to show the results.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 80 or over Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	difficulty walking 3 months prior to blinding head pain right side of head.Given ibuprofen to lessen pain .Biopsy confirmed g.c.a. Given 30msPrednisolone .Instant relief And euphoria .Fat face .fat ankles and soon lurching walk constant sleepiness cuts bled easily ,taking months to heal .General feeling of lassitude .Nophysical pain but inability to walk any distance .Prednisolone tapered to nil (two years taken).Pains returned ,legs hips shoulders ,head ,neck.Stiffness especially morning.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = Under 50 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	my symptoms developed in about 2 months because of a stressful situation
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	started with back pain, then legs groin stiffness pain in morning fatique loss of weight generally ill
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	In October of 2009 I developed two weeks of extreme pelvic and back pain I haunted my doctors for relief but got NONE! The symptoms went away after about two weeks. This bad episode followed a very stressful personal incident. Several weeks later I started with neck pain then arm pain then leg pain than pain with sleeping and so on So I think the October incident was a warning shot across the bow but I had no idea what was coming.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Gradually less mobile thought it was due to osteo arthritis in knees and being overweight but only when tiredness began to be overwhelming sought help but cos of existing conditions explaining mobility issues and not hugely significant sedimentation rates pmr was the ladt chance diagnosis after numerous scans blood tests etc ruled out anything more insiduous. On taking 20mg of prednisolone for a week I feel like I have my life back. So happy after nine months of hell could cry with relief.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	My PMR developed suddenly. One morning I woke and could not get out of bed. I had had a bad wrench injury 2 months earlier, but carried on working with ibuprofen as pain relief., but the injury just seemed to spread over night from the shoulder that I had damaged to all the major muscles in my hips and shoulders.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	Bursitis and hip pain for approx. 1 year before bilateral shoulder and abdominal pain started. Progressed to bilateral arms and joints, back and ribpain, head pain and headache. All in that order.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 75 to 79 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	It began with intense one-sided headache, which I thought was migraine, accompanied by severe muscular shoulder and neck pain. After three weeks of nonstop pain I called a doctor who said it was inflammation which required patience and painkillers. The painkillers had no effect. I endured another four weeks of unbearable pain. My CPN advised me to go to the surgery where I saw the practice-nurse who sent me for a blood test. The lab. contacted the surgery immediately and I was told that I must go into hospital but I refused as I was extremely depressed at the time. I was then told to send immediately to the pharmacy for Prednisolone and to start immediately on 60mg. Within 24 hours the pain had stopped. It was only some time later that I learned that I had risked losing my sight. I am now in my fourth year on Prednisolone, having regular blood tests and very gradually reducing the dose. I am now down to 3mg.daily. I have all sorts of problems caused by Prednisolone, which I hope to tackle when I finish taking them.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	Started with stiff shoulder and back of neck ... diagnosed as * frozen shoulder * 3 lots of steriod injections over 9 months then quite quickly nightime ...head achy and pain in variuos parts of face ...diagnosed as sinositis ..three lots of differant antibiotics ..felt so ill presented at local Hospital where a GP in attendance ..actually listen to me and took a blood sample ...gave me Prednislone and asked me to see my local GP the next day for the results ...my ESR was 115 and I was diagnosed with GC and an appointment made to see a Rhueamatologist.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Prior to PMR I had a frozen shoulder for a year then another of plantar faciatis. A sever flu brought on PMR
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	The soreness was more like an ache and felt like the muscles in my upper arms were oxygen deprived. It started intermittently and then became continuous.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I had terrible pains in my neck and legs, I found it hard to get out of bed in the morning,and pain on standing from being seated.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Pain in knees and feet at first which eventually stopped me from walking more than few feet, high dose steroids, 40mcg, for 1 week then to stop, woke up 2 days later unable to lift arms. Told by consultant would go in 18months, now in 2nd year with little improvement. Wondering whether have fibromyalgia. Hands and arms badly affected at present.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Started with pain in the neck, after a few days also headache and pain in spots on my back head, low fever, loss of apetite, losing weight and rising blood pressure and pulse. Not so much pain in hips and shoulders the first few weeks, after around four weeks the pain developed. The headache maid my GP send me to hospital thinking it was GCA, but it was gone when I was diagnosed and the specialist at the hospital didn't think it was GCA. I never had aching temples.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Pain (shoulders, arms, legs, buttocks,hands, fingers). Could not get out of bed/bath. Low ESR and CRP results so doctor dismissed PMR.Prescribed Diclofenac 3 times daily (50mg) but together with statins I developed liver problems. Told to stop both immediately. X-ray showed no damage. Told to take Codeine which was useless (as was Ibuprofen). After 7 months of this husband insisted doctor do something. Said he would refer me to Rheumatologist - would take 3 months. Too long so saw a consultant privately (at great cost). Diagnosed within 20 mins: was PMR. Prescribed Prednisone - 15mgs lst month, 12.5 mgs 2nd month, 10 mgs 3rd month and then down by 1 mg per month. Problems coming down from 6mgs to 5 so back up for a month and then down by l mgs a month. Successfully weaned off the steroids with only a few minor aches which went after about a couple of weeks then clear for about 5 years. Started taking statins again (10 mgs) daily. Symptoms again 15 months ago. Doctor said not possible PMR because ESR was 5 and also low CRP and also "you cannot have PMR twice!!) Pains excrutiating so doc. prescribed 20 mgs daily Prednisone for 1 week. Instant improvement. Pains later came back so doc. referred me to consultant but in meantime put me back on steroids - 20mgs daily for month and then 15 for month then 10 for month and then down by 1 mg for month. Problems at 7 so tapered more slowly - 6.5 mgs, 6, 5.5 and then by 1 mgs daily for month and weaned off a month ago (now March 2013). Good for about 2 weeks and then symptoms reappeared. Trying to keep off the steroids and hoping things will get better. Am taking nothing now and some days feel grotty with pains in shoulders, arms, legs and especially hands/fingers. NOTE: The second time I saw an NHS consultant who was not pleased that doctor had prescribed me steroids again. Got the impression the consultant did not think it was PMR - gave the usual "blood markers two low for PMR and not usual to have it more than once". After examination and through a process of elimination he concluded (reluctantly) that it did look like PMR so carry on with doctor's advice.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = Under 50 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Started 4 days after flu vaccine. Started in shoulder, then neck, then hips and buttocks, and lastly the thighs
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Always suffered pain and stiffness after a weekend of physical work/exertion, lasting a day or two. This time, it did not go away after an intense week of flooring and exterior painting in tropical heat (yes, there were bugs, too).
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I came through an intense period of stress lasting approximately 21/2 months. This culminated with a viral infection possibly herpes or shingles that took about 1 month to clear up. I continued to feel very debilitated until the onset of PMR which was diagnosed immediately by my GP and confirmed with blood tests.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I spent a week in japan, two days later came down with a few with fairly high fever, around 38.7. After that, the pain in my hips started, morning stiffness etc. My pain started in the hips mainly, then affected my right ellbow (the rheumtologist did not believe it is PMR pain), 9 months into the disease my shoulders are very sore. The pain seems to shift around, but it started with the hips.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	progressive joint pain after experiencing flu like symptoms. Persistent headaches, restricted mobility
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = Under 50 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Date Symptoms / Appointments Mid-Dec. Head/chest cold Late Dec. Flu Dec. 28 Surgery (mastopexy) Feb. 5 Joint paint first appears—right shoulder. Feb. 7 Both shoulders, left hip, right elbow; acute. Feb. 9 Left shoulder; acute. Feb. 10 Right shoulder, left wrist (red, hot, swollen); acute. Feb. 11–14 Both shoulders Feb. 13–14 Stomach flu Feb. 15 Both shoulders, right hip; sore throat, painful to swallow. Feb. 16 Both shoulders, right hip, right wrist; fatigue. Feb. 17 Right wrist; fatigue; appt. w/ Dr. Waters; give blood/urine. Feb. 19 Wake w/pain up right arm, along clavicle, up neck and in right side of jaw; acute. Feb. 21 Numbness and pain in hands in middle of night (like carpal tunnel). Feb. 24 No improvement over last week; achy in all upper-body joints (tendons?); shoulders, elbows, wrists, fingers; movement painful; acute pain in the evening after taking a nap; fatigue persists. Feb. 25 Dr. Waters called with blood work results. Iron level normal but blood count low, so take an iron pill with OJ each night before bed. No markers for lupus or rheumatoid arthritis. Inflammation level of 25 – only slightly above average. Referring to rheumatologist, Dr. Baillie. Feb. 28 Pain has been worst at bedtime and in morning. Still achy in upper body joints – shoulders, elbows, wrists and fingers. Left pointer finger red and swollen. March 9 Pain in shoulder blade area that rules out lying on back. Hard to find comfortable position for arms. Waking in middle of night to take pain meds. Numb hands when holding heavy book. Weak shoulders. March 14 Pain/weakness in left hip join extending down inside of thigh, makes me have to pause briefly every so often when walking to wait for leg to be ready to move. Have to either slowly reposition leg to lift it into car or lift it with my hands. Dr. Turner examines infected area in right breast; finds and removes a stitch that didn’t dissolve March 19 Throat acutely sore to swallow; swollen glands; difficulty speaking. March 20 Throat fine today. What I now call a good day, which is just a general achiness throughout body that makes it difficult to position myself comfortably when lying down. March 21 Very achy this morning, weakness. Difficulty lifting small things like a full coffee cup; have to use both arms to lift milk jug and pour. Flare ups in arms and hands when driving. Having to move slowly. March 23 Areas that feel especially achy and tender – currently left knee and knuckle of left pointing finger – feel bruised to the touch, but don’t appear bruised. March 29 Minimal pain today, just general achiness. Appt. w/ Dr. Baillie. He asks list of questions and applies pressure to some areas. Says he doesn’t think I have arthritis and sends me for blood work. April 5 Very bruised feeling in some joints still; very tender right wrist; woke this morning quite achy; left big toe joint is very tender and swollen. April 6 Infected area in left breast surgical incision begins bleeding a little bit; this has been infected since late January/early February due to stitches not dissolving… could infection connected with joint pain? Appt. made with Dr. Turner for April 11. Message left for Dr. Waters. Angela returns call and I relay what happened at rheumatology appt. and speculation about breast infection/joint pain connection. April 7 A bit more bleeding from the infection and it’s painful to lie on. Very achy today. Takes effort to lift arms. Sherry contacts me from Dr. Waters’ office to ask me to call at end of next week to see if appt. warranted after meeting with Dr. Turner. April 8 Very achy again today. Mild fever. Difficult to get around, lift purse, do some basic office work. Left big toe, knee and hip; right wrist; fingers, elbows and shoulders. April 9 Some pus seeps from the infection. Slept much of the day from fatigue. April 10 In evening, jaw aches, right ankle very sore and left shoulder acutely painful; had difficulty moving arm due to pain and finding a comfortable position for it, both lying down and seated. April 11 Appt. w/ Dr. Turner. With tweezers he removes a knot of stitches that didn’t dissolve and bandages small wound. Says it should heal up now and he doesn’t believe infection connected with joint pain. April 15 Appt. w/ Dr. Waters. Will refer for a second opinion with another rheumatologist, Dr. McCarthy. Gives me paperwork for more blood work. April 25 Blood drawn. Have had night sweats three times since my appointment on April 15, and my jaw is now regularly mildly sore. Informed Dr. Waters’ office. April 27 Have been very tired this week. Need lots of sleep. Mild fever off and on (by ear: 100.5–101 F). April 28 Very achy, tired, mild fever. Took day off work to sleep. Slept most of day. May 1 Again, very achy, tired, mild fever. Slept much of day. Jaw continues to be sore. May 2 Mild fever begins midday. Feeling very tired and ill. May 7 Very fatigued. Mild fever. May 8 Slept much of day. Malaise. Fever (by ear: 102.3 F). May 9 Malaise. Fever. Went home from work at midday to sleep. May 11 Rheumatology appt. with Dr. McCarthy. Diagnoses polymyalgia rheumatica. Gives me Cortisone shot in right shoulder. May 13 Some improvement in condition. No fever or malaise since shot, slight improvement with mobility and pain issues. May 17 More improvement, though not complete (still some mobility and pain symptoms). Energy level has improved. May 18 Appt. with Dr. Waters to discuss diagnosis (confirmed by improvement of condition after cortisone shot). Will return to her for another Cortisone shot if symptoms begin to become regular again (but before they become unmanageable). Will try to manage remaining symptoms with light exercise and anti-inflammatory diet. Also, daily calcium and Vitamin D supplements to ward off bone-density loss from cortisone, as per her recommendation. May 20 Woke up throughout night with pain in shoulders and right hand. In morning, hand is quite immobile and can’t be used for much. Improves throughout the day. May 21 Woke up very achy in shoulders and elbows. Slight ache returns in jaw. May 22 Start of anti-inflammatory diet: no wheat flour, no refined sugars, no alcohol, no fast food or overly processed food, no nightshade vegetables (potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, etc.), only one cup of coffee per day, green tea instead. May 24 Very restless sleep night before, woke several times. Very sleepy today. May 25 Restless sleep. Achy in morning. Right hand (mainly thumb) begins feeling painful/immobile in afternoon. Still feeling slight ache in jaw. May 29 Very achy shoulders and arms throughout the day. Fatigued. May 31 Some shortness of breath in morning. Very achy/weak shoulders. June 1 Similar shortness of breath. Not as achy as yesterday. June 4 Very achy and all other symptoms return: fever, fatigue and malaise. Achy jaw is constant. Slept much of day. June 6 Take afternoon off work to go home and sleep. June 7 Take day off work to sleep, take hot soaks in tub. Make appt. with Dr. Greg Chernish, naturopath, July 13. June 18 Previous night was worst I’ve ever felt for pain; could find no comfortable position; Slept less than two hours, woke up and stayed up for rest of the night. In the morning, had to use great effort to move my arms for very basic tasks. Had remedial massage with Curtis Piller. It was great, though I felt unwell shortly after standing up (shakes, sweats, anxiety and hunger -- like low-blood-sugar). As soon as I had juice and ate, I was fine. June 20 Woke up with a fever (101.3) and malaise, almost fell asleep in car on the way to work. Came home shortly after and slept most of day. After one month, went off inflammation diet --- wondered if it was causing greater depression. Will wait to talk to naturopath for dietary advice. June 21 Fever early in the day, fatigue, malaise, pain, depression. Difficult to drive car. Need help getting in and out of bed, as well as dressing. Called RANA and arranged to pick up CPAP July 6. June 22 Restless sleep last night, whether due to pain, sleep apnea or both. Very sleepy while driving. Listless, distracted and feeling pain at work. June 27 Fever of 101.8 in evening. Pain, difficulty feeling any comfort when lying down. June 28 Took day off work to sleep, take warm showers. June 29 Malaise verging on nausea.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Started gradual up to a point--Started as pain in my right shoulder, progressed to my hips, and then to my left shoulder over a period of about a month. Then in a matter of 2 days the pain suddenly became unbearable and I could walk or move.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	2 1/2 years and still have pmr
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Symptoms first began in both hips ans legs and progressed to both shoulders and upper arms about 4 months later
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Have had it for over 3 weeks now. ESR of 103 to start CRP 27. Woke up with excruciating pain in both legs, mainly from the groin area down through the middle inner thing. Both arms in the Deltoid and shoulder joint area and the neck area C7 and above there. Could hardly roll myself out o bed. After a few days saw GP family doctor. Did blood blood work, Doc said pretty sure it's PMR. Started day one with 20mg Prednisone. Really no help with that after a couple days. Changed to 40mg per day. Probably 50% overall better after a week. Legs much better, but shoulders now really painful in the morning starting around 0400 and building from there. Blood work at 7, 14, and 21 days. SED rate steadily dropping from 103 to 50 to 32. SED rate coming down but pain, especially the shoulder area is still very sore. On a 1 to 10 scale, shoulder pain started with a "just shoot me" 8 or more and after a couple weeks most mornings wake me up before 0500 with a strong 4 or so pain level. Every few days maybe a flare up 6 or 7 to start the day. Afternoons in general things improve, mobility much better, legs feel pretty good, but arms still hurt to move but at half to 1/3 the pain they felt in the morning. Love to golf, but not even close to being able to do something lie that again yet. PS. Also followed up with a second opinion from a very experienced Rhumatologist from the Cedars- Sinai medical group in Los Angeles CA. Doctor there spent a lot of time with me and confirmed diagnosis and said with those numbers and symptoms it was a stronger case and would require higher dosage meds to start
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Severe neck pain radiating into my head. Had MRI to rule out stroke. Negative results. Sed rate and CRP were in normal range at that time. It elevated one month later.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Developed after flu type illness. Mother and sister have PMR. Tested for diabetes yearly. During blood tests for PMR Diabetes 2 discovered.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	My pain started on one side in both my shoulders and hip so it took me longer to look at systemic disease instead of ortho problems.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	May 8th 2012 took off my shoes on returning from work and had unusual pains in the back of both lets - thought I had been wearing high heels too long. Pain did not go and spread to both shoulders and top of chest.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Felt very stiff for about three months - thought it would go - had physio no luck. Then went to cranial osteopath who said she thought it was pmr so went to GP and had it diagnosed.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	It started with moderate elbow and upper arm pain more noticeable at night. Three months later shoulder pain started and developed into hip pain and stiffness. Within a month I was not sleeping due to shoulder pain and stiffness. Pain was worse at night which is not mentioned as routine. Before I started treatment I avoided exercise (I had been an active runner, walker and cyclist) and was fatigued for much of the time. I also lost weight as I had little appetite and the pain made me nauseous at times.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Refused to take prednisone. Had a cortisone shot in left shoulder which made the pain go away in the other shoulder and all other locations. The left shoulder pain gradually came back. I take 4ibruprofen 3 times a day which controls the pain.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Started with hip pain followed by stiffness in ups and thighs after rest. Had uc so told pains due to that. Had breast cancer and chemo put uc into remission put muscle and joint pains returned with a vengeance. Bone scan - and. Pains spread and became worse. GP suspected per and prescribed prednisolone. Seen a rheumatologist who confirmed diagnosis. Having difficult time with steroids. Symptoms of pmr are only relieved for days or couple of weeks at a time. Other symptoms are some visual problems but nothing detected on eye exam. Numbness in feet. Tingling and numbness in left hand (latter only occasionally). Problems with thought processes at times and extreme fatigue. Rest of time manage to carry on as normal and am learning to pace myself at home and work. In spite of fatigue it is difficult to relax and rest and don't always feel any better for resting.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Symptoms came on over a few days and I've had it for 11 months without diagnosis by GP. I self diagnosed in the end but that was just before I finally had an appointment with a rheumatologist who fundamentally disagreed with my diagnosis. I had an argument with him and he agreed to but me on 20mg Prednisolone once a day. I have been on it 6 days and it helped overnight and my hips etc are completely normal but I still have painful shoulders and upper arms whether at rest or with movement. Certainly the pain is about 50% less than it was before but it’s not helped as much as I hoped.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I had been having a few aches and pains for a few months prior to the sudden severe pain and stiffness in my upper back and shoulders and upper arms. Then, following a long course of nitrofurantoin for kidney infection prophylaxis, I developed flu-like symptoms (temperature and aching all over). A few days later the PMR symptoms hit me like a car crash. I couldn't get out of bed without help or move my arms.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I had had sore and tender muscles in my legs for many years and found excercising quite difficult.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I had mild flu-like symptoms for several weeks in April 2013 leading up to a GP visit for a flu shot. The pain in the hips and through the groin started just after that, mild at first but progressing to disabling by mid May. I self treated with the NSAID Diclofenac which I had on hand for occasional use for back pain (arising from long standing deterioration of the lumbar spine), which got me through to the third week of June when I was next able to visit my GP (we had been away from home). By that stage the shoulders were also causing problems. After a couple of weeks and blood tests, my GP diagnosed PMR and started me on Prednisolone, initially at 20mg, reducing down to 5mg. Nearly all pain disappeared from my hips and left shoulder but the right shoulder remained a problem. My GP added regular use of Diclofenac back into my medication along with the 5mg of Prednisolone and that reduced the right shoulder pain to an acceptable level.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I did not respond to Prednisone [ 30 mgm a day ]. My rheumatologist changed it to Methylprednisolone. I've responded well to 24mgm, equivalent to 30mgm Prednisone. I've been on it for 4 weeks so far and hope to try to taper it when I see him in 2 weeks. I now have a " full face " !
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	extreme tenderness in shoulder; throbbing left eye; right temporal arteries painful to touch and hurt to use jaw. hip pain and neck pain especially in the mornings that made moving painful; kept recurring for a month of prednisone
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 80 or over Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	First, regarding statins (which I later discovered I shouldn't have been given in the first place, but my GP loves to throw drugs at everyone whether they need them or not, and I didn't), after taking them for one month, I had such pains in my muscles that I was given a blood test, and my GP told me to stop taking them immediately. Re the PMR, the first feeling that something was not quite right with my body was in winter, 2012, when my inner thermostat seemed go out of whack, and any exertion produced profuse sweating. By summer of 2013 small pustules started appearing over my upper body, forming an itchy rash on my breastbone. In September, 2013, I went to my trusty osteopath (I don't, and never have, trusted GPs , so only go to them in extremis ) complaining of a pain that started under my left shoulder blade, and this had then spread up over my shoulder and down through my upper arm muscles. It had then spread over my upper back and neck to my right shoulder and arm. He immediately diagnosed PMR, and suggested I get a blood test, which proved positive for PMR. I had hoped to avoid going to my GP, but unfortunately the results were sent to him, and so I had to go to see him. He immediately got out his prescription pad for steroids, but I have refused. thus far. If I get symptoms of GSA, however, I would have to take them, as I obviously don't want to go blind.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 75 to 79 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Unanswered	Started about the year 2007 with stiffness in legs and neck and became worse quite rapidly. I started on 25mg Prednisolone and this was gradually reduced after about 3months at the rate of 2.5mg per month eventually getting down to 5mg. After a few days of stopping taking the prednisolone I developed pain in the near of my shoulders and back of my neck with pain going right up to my head coupled with feeling unstable and almost on the point of collapse, coupled with high heart rate and difficulty in breathing. I have had several quite severe relapses during the period to date and am now back on 30mg. of PREDNISONE and taking Alendronic Acid once weekly. This certainly has made me feel fit again and I intend to reduce the Prednisone at the rate of 2.5mg each month until I get down to 10mg which was really the dosage that I feel I was best suited to.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Started with lower back pain radiating down left leg Spread to hips then one morning awoke with stiff neck. All over a 4 week period
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Mine had some gradual progression as I thought back on lower back/butt pain while driving. prior this type of pain was eliminated by Alive. sudden on a Christmas trip 2013 my symptoms escalated almost overnight. continued to progress till diagnosed Jan 31st with immediate relief on 15mg prednisone once in the am
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I had two family members who were diagnosed as terminally ill and I went through a bad bullying experience/grievance at work which took a long time to resolve. Then although this was rightfully resolved in my favour, both family members died within two months of each other and one of them was my dear Mum. I started with achy thighs with pain in my calves. Progressing to the thighs also becoming painful and sensitive and then I couldn't get down the stairs without holding on to the bannister for dear life and only both feet on one step at a time. Started on 20mg, but the GP not understanding the reduction, had me reducing by 5mg every 3days. Needless to say that did not work and I am now on 15mg for 2 weeks and I am not doing to good. I see the doc again tomorrow. I was signed off work for 3 weeks to allow the steroids to do their work. But so far not so good.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	14 days from inception to diagnosis - booked in to Accident and Emergency who diagnosed condition
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Symptomatic about 2 months prior to diagnosis. Tried physical therapy, swim therapy, hot baths, pain meds.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Frozen left shoulder previous year treated with physical therapy 3 months and improved. Three months later pain/limited range of motion returned. Then pain/stiffness in right shoulder quickly progressed to neck pain, hip / thigh pain. Within one week could not get head up from bed without severe pain and help. GP diagnosed PMR, started Prednisone 20 mg, down to 18mg now (8weeks since dx.) but still have morning stiffness. No side effects from Prednisone so far. PS - my mother had PMR when she was in her early 70's. English, Swedish and German descent.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	woke in the morning (May 2013) with pain in one shoulder and some in upper arm to elbow, more or less left that arm and moved to other arm, then in both. Worst in morning, then gradually a little better. In July, took 50mg pred. for 5 days and pain gone in first day...pain back in 2 weeks. Eventually on 30mg, but took longer to eradicate pain. By then, the pain was so bad I was in tears every morning, upon sitting up in bed. Couldn't shower or dress etc. without excruciating pain. After relief from the pain, for a couple of months I tried to wean off, and down to 5mg in November, stiff/sore neck. Went back up to 10mg when 7.5 didn't work. Was in Guatemala, at the initial time and thought it was related to insect bites. When I returned to my sailboat, in Guatemala (without pain) I paid to see a doc there...he said I had had Lyme, but no longer had it (after numerous tests), and said I could wean off the pred. However, now (April 2014), was down to 3.75mg, and just dropped to 2.5mg, and shoulder pain is back in right arm. I was decreasing by 1.25 every 2 weeks, since mid Jan., or sometimes every second or third day, during those two weeks, before decreasing by 1.25mg every day over another 2 weeks. I now also have swelling in my left knee, in the shin below, and left ankle...with some pain in ankle. After an ultrasound, there appears to be a "mass" in the knee, but need an MRI to determine what it is.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	We were in the middle of devasting earthquakes. We lived in a suburb that was the epicentre for most of them. (Christchurch New Zealand). The Dr arrtibuted this to my PMR, said nearly every patient that came through the door was in extreme stress and having stress related illness.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	symtoms stared two weeks could not lift arms over head felt like someone was pulling arms out of joint then moved to hips was on 15 mg pred dropped down to 2.5 it started coming back have gone back to 5mg took three months for dianogias
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	At diagnosis I thought onset had been very sudden. However, in hindsight I had "episodes" of severe pain and stiffness that were short-lived...going back quite a few months. Since I have had mild oesteoarthritis for quite a few years, I assumed that the arthritis was causing the symptoms.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	started with groin pain when walking. a week later arms and shoulders also very painful unable to dress without pain
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	Followed a year of 9 tooth abscesses and 5 urine infections - antiobiotics prescribed for each and then opthalmic shingles. Began with severe hip bursitis, and increasing fatigue.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Extreme pain in both shoulders, then pain and stiffness in hip area and extreme pain in groin of one leg at a time.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Gradual onset over about 3 months. Difficulty rolling over in bed and getting up in the morning. Difficulty getting in and out of bath. Shoulders and upper arms very stiff and difficult to raise arms to shoulder level. Going up and down steps slow and very tiring. Absolute fatigue after doing physical work such as gardening, vacuuming. Generally feeling tired and under the weather all the time. Finally after having all my long hair cut short because I could not brush or comb the hair properly I went to the doctor.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	Until I suddenly developed PMR I didn't know I'd had GCA for many miserable months.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I am currently becoming aware that I may have had symptoms for a few years prior to diagnosis (pain in lower back, pain in arms when attempting previously managable activities e.g ten pin bowling and tennis/badminton, being increasingly unable to hold up my arms for any length of time i.e when hanging out the washing. This awareness is due to my study of other people's experience of the condition via an online forum. It was only when I experienced severe, sudden onset pain in my shoulders chest and neck that I was diagnosed.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Initially blamed statins as it was shoulders only. Had Shingles and seemed not to recover properly. Had iron deficiency anaemia, Hb down to 7.3, an altogether poor 2013! Diagnosed by myself and GP/Consultant confirmed September 2013.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Had muscle aches and flu-like symptoms following nitrofurantoin and immediately preceding acute onset of PMR
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I had a lifting incident at work 2004, injured left shoulder, right elbow and neck. since then x 3 operations on shoulder, x 1 on elbow. I have never been the same since. over time since then I have bilateral pain to shoulders and hips. 3 injections to left hip and 2 to right. on x-ray to all joints with pain I always have lots of calcification. I would say fatigue has been my worst problem. since starting prednisolone 8 months ago the pain reduced, but I still need analgesia.i still remain very fatigued, and I have gained 2 stone. I have been reducing prednisolone as instructed by my gp. I commence on 1mg to-morrow for one week then my course is finished
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	My tests were all normal so the doctors looked for other causes. Much time was wasted with x-rays, MRIs, PT, shoulder, knee and spine surgeons; and chiropractors. Finally a orthopedic surgeon friend recommended seeing a rheumatologist. Unfortunately it took 2 months to get an appointment and then 2 minutes for the diagnosis. I knew it was systemic and the doctors were not listening.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Had flu like symptoms for a few weeks then progressive tiredness followed by thigh and upper arm/shoulder pain. This all came to a head one night when I woke up and could not move. Doctor diagnosed PMR.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Extreme pain in leg (upper thigh). shoulder right and then left
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Hair loss - thought this was from stress of parents passing on, retiring and moving to a new city, but it really hasn't recovered much at all.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I have osteoarthritis and underwent a total knee replacement in May 2014. A few weeks later the improvement I'd felt from the surgery started to disappear and I developed increasing pain in my knees, shoulders, feet, arms and hands. At first I thought this was a severe flare-up of the arthritis but gradually realised it was more muscular than joint pain. I was rapidly becoming immobile, struggling to do even basic tasks. I had no energy or strength and was losing weight. At this point my GP ordered a wide range of blood tests which showed raised inflammatory markers.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	approximately 2 weeks onset. Started with stiff neck on 1 side then progressed to shoulders and entire neck. Much worse in am. Also involves knee (mostly right) elbow and hands. Hands feel very stiff on both sides in morning. Started on 10mg prednisone 1x per day. I have some relief but not completely. Better in afternoon but do have slight headache across my eyes. I'm hoping I don't have GCA but think maybe.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Delayed treatment of PMR as rheumatologist said I looked too young !!! He is still insisting I am atypical for PMR despite being in my fifties. Very slow work getting the steroid dose down which I believe is due to not starting treatment earlier.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	This started with sudden loss of flexibility and intense fatigue. I was a runner and tennis player. My symptoms of pain started in my hips and the internist focused on those joints with multiple tests. Eventually the pain began to migrate and I realized I had a systemic problem at which time i asked to see the rheumatologist.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I originally thought my symptoms were caused by doing to much lifting of file boxes and furniture during our move to a new office. It began in my shoulders & arms and progressed fairly quickly to my legs. I gaged how my day was going to be by how I felt when getting out of bed and if I could life my leg to get over the shower lip. I did have considerable stress in my life at the time as I was responsible for the design and construction of the new office and my mother had also had a stroke and we were visiting her several times a week making sure she was being taken care of properly.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Symptoms developed over about 2 weeks. Hip and right shoulder stiffness then spaced out/slightly fluey feeling and fatigue.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Initially, unexpected morning stiffness. Two days later, right thigh muscle inactive - had to lift trouser leg to get into car. Self-treated with Ibuprofen for two weeks, then approached the quack. Had to wait a further 10-days to see if symptoms would fade. They got progressively worse and the first blood test was ordered. Placed on Naproxen, (500mg twice per day). Zero pain relief! The following nightime pattern emerged; sleep for first 2hours every night, then fasciculations in triceps and biceps for 3hours, finally abject pain in the muscles, (lactic acid?). Finally a five-day course of 40mg/day of prednisolone. Instant relief and restored mobility. Crashed 36hours after the course finished and became totally paralysed. An emergency call restored steroid treatment. Now on a high-level and weaning down gradually. Currently at 25mg/day; I discovered early that splitting the dose between my breakfast and evening meals gave a sweet-zone, whereby the Duke Nukem jitter from the steroid peak was reduced and the return of the PMR symtoms in the morning was removed.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Started with stiff neck, which confused diagnosis, then general PMR symptoms kicked in
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Initial dialogised incorrectly and prescribed NSAIDS. Second doctor (a lucum 10 days later) sent me for a blood test and had an idea it was PMR, on receiving results he stopped the NSAIDS - which did nothing to relieve the pain - and started me on 30 mg of Prednisolone, there was a 90% improvement within 8 hours. Rapid reduction was recommended after a week by reducing to 25mg and a week later by another 5 mg until I reached 15 mg. At this point my regular doctor had consulted with the locum and agreed that it was PMR and also prescribed Calcichew - Calcium/D3 (twice daily 500mg/400ILJ), Alendronic Acid (weekly 70mg) and Omeprazole (daily 20mg) and that I stay on each dose for 28 days reducing down to around 10 mg or less. I took other advice and was told about a reduction plan and research by V Quick & JR Kirwan at Bristol, UK. I followed the slower reduction starting at 12 mg over a 4 week period down to 11mg stayed on 11 mg for 28 days and started the same slow reduction down to 10mg.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 80 or over Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Started as severe stiff neck.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Started in lower back an progressed to hips and buttocks, then right shoulder, next day left shoulder and neck, all this over a weekend.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Have had PMR for 4 years, Started with Shoulder pain and painful arms which hurt when touched. Have been down to 1 mg of prednisolone but illness flared and its still not under control.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Started with neck pain, restriction of movement, shoulder pain and then pain in the arms and fatigue.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Took 2 yrs to diagnose ! Treated fort stress and anxiety at first no medication helped until eventually prescribed prednosolone!
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Woke up one morning with pains from neck, down both arms and in hips, unable to get out of bed easily - had to roll out onto floor and push myself up. I had a very bad cold and my doctor diagnosed a chest infection. She gave me a strong 7 day dose of antibiotics and asked me to return if the symptoms remained at the end of the course. I returned to the doctor after 7 days with no improvement. She suspected PMR and arranged for blood tests to be taken which confirmed her suspicions. A few days later I was immediately given 20mg Prednisolone and within two days I was completely pain-free.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I was having trouble carrying things up to my apt., for a year or so. Then one day it just hit me like a ton of bricks, flu like symtoms. and couldn't get out of bed with my arms hurting so bad. also I had some sort of rash on my elbows I never had before , like psoriasis, also had lots of whiteheads on face and body. I also took some kind of diet pills for 2 years prior to this called alli/, orilist. I also had a terrible attack of gastro in my stomach. I lost 10 pounds in one week. I wonder if that was the start of all my problems. something I ingested? I also moved to florida from Chicago,ill. never had a problem there. did I catch something swimming in the gulf of mexico???
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = Under 50 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	After a year of emotional stress, that I put down to menopause, I injured my knees playing sport, after a week pain and stiffness drifted to all other parts, jaw, neck upper arms, hip area, carpal tunnel, slightly swollen fingers. Unable to sleep, crying. Diagnosed with reative arthritis by doctor and got a steriod jab worked wonders, finally got to see the rheumatologist over the next few months got a PMR diagnosis as all tests were negative only raised crp, esr, levels.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	The lower back pain started first and has lasted thru the sudden overnight pain in left shoulder blade, down the arm, and numbness in pinky/ring fingers
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Approximately eight months ago I started to have severe pain and stiffness in both upper and lower limbs. I already had cervical spondylosis, so the upper body pain was, at first, blamed on that. At around the same time that my PMR symptoms started, I also had painfully swollen joints (started in knees, ankles, then wrists) which made it more difficult for my GP to diagnose. I understand it is not uncommon to have polymyalgia rheumatica along with another illness. The first rheumatologist I saw was certain of his diagnosis of fibromyalgia, so he offered no treatment except pain relief tablets and group therapy. Luckily, he left that hospital (having made no follow-up appointment for me) and, after great difficulty getting an appointment, I saw a second rheumatologist who made the correct diagnoses of PMR and inflammatory arthritis. Within 24 hours of starting 15mg prednisolone I had a dramatic improvement in symptoms. It had reached the stage that I took 45 mins to sit up in bed, because I could only move a millimetre at a time first thing in the morning (I'm not exaggerating), and I was frightened to lie down in bed at night because I knew what was coming in the morning. The fear of that returning is the only thing that keeps me on the steroids.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Changed doctor once. Getting nowhere. Next doctor seems helpful but asking for more blood tests plus ecg? White cell count raised. Everything else good. Just taking naproxen for relief. No diagnosis. I relate to what I've googled on PMR. Particularly this: Stiffness, pain, aching, and tenderness of the large muscles around the shoulders and upper arms. The muscles around the neck and hips may also be affected. The stiffness may be so bad that you may have difficulty turning over in bed, rising from a bed or a chair, or raising your arms above shoulder height (for example, to comb your hair). The stiffness is usually worst first thing in the morning. Getting out of bed may be difficult. Walking is difficult. Painful.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	May 2014, started with severe sinusitis, saw GP who treated with steroid spray first, then antibiotics. Symptoms worsen, GP told me to go to emergency room. CAT scan showed severe infection. prescribed stronger antibiotics and pain meds. Experienced double vision. three days later admitted to hospital headachesnso bad coukd not stand any light. given morphine and two different antibiotics intervenously. Given prednisone (20mg foe 5 days) upon release from hospital. Day 7 hips and legs so sore could not bed to sit and thighs ached tothe bone. Back to emergency;saw same doc who requested CAT scan. Doc fast tracted me to Urgent Medical Assessment Clinic (UMAC) who diagnosed PMR and GCA.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Sudden pain in one shoulder and then in the other within 2 weeks. Treated with cortisone injections for bursitis with no improvement. Neck pain and hip pain within another 2 weeks. Eventually upper arm and upper limb pain and severe back pain within another 2 weeks to the point of struggling to walk and sit down. All symptoms increased and spread to other parts of my body over about a 2-3 month period before seeking medical help. Eventually only my forearms, lower limbs and head not affected by pain.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	stiff, sore neck several mnths before flu-like symptoms...then fatigue, stiffness, pain spreading to arms, thighs, weight loss...extreme fatigue All symptoms much worse at bedtime
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Significant bilateral leg issues undiagnosed for 10 years prior to PMR diagnosis. Three months prior to PMR diagnosis bilalteral shoulder pain ressembling and diagnosed as torn rotator cuffs; followed by extreme pain in upper arm muscles, due to pain and lack of strength lost the ability to do any daily activities of living; then pain across upper back and neck.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Was diagnosed by GP with a virus this went on over three months. Eventually went privately to a rheumatologist when I was virtually unable to move, who diagnosed PMR. GP told me if not a virus it was nothing serious and would go away,
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I had a lung infection 5 months prior to the disease being diagnosed. At the time my CRP was 222.7 but no one picked it up.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	My mother had been ill for several years and had a stroke in October of 2012. My brother and I were her primary caregivers which meant many trips to Dr.s and hospital. During her recovery I took her to her PT and speech therapy appointments. At the same time I was in process of designing and arranging for a move of our business to a new location. I was the partner/manager of 2 insurance offices so found the additional stress of doing all the decision making and arranging for the move of one of our offices very stressful. The business is very paper oriented and there were boxes and boxes of files that had to be moved. I wasn't used to that sort of physical activity so after the move when I was feeling a bit stiff I wasn't surprised. Unfortunately the stiffness developed into pain that affected my shoulder girdle, hip girdle and legs. I could hardly walk and had to have help dressing myself. I believe my PMR started in December of 2012 and I was given 20mg of prednisone by my GP in March 2013. Was reduced to quickly and when I saw my Rhuemy in May I was in a flare and put back up to 20mg with a slow reduction program.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Started very suddenly and got worse over time
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Aches started in neck, then spread to shoulders, then hip girdle. Aches and pain was so intense I could no longer get out of bed by myself. Also had significant fatigue.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Unanswered	I developed PMR after having a severe chest infection ( I had never had one before ever) and takin 2lots of antibiotics. It started down one side of my body then to my buttocks and then up to my arms and shoulders, painkillers had no effect only Prednisolone> I suffered a lot of aching at the back of my knees>
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Had hip replacement 4 months previous to first symptoms. Thought I had strained my shoulder from use of crutches.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = Under 50 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Groin and hip pain was sudden. Woke up one morning and could not walk due to pain. Within in 2 weeks had pain in both shoulders. Could not raise my arms above my head or around my back. The year leading up to my symptoms I had been very unwell. I had to get immunized for my nursing course - hep B (x3 over 2 months), whooping cough, tetanus, diphtheria and the flu vaccine. After this I became really unwell for months - oral thrush, sinus infections, conjunctivitis, flu. Later I lost a tooth and needed to get it fixed. Turns out he dentist fractured one of my teeth (I thought he had pulled it out, but he assured me that it was fine) and turns out I have had an infection above that tooth for a year and a half ( I thought I had an ulcer got the doc to check but unfortunately the thrush showed on the swab, turns out the ulcer was actually an infection port). I had also felt a twang in my back the week before my symptoms. Blood tests showed raised CRP and ESR
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Started in my hips, then to my shoulders, then knees, then wrists and hands. In just a matter of days!!
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Started with fatigue and stiffness, then pain in hips and thighs, then after several months severe shoulder pain.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I had experienced shoulder pain for which I have been given joint injection of steroids which did not help. Approx 3 weeks later I woke up unable to move. I could reach out to get the phone on the bedside table to call for help. When my husband found me he had to man-handle me to get me upright and had to help me to the toilet. I could not sit down without excruciating pain that made me cry. It felt like I had turned to concrete and that my muscles and ligaments were molten lava. I have never experienced pain like that. My neck was so stiff and sore I could not raise my head properly and I could not move my arms more than an inch form my sides. My GP took one look at jme as I struggled in the wiating room and diagniosed PMR> This was confirmed by the haematologist a few weeks later. My response to pred was slow but effective. I have never been totally pain free since diagnosis.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	At diagnosis plasma viscosity was 2.07 and CRP was 56.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	Lack of energy starting early 2015. Double vision and seeing things, that weren't there, in peripheral vision -from March of 2015. Indigestion-like symptoms (never have it normally). Pain between shoulder blades for 5 days - and in between breasts for days 4 and 5. That went then I got a sore throat and what appeared to be swollen glands on left hand side of neck. Total loss of appetite. Jaw wouldn't open and there was pain if I tried to chew - Claudication in both sides of jaw and tongue root both sides. Pain in both temples - but never on crown of head. Prescribed antibiotics by emergency Doctor - they caused severe nausea but I hadn't eaten so all that came up was white foam. By day 3 of that I was flat on the floor with a headache across my brow as well. By the time the out of Hours Doctor arrived (May 4th 2015) I had visible lumps on both temples - more prominent on the left hand side. The OOHD gave me 60 mg of Steroids and sent me to the Emergency Emissions Department of our local Hospital.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = Under 50 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Started 2 weeks ago, aching arms and back at work. Went to GP 7 days later who took bloods and gave me the results and steroids to take 5 days later. Altogether a quick process.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I'm sorry I do not have the exact numbers for my ESR and CRP results. My first doctor said my blood results were all normal. A new GP said the inflammation markers were slightly elevated. She is the doctor who put that information together with my symptoms and suggested pmr as a diagnosis.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I had swellings of ankles and hands. Was unable to grip because of pain and stiffness. Loss of appetite, extreme sleepiness
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = Under 50 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Not sure if it is sudden or gradual - in mid-August I woke up feeling as though I had pulled a calf muscle; felt the same for a few days. Now mid-September and pain progressed to sore shoulders and have a hard time functioning because of pain pain in shoulders, forearms, hips and sometimes inner thigh, quads.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Had just recovered from a rotator cuff injury that was treated with physiotherapy only.. Prior to diagnosis I was taking co-drydamol and neurofen which did not take away any pain.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Started in my hands with excruciating pain at night then hips and behind the knees then moving to shoulders all within 3 weeks and lady but not lease one of my toe
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Flu type illness 2weeks, subsided for a week then re occurance of flu symptoms requiring antibiotics. Experienced tenderness in lower left rib cage area X Ray NAD (still have intermittent tenderness other PMA sufferers have suggested this tenderness is due to blocked lymph nodes as shown on their scans. Menopause symptoms, hot flushes,adrenaline surges throughout this time. Woke up during the night with severe pain in both hips,shoulders and upper arms. Gp appointment made and Gp suggested PMR and sent me for blood tests. I felt sure this was due to menopause and asked if he would check my hormone levels also thinking perhaps HRT treatment may help the issue ( I felt this was less scary than long term prednisolone)
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Knee replacement and Two back surgeries for spinal stenosis in the two years prior to diagnosis.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = Under 50 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Very hard to get rheumatologist to diagnose as pmr.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	First signs were an inabilty to raise one's hands above the shoulder and couldn't raise my right leg to sit in the car seat. I had to lift the leg by grasping the trouser lleg at the knee. Nightly fasciculation, (minute twitches) of biceps and triceps in both arms; it felt like insects crawling inside one's flesh. Each night comprised: 2 hours sleep + 3 hours fasciculation + 3 hours abject muscle-pain from the acrued lactic acid. Under a high Naproxen dosage of 400mg/day.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Extreme stiffness lasting till mid afternoon. Very bad flu like symptoms. All joints ached and very tender. Mainly hips knees and feet
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I had the high dose flu vaccine and within two days developed stiffness in my legs. Within a week my biceps and shoulders were painful and stiff.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	My Dr. G.P discovered I had a bacteria infection which collapsed my left lower lung and it had spread throughout my body even into my nose. It took about 3 months to clear this infection up on anti biotics, after which I developed PMR, which took them about 7weeks to diagnose. I could hardly walk up stairs and suffered pains in shoulders, neck arms and legs and ankles. Dr tried me on Prednisone which worked overnight, hence the diagnosis of PMR. I have been on Prednisone for nearly 10 months now, I gradually went down to zero Predn. as I felt so good, but then had a major relapse, my own fault I took myself off the Medication too soon. I am now on 60mg as I was suffering from terrible headaches and tenderness on the top of my head for about 7 months, this 60mg has dropped my ESR down to 5 and also my inflammatory marker down. I will be gradually tapering down slowly off the Prednisone in 2 weeks time if markers are still low. Dr has told me I may have to be on a very low dose for the rest of my life. I developed about 2 months ago epi sceleritis in my left eye (red eye) and my Opthamologist said it is caused by the PMR, I am putting a steroid drop in that eye to take away the redness which has worked. I believe I suffer from GCA as well, my GP is not too sure, I have not had a biopsy for this, but these headaches tell me especially the tenderness on top of my head is that I could be suffering from it. I do not have pain around the temples, though I have read you do not necessarily get the pain around the temple, and there is no noise over the Bruits.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	It started like I had arthritis symptoms and after a few weeks I could not get in or out of my bed . I had trouble getting off the toilet . I had trouble getting in and out of cars. I had to sleep in a recliner chair . My GP suggested PMR but my blood came back normal and not elevated . I had x rays, bone scans , ultra sounds etc. Only when I saw a rhumi did he do a more sophisticated blood test that showed inflammation . He put me on 20mg prednisone and told me to call him in the morning. Felt much better in 2 days. That was October 1 2014 . I am now on 2.5 mg but I am finding myself tired and having problems with my Knees especially the right side. Seeing him next week
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I first noticed difficulty at night while sleeping and trying to roll over which caused a lot of pain in my arms/shoulders. I thought I pulled a muscle in my right arm initially but realized the pain was in both arms. The pain was worse in my right arm at the onset of PMR but 7 months after diagnosis my left arm/shoulder is more painful. I have hip pain as well but the arm & shoulder pain bothers me the most. Before being diagnosed I remember jokingly telling a friend one evening that I thought I had bone cancer because it felt like my whole body had gone through the rinse cycle in a washing machine. I'm currently down to 8 1/2 mg of prednisone from a starting dose of 15 mg. I've had 2 injections in my shoulders in the last 3 months and have had trouble tapering off the prednisone. Every time I taper off my symptoms get worse. I'm trying to deal with some pain & discomfort to lower the prednisone as much as possible. My PA in my doctors office was skeptical of diagnosing me with this due to my age which was 53; but I had self diagnosed myself before I was seen. Rheumatologist confirmed diagnosis. I have had a lot of problems with carpal tunnel syndrome as well, I don't know if any other people with PMR have had the same problem.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Symptoms came two months after I fell and broke my wrist. Had surgery to have a plate put on my wrist. Recovery from this was very emotional for me as I could not exercise and I was a very active 60 yr old.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I was taking Aleeve for a back issue which may be why the symptoms appeared mainly in my neck and shoulders. Whe told to stop the Aleeve I added hip and leg pain as well.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Have been on steroids and methotrexate for 10 months.. still symptoms..
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Started in back in July, then to hip and by mid September into shoulders and neck . so stiff in the morning and painful.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I had pain stiffness and fatigue for some years before a sudden intensification overnight of illness.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Regarding #7 -My SED rates were initially 39, not certain about ESR. In the following months they were 27, 20, 28. Regarding #8- not certain
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Considering shoulder pain that occurred in the fall for several weeks as unrecognized onset. In Jan I had a rapid onset of pain and stiffness in my fingers in one day and ended up in the ER unable to tolerate any use of them or others touching them. That was the first day I became seriously ill.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Had several flu type viruses after each one my overall condition was worse.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 80 or over Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	I felt fatigued, in pain, very ill. I did not have significant headache. I had severe pain in all my bones and had many lumps in my breasts. I had heavy night sweats and could not eat. The GP put me in for breast cancer and bone cancer investigations. I got worse while waiting and could barely manage water. and finally a doctor thought it might be GCA and after a dose of prednisalone 60 mg I was immediately able to eat and feel better. I tried to reduce and got down to 6 but relapsed. I am now on 20mg metharexate by injection and 15 mg prednisalone. I have been reducing and relapsing for 2 1/2 years and have just had cancer removed with a right hemicolectomy. My diabetes is on 1500 metformin and not under control. My glaucoma is worse and I have had a trabeculectomy. I am about to have chemotherapy so will have to come off methatrexate which I think has not had much effect. Whence next?
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 75 to 79 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Notes mention that CRP at onset was 144 whatever that means. No other figures.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I had an ache in my arm for a few months, didn't think anything of it, just a strain. Then one morning, I couldn't get out of bed. Boom. Paralyzed. Had to go to emergency to be diagnosed. I told them it was PMR as my neighbour had it and they concurred. Went on prednisone that evening and was able to move freely the following morning.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = Under 50 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	At original diagnosis I was put on 30 mg Prednisone and with in a few hours was a lot better. To have complete relief I actually divided my dose to 3 times a day as my symptoms lasted all day. As they lowered my Prednisone level my symptoms came back. My Rheumatologist has put me on Methotrexate with Prednisone and my symptoms continue. My C-Reactive is at 20 and my ESR (SED) rate 22 after 1 year of treatment. I find I am discouraged and tired of hurting. I was diagnosed at 43 yrs old and am now 44.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	Feeling run down and exhausted, with aching limbs and lethargy for some months before diagnosis. Having trouble with lifting my arms and difficulty in walking. Very exhausted and feeling "low" and a sense of not being able to cope much longer - but didn't know why
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Initial symptom, commencing mid January 2016, was lower back pain that lasted for about eight weeks. During this I began experiencing something me discomfort in my shoulders and elbows. The back pain had almost subsided when I developed severe pain and stiffness in my hips - left hip was worse than right. The hip pain started to diminish but shoulder pain/stiffness increased. I woke one morning about 3.5 months after commencement of back pain and notice my right knee was swollen. I had no pain but the swelling increased over the next few weeks and movement was restricted due to the swelling. I was in holiday in Greece at this time and had to buy a walking stick to help with getting up and down stairs, kerbs etc. On my return from this (six week) holiday my symptoms gradually worsened until i found it very difficult to turn over in bed, get out of bed, dress, undress etc. I had already self diagnosed, but it took three further visits to my GP and blood tests before diagnosis and prednisolone prescription. Altogether from onset of symptoms it was 5.5 months to diagnosis. Prior to PMR I had always been fit and active, cycling and walking long distances on a regular basis. Due the summer preceding onset I had a viral infection which was never identified, but lasted a couple of months. The symptoms were sore throat, cough and general fatigue. I had been in oestrogen supplements, I also have a mirena coil, and had been reducing the oestrogen over four/five months leading up to Christmas 2015 when I ceased taking them. I have questioned whether this may have triggered the PMR but my GP has not commented either way.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	Had a sudden onset of flu with chills, fever, aches, loss of continence. After recovery, walked up stairs with great pain, had difficulty getting up from toilet, chairs. This lasted for 2 years, thought it was my weight, later started having what I called a charley horse in the back of my head and neck. Finally went to er with temple pain which was scary. Diagnosed with GCA, but negative biopsy. With 40 mgs of prednisone, no more joint pain. After tapering off after two months, pain was back with a vengeance. Lost some eyesight after 2 more months, another negative biopsy. But finally saw a rhuematologist, who started treatment for both GCA and PMR. The fatigue and prednisone is hard to get used to.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Suffered with back,hip,foot,thigh pain for acouple of years,then over a short period I could hardly walk anymore and then came the sudden onset of unbearable shoulderpain and more severe pain over whole body. After bloodtest the GP called to say that I had PMR. Prednisolon took all the pain away in 3 days.I have started Prednisolon at 25mg. For 2 months.Then reduced to 20 mg. for 2 months,then 15mg.for 2 months. When reducing to 10 mg. I lasted on that dose for 18 days ,then went back to 15mg. Have not felt as good as I did before on that dose.Am wondering if I should try taking 17.5mg. For a while. Side effects of the Prednisolon are horrible. Lost 75 percent of my hair,gained many kilos,have agiant moonface,a bullsized neck.hump on back of neck and am pouring with perspiration on a constant basis(day and night) get cramps in my feet and hands(but take magnesium taurate now,which helps) I live in the Netherlands wher they only supply you with 5mg.tabs of Prednisolon,which makes it impossible to reduce slowly.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Possibly started with extremely painful neck and slight stiffness and two months later flu like symptoms sore all over and increasing /severe stiffness. Progressed over two months to almost paralysis and excruciating pain
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Started with strange tension in the neck, worse at bedtime and in bed. At same time, increase in tiredness and feeling cold. After a bereavement, moving house and getting a really nasty 'flu and chest infection, I suddenly developed a very painful lower back pain. This increased until the thighs and shoulders were affected and I could not kneel or bend. I was in a lot of pain and very tired. The GP told me I had low iron stores in my body as well as PMR. The symptoms have waned rather from about 6 months after the initial diagnosis, enough for me to return to work on a graded schedule. Now, two years later, the symptoms are much less and I hope are going away. The pain in my hips and thighs is minimal; the shoulder pain spreads across the chest but is manageable. I have never used steroids as I was horrified at the idea of the side effects but managed with a mixture of over the counter medication, rest, gentle exercise, osteopathy and massage.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I had been diagnosed with fibromyalgia many years before and thought initially it was that.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Vomiting on a long haul flight. Hard to walk etc. thereafter. Flu like symptoms. Weakness, stiffness, couldn't lift me arms up. Had been feeling generally unwell and depressed for 3 years approx.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Several years before diagnosis I suffered from terrible fatigue which I thought was due to menopause , took a course of antidepressants and then went off after 2 years. Wonder if it was the beginning of PMR. 6 months prior to diagnosis I saw rheum about feelings of swelling in 2 fingers and body felt inflamed.he could find nothing and I had no pain at that time yet. He said it was too early for something to show as blood tests were ok.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Severe pain and stiffness at bedtime...fatigue during the day...loss of appetite, weight loss.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = Under 50 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Started with pain and stiffness in both hips and groin. Woke up one morning and it took about 30 minutes to try and get out of bed. 2 weeks later pain and stiffness in both my shoulders. I couldn't lift my arms above my head.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Started with neck/back ache, which I attributed to change of pillow and lack of back support. Progressed to difficulty in getting up from crouching. All symptoms worse on waking - started taking NSAIDs. Pain became unbearable in whole body on waking, especially knees which were immensely painful to bend. Very difficult to turn in bed. I was in Oz and thought that I had got Ross River fever or Barmah Forest virus - mosquito spread viruses that are common in Oz. and that it would improve with time. I was caring for my partner who was dying of cancer so by the time I got to see a GP my ESR was 120 and my CRP was 149. I was negative for RRF and BFV and so went onto steroids (15mg - according to UK guidelines although the GP and specialist both wanted me to go on a higher dose because of my severe condition). I was 70% better within a week and my ESR went down to 70 within 3 days. I have not managed to get off steroids yet [started 04/13] but have been on <5 mg/day for last 18 months. When I got down to 2.5mg/day my symptoms returned and I doubled the dose to try to 'nip it in the bud'. I sometimes get chest ache at rest and wonder if I have large vessel vasculitis - no way to find out unless more research is done with PET scans.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	Began with lower extremity and hip pain and muscle stiffness/spasticity, with inability to get out of bed or raise from a chair after sitting for a few minutes. Concurrent with R shoulder pain that was severe from the blade into the shoulder and occasionally down into the forearm and wrist. Then pain in Left shoulder began. Had multiple SCANS and MRIs: diagnosed with bursitis in both hips, knees, and shoulders with partial tearing of the rotators bilaterally, the R gluteus minimus/medius muscles and partial thickening of the hamstrings ( bilateral). extreme fatigue with loss of 50 pounds in 4 months , low grade fevers that came and went, severe muscle pain, headache with scalp and R temporal pain, R eye vision is now blurry. This all started in September 2015 and I was diagnosed August 29, 2016. Tempora rteryt biopsy was negative, but I had 12 days of 60 mg prednisone. Still have eye and head symptoms with vision loss.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	Went to ER for temporary loss of vision, and with question and blood work was told, I had GCA/PMR
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I had lower back and sciatic problems for many years before PMR onset, and I had irritating lung problems resembling a low level infection of some kind that kept returning for a couple of years before onset.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	One morning could not turn over in bed. Difficult to get up. Very stiff .
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 80 or over Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	intense piercing head pain top of skull above right eye
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Began as one sore shoulder. Over several months progressed to groin, neck and both shoulders to the point where I needed a cane to walk and could not lift my arms enough to dress myself, brush hair, etc.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	On reflection I think I had been having symptoms for between 4-5 years but because I saw a different GP or locum at each consultation with various but similar complaints no dots were joined. Unable to turn over in bed Unable to lift head when lying down Unable to carry more than one very light weight thing at a time, e.g. small cup Had to hold on and two feet to a stair going up or down
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I had a tendon operation on my shoulder. PMR started after that, whilst I had my arm in a sling.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	1. started with severe headache and some shoulder and neck pain in Jan. Symptoms disappeared end April 2. typical PMR symptoms developed March. Muscle stiffness, acute pain in shoulders and hips, reduced mobility, rapid weight loss - 2 stone in 2 month - weakness. fatigue, depression, etc. 3. finally diagnosed with PMR in May. 4. started treatment on 15mg pred. 100% improvement in first 24hrs. 5. tapered to 10mg by end Sept 6. symptoms of PMR still present but much reduced and quite bearable. 7. have had possible GCA symptoms since March. Claudication, sensitive scalp but no headache and vision not affected. GCA not confirmed as GP says test would be compromised by steroids.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	3 colds/coughs Nov/Dec 2014 and Feb 2015. Stiffness and tiredness started March 2015 moving from head and shoulders to hips and legs with increasing fatigue, shuffling walk, difficulty turning over in bed or climbing stairs.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	One morning could not turn over in bed. Difficult to get up. Very stiff .
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 75 to 79 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Caught a cold which felt more like flu. When those symptoms had gone I was left with intense pain and stiffness in all my muscles particularly the shoulders and hips
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Apart from pain and stiffness my legs felt incredibly weak and some days I could only walk very slowly.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	My symptoms worsened for two months before I figured it out from research on internet. I went to my doctor and explained what I had read and she agreed and completed blood work.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Original symptoms diagnosed as Vitamin D deficiency
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = Under 50 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	The progression was gradual after recovering from a broken ankle, period of 6-8 months. Then symptoms progressed quite suddenly, within 1-2 weeks and worsend for 7-8 months
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	frozen shoulder had been "thawing" March, April, May, June 2015 Upper Back achiness. Vice around middle.feel upon deep inhale. When relaxed do not feel pain at all. Weird migrating pain --sometimes middle/center/left/right July and August 2015 sharp pain in center of back between shoulder bladespersistent pain in right shoulder and then left shoulder too, all over back pain moving down outside of arms First visit Shamblaw--primary care pain in hips pain behind knees stiffness all over and worst in morning trouble dressing, showering, combing hair, etc. gel phenomenon couldn't sit for more than 15 minutes--have to stand, wait, slowly walk, often walk very weird like duck. Did not improve much with continued walking could not sleep through the night--woke up at least four or five times started taking xanax, aleve, tylenol when went to bed and helped so I woke up less often. Use of tylenol and aleve didn't seem to help much in general--day or night. pain was worst when lying down. Rolling over in bed at night was awful. Trying to get up out of bed was worse. August of 2015 Stiff neck was the last awful thing. Chills, low grade fever, some low back discomfort could not turn head very far to left or right and back of neck ached badly Shamblaw Elevated/positive ANA--referral to rheumatologist 09/02/15 Broudy doesn't think it's rheumatic. Does not consider ANA of 1:40 as a positive. Gave me shoulder exercise sheet and Vitamin D prescription. Severe Vitamin D deficient. Slightly high sed rate and CRP? September Still suffering with extreme issues October went to another rheumatologist--gave me 15 mg prednisone and it was like a miracle.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Complicated by having arthritis in both hips making walking any distance difficult. Steroids stop the aches in the muscules of arms,thighs and neck well, but don't really help with fatique. The pain in my joints I think are mainly due to arthritis.Its very hard to tell what's causing which pain.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Gradually started noticing I was moving slowly when getting up from chair, out of car, going up stairs. Wondered why my mom, in her 80's, was moving much faster than me. Was seeing a doctor for recently diagnosed asthma, so though the muscle aches were side effects of the various asthma medicines. At annual physical, I mentioned pain in both thumbs. Doctor ordered CRP and SED, and when CRP came back high referred me to Rheumatologist. Had to wait 1 month for appointment and developed significant pain in outer thighs while waiting for appointment. Prednisone helped immensely within 48 hours. Much of my difficulties involved my thigh muscles. It felt like only 1/2 of each muscle was working. About 4 months to get from 20 to 10, then 9 months at 10, and then experienced a major shift, where my muscles once again felt like the whole muscle was working. Quit part time job just before the shift. Debilitating Fatigue, Brain Fog, and sleep issues were huge problems. Took about 4 months to go from 10 to 5, then stayed there about 9 months. Then a second major shift where the fatigue finally lessened and I began to be able to function and handle a few things each day without exhaustion or naps. Now trying to reduce again, and hopeful I am nearing the end of this disease.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 80 or over Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Gradually got worse over a period of 3 months. Saw GPs in Practice to complain about pain, restriction of movement, gemeral malaise. Was repeatedly prescribed pain killers in strengthening doses with minimal response. I finally demanded to be referred to a rheumatologist (privately, as NHS waiting list was so long.) He diagmosed PMR in 10 minutes. 20mg presnisolone dealt with pain within 2 days. Now, 15 months later I am currently on 2.5 mg on a self-devised slow reduction programme. I had one minor relapse at 7 to 6 mg. On the whole, feeling ok - occasional twinges but no serious pain, recurrent fatigue when I fail to manage my activities properly. Still have'nt regained previous energy level.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	pain and tightness in glutes, hamstrings, but have had back problems on and off for yrs, mri showed herniated disk, stenosis of the spine, degenerative disk(diagnosed yrs prior) all this in july , aug,2016, sept had severe pelvic pain, experience yr before, put down to ibs, lasted day or two, felt unwell couple days,right shoulder started up with pain and stiffness, went fishing for week with right shoulder hurting, hard to fish, open doors etc, sept 10-19, returned home, had shoulder xray, ultrasound, dr thought rotator cuff problem, also had ultrasound abdomen, etc, tests cme back, nothing stood out to cause pain i was having, gradually got worse, thxgiving weekend, on the mon morning, couldn,t lift cover off bed, couldn,t raise arm, arms to brush teeth or hair without terrilbe stiffness and pain, hurting in glutes hamstrings, went to dr on the tues am, gp, diagnosed pmr, didn,t do blood work thou, prescribed 40 mg pred, within hrs pain gone, reduced every few days to 25, saw rheumy, reduced futher to 20 been on since nov 1, have had pain not as bad, but there every day since, subsides after up early hrs of am, subsides most days after 5-6 hrs after taking pred ? rheumy not sure if pmr, no baseline bloodwork done, recent blood work does show some inflammation, not normal levels of anything at this point, now start 2 days ago reduce to 17.5, rheumy ordered another ultrasound on shoulder, think this is different issue than pmr, and glute and hamstring discomfort , pain coming from back problem ?? frustrated not knowing if diagnosis by gp correct or some other disease, and taking pred when not necessary, now have to taper slowly,
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	history includes carpal tunnel syndrome and CTS surgery; miscarriage; bursitis; rosacea; migraine; TMJ; high cholesterol; recurring infections; neck and back stiffness/pain/immobility all for over many years before full-blown PMR
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Progressed over 6 weeks, last two weeks before diagnosis were aggressive.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I thought the initial pain was due to muscle strain so tried physiotherapy which probably made it worse. I sought medical help after 6 weeks and, fortunately, was diagnosed at the first consultation.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	It started in mid December and by mid January I could barely get up out of bed in the morning. It was particularly severe in the left leg and it was very difficult to walk. Over time it has migrated to my shoulders, back, and arms. My right hand has also gone numb and achey. The prednisone helps it but doesn't entirely bring it back to normal. Now (two and a half months later) it has started to affect my left hand, too. I wrote a letter outlining all my symptoms to my doctor, and by the time I got in to see him, he had a pretty good idea of what it was. He ordered the sed rate blood test and tried me out on 20 mg. of prednisone for 3 days, which relieved most of the symptoms greatly. I don't know what my sed rate was, my internist just told me it was very elevated.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Started with burning in thighs and stiff feeling in lower legs and then hips got stiff and achy about month later then knees got severely stiff and could not move at night and mornings was able to get moving for a few months and then started having all day pain in knees and hips. Six months in shoulders and forearm pain. Terrible nights could not turn over. Took trail pregnizone and had about 80 percent relief but knees were still stiff and pain in biceps. Had pain in chest when breathing air in and that resolved with pregnizone. Pregnizone scares me so I stopped after a week. I felt starving all the time and pressure in my chest. I felt good for about two weeks after and then severe shoulder,neck knee some times ankle and wrist pain on both sides. I am in the worse pain than ever now and trying to get though by advil once in a while. Turmeric twice a day, fish pills twice a day, magnesium twice a day,vitamin d and Vitamin c 1000 per day MSN glucosamine. I walk on treadmill every morning to get moving for 30 to 40 minutes.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	elevated platlet count on diagnosis
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	My most obvious early symptom was right knee pain for which I sought Ortopaedic advice.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I was stalked for over ten years. It was terrifying - constant adrenaline on a daily basis. I firmly attribute PMR (if the GP's dx is correct) to that persistent 24/7 nightmare. About 7 yrs ago, started with R foot and then gradually all over my body - not just the listed, limited areas.Also very under-remarked in all the lists is the SHEER EXHAUSTION. Like someone just switches me off. I become immobile and my brain goes to mush. The only way I *just about get by* is to do very modest/basic domestic stuff for 30mins-hour and then lie down to rest for an hour/90mins. 'Pacing' they call it and keep telling me to do. And this is with 15mg/d Prednisolone. Without, I am a zombie. This is the UK's NHS. This dx has only just been made in the last 6weeks. (The NHS is sicker and more dysfunctional than the vast majority of its patients) Have my very first rheumatlogist appt in a few months.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Unanswered	Onset followed an injury to knee ligament which prompted me to over-strain my arms (in getting out of chair, bed, etc), for which I had physiotherapy - and improved. Some weeks later my shoulders/upper arms were stiff and painful, and later this spread to hips/thighs and increasingly I had difficulty getting out of bed or even turning over. Also had very severe headaches for a period but these eased of own accord (not associated with jaw/neck/temple/visual problems)
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Like I got hit by a truck. Halloween, pain in left biceps. 3 days later, right arm. Day after Trump got elected, front of both thighs ahd hands (stess induced?) By Veterans Day, could not come to a sitting position from lying in bed, could not stand from a chair, without great difficulty and pain.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 75 to 79 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I was taking Ibuprofen (800 mgs daily) for pain for almost a year. An MRI showed bursitis of left hip and right torn rotator cuff. At the same time I was given Levofloxacin for suspected pneumonia which caused lost muscle control of my legs after three pills. Had night sweats, lost 20 lbs, and walked with difficulty because of stiff hips and bad knees. Could not get up from a seated position without assistance. MD suspected that Levofloxacin t triggered RA. After six months, changed MD and was given 15 mgs Prednisone and was almost immediately be able to walk, pain free and unassisted (no cane). Diagnosed January 2016; Two, too fast, attempts to reach 5 mgs failed. I am currently taking 6 mgs since Feb 2017. Since then had a right knee replacement, April 24, 2017, during which old ulcers (unknown to me) caused vomiting blood from blood thinner. Recent ulcer med caused hives. Changed ulcer med and am currently coping with middle of the night hives which disappear after morning pred dose. Am considering upping the pred dose.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	ESR not done but month later was 7
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 75 to 79 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	at least two years of terrible pain in shoulders and neck. Then in last two weeks severe headache, night sweats, extruding arteries in temples. Then suddenly total loss of sight in left eye.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	Night sweats Feeling unwell Stress of moving Stressful relationship
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I had been feeling like I had low level flu for years. I became suddenly acutely unwell on a long haul flight with vomiting, groin and shoulder pain. I was diagnosed upon my return and responded to PMR within 48 hours, mobility restored and pain greatly reduced. I had had the stress of caring for my mother with Dementia for 7 years and extreme stress caused by my sibling.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	PMR for 2 years undiagnosed, then GCA presentation in lower extremities which required revascularizatiin of leg by the time diagnosis was made
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Severe food poisoning on holiday finished me off . I could not walk when leaving the plane after overnight flight .Had problems getting up from sitting getting worse for some time , had steroid injections in hands the previous year they were very bad for some months, told I had osteoarthritis severe in them . Could not sit on chair, pain in buttocks.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Began finding walking difficult progressed in about a two week period to shoulders and hips. Difficult to get out of bed. Needed a cane to walk finally.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Started in Jan 2017 with pain in my sitting bones and very tight hamstrings, especially after sitting. By end Feb, had spread to my shoulders and neck, and I had become immobile - difficulty walking (esp uphill / up stairs), couldn't bend down to pick anything up off the, floor, couldn't put my own socks, on, very painful turning over in bed, combing hair, etc etc. GP diagnosed straightaway, despite relatively normal inflammatory markers. Prior to this I had undergone a prolonged period of severe stress: 11 years caring for my husband who was very severely disabled (paralysed in a motorbike accident with a broken neck), as well as working full time and with a young child. Then 2 years ago my husband died traumatically from pneumonia. Looking back I think my symptoms (especially muscle pain and stiffness) had been coming on very gradually over a number of years. I feel I am still holding a lot of tension in my body, even though the actual stress of my situation has gone away. I also feel the onset of PMR may have been triggered by a cold virus which I had about a year before diagnosis - it took me a couple of months to shift it and I felt very run down.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	It took about a month before I sought medical help with a Rheumatologist who diagnosed me on the first visit and proceeded to blood tests, which continued monthly throughout the entire time I was treated.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	In early march 2014 I began to have stiffness and pain in my shoulders, hips and legs. I saw a physiotherapist whose only suggestion was to set my kitchen timer to remind me to get up and walk around every 15 mins. By March 2014 I was finding it progressively harder to sit up and get out of bed. By June 2014 it was taking me 45 mins to get out of bed because I could only move millimetres at a time on waking and the pain in a morning was so severe that I dreaded going to sleep. The first rheumatologist I saw(Aug 2014) misdiagnosed me with fibromyalgia but luckily, Dec 2014, another rheumatologist diagnosed PMR and started me on 15 mg prednisolone, which greatly improved my stiffness, pain and quality of life. I could write much more about all this, but I'm not sure his much you want.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	PMR symptoms developed straight after a bad virus but also just after my husband was made redundant ( physical and emotional stress) Started with frozen shoulder too and then pain and aching in both legs,back,hips and shoulders. Took 2 years to get a proper diagnosis as I didn't fit the list of symptoms- no morning stiffness, too young etc. Had to have a PET scan before I was believed. Have now had it 5.5 years and never got below 10mgs Pred.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Pain in both shoulders over 2-3 weeks which I put down to havin had sons dog to stay and doing much more tugging/throwing. Gradually increased to involve hips, legs and generalised stiffness.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 75 to 79 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	Felt very tired an d had a pail in my neck did not have any other symptoms
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	Had two surgeries in the 12 months prior to developing Pmr. (total knee replacement and surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis). the stenosis surgery in November2012,knee replacement in January, 2013 . In August, 2013, i developed severe upper respiratory infection, including asthma , treated with antibiotics and prednisone. The august asthma event was my first awareness that I was suffering from inflammatory disorder. I was dosed with 20 mg pred, on a typical respiratory treatment taper. During that prednisone treatment, the pain I had been experiencing (gradual development and increase over the prior 4-6 months) was instantly relieved. I was shocked at the pain relief, and within one months of ending the initial prednisone tx, the pain crashed back into me!! Worse than ever. September, 2013, I went to my GP in pain, told her what happened and she gave tentative diagnosis of PMT, later confirmed by rheumy. In the late september, after coming off abx and prednisone, i woke up with extreme shoulder pain, diagnosed and treated as PMR.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	Initial symptoms - biceps. progressed to shoulders, left always worse than right - frozen shoulder diagnosed and treated as such for 15 months. Increasing fatigue. At 15 month point began to get headaches -classic GCA symptoms - eventually leading to loss of sight in right eye - then diagnosed as GCA in hospital A&E dept. by ophthalmologist
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	Started in right hip and was unable to turn over in bed. Progressed to my neck after a short time and unable to lift or move my head then after a couple of months it followed more usual pattern and I sought help.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	gradual as in over a few weeks, became unbearable pain then overnight, needing hospitalisation iv
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Started in low back and neck, spread to shoulders within a couple days, spread to hips and knees within 3 weeks. 10 mg prednisone eliminated symptoms in 12 hours.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	Thought I had cluster headaches over several years. diagnosed with biopsy of temporal arteritis before the poly began affecting me. Also diagnosed with third nerve palsy as left eye lid was droopy.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = Under 50 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Been on prednisolon one year - my raumathist won't give me the diagnose because "then I would be historical" no one in mye age has PM. I am 43. I have all the symptoms. Nothing is found on any tests - MR, Exray blood samples I am testet screened for everything, been in hospital for two days. They can't find nothing. After one year on Prednisolon with a lot of exercise - my legs do not work and I dont feel any better. They have taken me off Prednisolon because they dont belive its that - they belive its Psykosomatic. I know its not - I love my life - but I can't function. I can't get up in the morning and now I can't work. I strongly belive its PM but I have a low CRP and to low low age??
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Gradual but quite rapid
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	40 days srong pains in the shoulders .After then begginig of medrol 12,5 /beacose of diabetes/ After 2 days whith medrol,I have knees pain
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	June 2017 pain in left side of neck, 2 days after having lifted and tipped tubs contents over a wall... hence passed it off as muscle strain, as did the GP who said it was osteo arthritis.. Pain continued sporadically and was particularly severe by end of July when I was unable to lift both arms. Early August a different GP made PMR diagnosis and commmenced me on 50mg Prednisone. I had to travel to Hong Kong one week later for 3 weeks and over that period I gradually reduced dose to 20mg but was experiencing occasional “tingling” in left temple. Saw a rheumatologist upon my return to Sydney but by first week of October, when I was on 17mg, inflammatory markers again increased (ESR 83; CRP 18.1). I had also experienced temporary loss of vision, less than 60 seconds, in the inner corner of the left eye. By then it was too late to do TA biopsy (opthalmologist did not find anything untoward) but the rheumatologist decided to treat me for GCA and dose increased to 50mg again. I have since been decreasing dose more slowly and am currently at 12.5mg. Also experience tingling in feet and bladder weakness. Over 3 years ago I suffered an embryonic tick attack (over 100 bites) with a severe inflammatory reaction. I did consult an allergy specialist recently to establish any possible link but her response was negative.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	PMR diagnosed 10 yrs ago followed by GCA 4yrs ago & still taking Prednisolone plus Methotrexate. Symptoms of both still occurring daily at present time. 2008 steroid dose 30mg reducing to 3mg in 2003 when GCA developed. 55mg Prednisolone prescribed for GCA as ESR & CRP results so high. Still seeing Rheumatologist regularly & 6 weekly blood tests
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Gradual loss of abilities and increase in pain, difficulty in sleeping during the last five stressful years of my husband's life. Couldn't do anything to help him until I had been up for at least an hour, and couldn't sit comfortably with him in the evening, hip stiffness and pain. Doctor said symptoms due to stress. After his death symptoms put down to grief, later lung or heart problems. Prescribed physio to improve my cardiovascular function which left me exhausted. Gave up smoking and had surgery for cateracts and carpal tunnel syndrome during this time. Finally diagnosed from bloodtest 1 year ago, 2 1/2 yrs after my husband died.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Was taking a 21 day course of anti-biotics for Lyme disease when 2 weeks into it attacked my shoulders and hips bilaterally. Could manage to get by if I took 3 ibuprophen every 4 hours and that just took the edge off the pain.2-weeks of this and I dropped the ibuprophen completely(worried about possible damage to kidneys) and went the next two weeks with no ibuprophen. Found I had to keep getting up every hour and walk around it kept me functioning .couldn't sleep a full night for over 2 weeks.Finally exhausted I laid down with a urine bottle 2 nights and pretty much had to be helped up by 2 people to get to the car.Not moving 2-days sent pain level through the cieling.and stiffened right up bad.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Started in October 2017 after chest cough - progressed all month to not being able to turn over in bed or bend much and could not garden - Diagnosed end November 2017
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	It started after hip replacement. Had a few niggles before this, but after surgery on my r.h hip, i started getting all this pain in my l.h hip &leg.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Suffered with hip pain for several months. Steroin shots in hip. Did not work. Months of very painful feet. Tried special shoes and insoles. Did not work. Very stiff in the mornings and after sitting down for more than 10 minutes. After an extra large flu-shot in November 2016 , developed excruciating pain in my whole body and could not get out of bed, could not lift my arms,comb my hair, have a shower or anything else. This starterd the first week in december 2016.My GP diagnosed me after some blood tests and gave me 25 mg. Prednisolon. It took all the pain away in 2 days. Felt better for a while, but the effect of the prednisolon seems to be wearing off. As of Febuary 2018 I am on 12.5mg preds. But am very stff and still in pain every day. Try to walk a 2 km. Every day, but find it very hard. Have problems with reducing the dosage, as I get bad pain again each time. Gained 25kg. Have all the cushings symptons and my lovely hair turned into a frizzy lionsmane. Hope I will feel good again some day. The preds. Or the PMR caused atrial fib. I had cardio version twice. High BP and cholesterol as well.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I had been feeling unwell for approx 4 months before sudden onset of pain, very tired, depressed and under par generally.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	I first felt symptoms of PMR when I woke up on the morning of 7th April last year, pain and stiffness in all joints. This rapidly became worse until I could barely move. A few days before the onset of PMR I had the first symptoms of GCA, a heavy pressure pain at the back of my head on lying down.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Onset of PMR symptoms concurrent with a bout of Bacterial Pneumonia (CAP) and continuing post-treatment.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I think I had it over a year before diagnosis. I was told I had bursititis, osteoarthritis, a bakers cyst behind my knee cap etc. finally I was told it was PMR.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I think I had it over a year before diagnosis. I was told I had bursititis, osteoarthritis, a bakers cyst behind my knee cap etc. finally I was told it was PMR.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	PCP had no idea. Checked thyroid. Had to fight to get rheumatology consult who diagnosed within 5 minutes.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Stiff neck started on the day I collected my pregnant daughter from uni to come and live back at small home (had downsized as she said she would never return to home town). Stiff neck continued despite osteopath treatment and gradually over the next (stressful!) year I began to notice a reduction in strength - could not walk so far as before. Eventually the penny dropped - my mother has had PM for over 20 years, and my uncle also recently developed it. Googled symptoms - first symptom often stiff neck - and went to my GP with likely diagnosis. Bloods not conclusive but steroids resulted in magical improvement which confirmed PM. So far (2.5 years on) have not been able to get below 9mg without a flare-up. Shortly after diagnosis I developed painful hips - osteo-arthritis. Certainly already there but much worse all of a sudden. Now have very poor mobility - about 100 yards of hobbling with stick. Previously regularly walking at speed about 3 miles several times a week.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	took an new statin like drug called Praulent as I had suffered badly from regular ststins. I believe this drug set me over the inflammation point.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 75 to 79 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I really believe my PMR started after extensive dental surgery (tissue implants). I developed an infection and instead of treating it with continuing antibiotics I was given Prednisone for a short time after my initial treatment with antibiotics. Six months after that I developed symptoms of PMR. And, or course, as stated above I was under tremendous mental stress.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	I became severely dehydrated following a colonoscopy. Thteevweeks later I was diagnosed with GCA/PMR
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	I became severely dehydrated following a colonoscopy. Thteevweeks later I was diagnosed with GCA/PMR
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	For three weeks or so I had been having severe headaches and poppong Tylenol like candy. I have a stressful job in a medical center being the only administrative support person for 100 employees in a clinic that has 13,000 patients so I thought it was stress headaches. I would get home from work after 8hrs and go right to bed and sleep for 12 hrs. I had an RN that works with me say my color looked very pale and I told her I had a horrible headache and felt exhausted. She had me make an appointment with my GP that day and they ran every blood test imaginable. My GP sent me home with instructions to not come back until they were sure I was not contagious with something. Many tests and appointments with Internal Med & Rheumatology doctors the Dx was PMRGCA. I was off work for six weeks trying to get stabilized and strong enough to go back to work.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	PMR developed over about 3 weeks.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	Started with pain at back of my legs, then buttocks, then lower back, then upper arms and shoulders, all within a couple of weeks.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 75 to 79 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Started with lower back pain and minor weight loss, then painful hands leading to more typical PMR pain and stiffness. Initial diagnosis was arthritis, then PMR after about 6 months of changing symptoms.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	On 20 August 2017, I became aware of pain in my left shoulder. During the previous week, I had been busy doing my biennial concrete spraying operation around my house and drive. This involves much loading into / out off my vehicle of five heavy, 20 litre, containers of ‘Move It’ Moss & Mould killer. Then there’s the 5 : 1 dilution – lots more lifting; 500 litres now - and finally several long days of spraying the actual material on my drive and concrete surrounds. On 22 August, my wife, my mother-in-law and I flew to Melbourne for a two week stay with our son, his Australian wife and our two grandsons. We go over about three times a year. We always choose Qantas so we can shift the maximum amount of our son’s gear over: Qantas let you each take 30 kgs. And, naturally, I did all the heavy lifting… So the fact that my left shoulder was sore was not unusual given all this over use. But, to my surprise, rather than my sore shoulder coming right while in Melbourne, it got worse. Quite quickly – within about 48 hours – starting on / about 1 September, my hips became very sore (resulting in difficulty getting into /out of our rental car) my neck become sore (limited range of turning making pulling out at junctions difficult) and finally my right shoulder became sore. At this point, sleeping became difficult as it was very uncomfortable to sleep on my side. Getting out of bed was hard, putting on a sweatshirt required the assistance of my wife and just reaching up to a high shelf for a coffee cup was difficult. So I went online and consulted ‘Doctor Google'. From this it was clear to me I had PMR. I held off going to my son’s local Doctor in Melbourne seeing as we would be home in New Zealand on 6 September. Once home, my GP gave me a chit for the necessary blood tests and put me on a starting dose of 40 mg Prednisone a day. If I developed a sudden headache (which is something I never have) pain in the temples or any sudden eye issue, I was to immediately take 60 mg Prednisone and go straight to hospital as this would indicate I had also contracted GCA. Blood results came back the next day: ESR was 29 mm/hr, CRP was 36 mg/L.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Didn't notice any symptoms at all, but then had a fall, which I don't know if it triggered it, or maybe the fall was caused by the growing disease within me. (My legs just buckled underneath me while I was dancing.) After that, had pain in hips, thought maybe I fractured my hip (did not). After about two weeks, extreme pain started in the shoulders and upper arms, where I could not raise my arms to perform simple tasks, like washing my hair, getting dressed and undressed, styling my hair, reaching for things in the cupboard, etc.. After repeated visits to urgent care, my GP finally diagnosed me with PMR. I resisted taking steroids for 3 months, wanting to try everything else possible, first: Chinese medicine, acupuncture, anti-inflammatory diet, lots of supplements, physical therapy.... nothing worked. The pain would get so bad, it was literally like being stabbed with a knife in my arms and shoulders, just while laying still in bed. In addition, the night sweats were HORRIBLE, waking up 3 to 4 times a night drenched with sweat so badly, I had to change my clothes, then try to find a dry spot in my bed to go back to sleep. The only thing that helped the pain temporarily, was CBD. I would take several hits from the vaporizer before bed, and after each time I woke up during the night, which was every 1 1/2 to 2 hours. By time I had my appt. with the rheumatologist 3 months later, I was at the point where I was BEGGING for the Devil Drug, the steroids!
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Slowly at first over a year or so , then becoming really bad after holiday food poisoning and long haul flight ..
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Sudden onset followed by gradual deterioration over a two month period before prednisolone prescribed
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	One day I ran a fever of 103.5, I thought I had the flu. Was tested for flu and results, according to the emergency room doctor, I was diagnosed with pneumonia. I did not think, and still do not think I projected the symptoms. Anyway, I took the course of medicine prescribed for the next 5 days. It was about 1 week later I woke up and felt like I had been lifting weights all night.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Dorsey first diagnosed as sub acromial compression in shoulders
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	PMR symptoms developed over a period of about 1 month, but progressed rapidly over the last week --could hardly move. CRP over 300.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	Past history - Ca breast, lumpectomy plus radiotherapy (shingles complication) at age 54. From age 60 progressive stiffening of back of thighs, later associated with very very tired legs after playing 18 holes of golf and then after 9 holes. Later intermittent neck and shoulder pain (head too heavy for neck muscles, carrying handbag over shoulder much too heavy). At age 65, H1N1 flu vaccine immediately resulted in 4 bouts of flu - no vaccines since. Over the next 3 years, activating or starting muscle groups (stretching,standing up,walking) became progressively more difficult followed by a fairly rapid onset of generalised muscle pain and problems with doing anything eg getting out of bed, housework, gardening etc. No recovery with rest. Saw neurologist - no diagnosis but mildly abnormal EMG. (Had been on low dose aspirin for 20 yrs). Physio noted left shoulder muscle wasting had occurred. At 70 yrs told GP I would be in a wheelchair within 6 months if diagnosis not forthcoming, told hip replacement would help everything. Post hip replacement very very hypersensitive skin which settled after two weeks. At 3 month check up surgeon recommended I see Rheumatologist for recent onset of shoulder and arm pain and ongoing difficulties with getting around. He suspected/diagnosed PMR that day, followed by urgent blood test then prednisone that evening. Felt back to normal including appetite in 2 days.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	At first suspected Lyme disease since I had visited Connecticut USA, but tested negative. Responded positively to 10mg prednisolone in 2 days. Never regualarly been on more than 10 mg. Now on 4mg after many ups and downs (flares) over 4.5 years. ZostaVax for shingles taken about 10 months before symptoms started.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	I believe,in hind site, that my GCA started in April, while under stress of a daughters wedding and a move to another state. For varies reasons I was given steroids for... ear ache, poison ivy, rash, & neck pain ...that it was not until the first of July that the true symptoms appeared. Not able to move my legs and arms hardly at all. Then in August I had 2 tender spots on top of head. Then the big, enlarged veins started moving down my forehead. This lead me to see my doctor who then ordered the blood work that showed my CRP & ESR was raised .
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	Started with neck stiffness and slight pain wore off mid morning about three months before the rest followed.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Before dx, had symptoms that more or less resolved, in this order: Hand/wrist pain, neck pain, shoulder pain. Then, Developed severe hip, thigh and back pain that responded, at least somewhat, to medrol.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Unanswered	My GP kept stating I had a virus infection for about 6 months before I requested that I had a blood test. My inflammation levels were through the roof. 22 months later I have developed GCA. The biopsy says I haven't got it. The Neurologist says I haven't. My Rheumotologist says I have?? So confused I am.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Bilateral pain in both shoulders and hips. Eventually was unable to get dressed by myself. GP failed to diagnose so had to go privately to rheumatologist.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I was prescribed Omeprazole 2 weeks before the onset of my PMR symptoms.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 75 to 79 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Caught a cold from my granddaughter which felt more like flu then got more and more stiff until I had difficulty getting out of bed, washing and dressing and climbing stairs.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Felt flu like aches in the year preceding diagnosis after a period of intense emotional stress. Symptoms came on suddenly on a long haul flight accompanied by vomiting and specific shoulder arm and groin pain 3years ago.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Started in thighs. Then progressed over next couple of months to neck and shoulders. Often not bilateral. Frozen right shoulder swollen hand prior to cortisone shot and starting prednisone treatment.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	All blood works returned normal, 3rd doctor made a clinical diagnosis and put me on a weeks trial of Prednisolone.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Started in pelvic girdle, next in shoulders, next in neck with occipital headache, next in knees and the elbows. Took about a month to progress to the point I could hardly move.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	Initially wrongly diagnosed with osteoarthritis. 1 year Naproxen given but didn't fully work. Due to bloods being tested every 6 months this showed anaemia and other symptoms i.e wt loss and temple pain in left side when eating almonds.Also had vasculitis rash on body which I had just thought was blood blisters. So Polymyalgia GCA and large vessel vasculitis diagnosed after x ray. Ct scan Ultrasound And PET scan
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I’ve had two distinct episodes: one age 60, 4 days after receiving shingles vaccine- sudden, severe, elevated sed rate& CRP But I cant remember numbers; resolved 1 year with prednisone. Absolutely no symptoms until second episode 9 years later, age 69 when I had gradual onset, no elevation of inflammatory markers; rx’d with 10 mg prednisone and 15 mg methotrexate- has been 5 mos, still on meds but tapering.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Started with stiffness and reduced mobility in hips and legs. Progressed to shoulders and base of neck. Hips and legs have improved but neck and shoulders still affected. Rib pain present throughout.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Given Aldara cream for basal cell treatment. Problems after 2nd treatment
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Diagnosed 10 months after total knee replacement.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Had shingles vaccine Zostavax in September 2012. PMR symptoms developed progresively from October 2013. Initially Lyme disease was suspected since I had visited rural Connecticut in the US where it is endemic. Test fot Lyme was negative, My blood tests ESR and CRP have always been in normal range. Saw rheumatologist in February 2014. He diagnosed is as atypical poly-arthritis, possibly PMR. Started on prednisolone 10mg/day and hydroxychloroquine 200mg.day. I responded to prednisolone relieving much of the pain within 2 days.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I had an accident head injury and burst artery in back of head/neck. went undiagnosed until I got migraine a few weeks later and had 2 strokes. semi-paralysis down rt side. put on statins as a precaution although do not have high cholesterol, a few months later developed weakness in arms diagnosed as PM.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	I have inflammatory arthritis and was being treated with leflunamide and etanercept at the time. Both medication and symptoms had been stable for many years and ESR levels about 27.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	Intense pain started in neck in 2010. Spread to shoulders by 2011. GP suggested PMR. Rheumo not sure, sent me to other depts. Pain got worse over the years with no help. March 2016 went downhill. New rheumo diagnosed GCA, Aortitis, PMR.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Neck ache then eventually arms and legs very stiff in mornings Physical activity helped ease it but aches returned after sitting for short time. I had been through stressful couple of years. Husband had a stroke then cancer operation. I had to leave my job to run my husbands business whilst he was ill then I had an injury to eye and needed injections into eye whilst awake which was horrific. PMR then arrived
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 75 to 79 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I was v fit. Walked 5 stiff miles tho felt unusually fatigued. Next morning I could not bend to put on socks so intense was pain at top of both inner thighs. Diagnosed 3 weeks later and my first half dose (10mg) stopped the pain within hours.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Began with classic rapidly developing shoulder pain, added hip pain for a few days, hand pain, foot pain, and knee pain
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Arms and shoulders started Sept 2015. Neck November 2015. Lower back and hips December 2015. Diagnosis Jan 2016
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Started in shoulders then went to hips/thighs
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	Finger moving difficulty 4 months prior - headache/ like stabbing a back of right eye - still walking and exercising daily while on 2 month holiday. - then on return home seemed flulike symptoms - then suddenly unable to lift head from pillow or move in bed or get out of bed in the morning - crawled to toilet!
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Gradual onset of stiffness then pain in hamstrings then quads then buttocks then calf muscles. Symptoms symmetrical. At first mild stiffness getting worse over about 5 weeks. Woken at night with leg pain. Great difficulty rolling over and getting out of bed. Walking (with a limp) was slow and painful.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Had been experiencing 1-2 day random episodes of incredible fatigue for about a year. Had a cough virus that lasted for 6 weeks in September to October 2017. A couple of weeks later developed flu like symptoms without the bad cold part which lasted 5 days. 6th day felt much better next morning woke up and backs of thighs stiff as boards. Continued like that for 2 weeks feeling very tired as well. Symptoms improved during day, returning each evening. After 2 weeks shoulders joined in and blood tests showed raised ESR & CRP. Diagnosed PMR and commenced 15mgs Prednisolone with marked improvement within a few hours.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	Hi I don’t know my blood results but they were not raised according up my GP I had already started steroids when taken. I had a full headache on my right fife for around 2 weeks that was getting progressively worse and my scalp was getting more and more sensitive. I couldn’t touch my hair by the time I went to out of ours GP. I was falling alsleep mid sentence which alerted my husband that something was very wrong. I am disappointed that I am pn a waiting list for a rheumatologist as there is no fast track system in Bridgend South Wales. I had my eyes checked by optician and all fine do far. I have had carpal tunnel surgery right hand, tennis elbow surgery both elbows, sacriolliac jount gusion both sides colliding a fall and recently I had unexplained pain and swelling in my wrists and hands. Referred to rheumatologist who said bloods fine nothing showed on ultrasound scan. I now wonder if this was /is PMR I have pain in my neck and have bed. Gold I have cervical vertigo because of poor posture following sacriolluac fusion
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = Under 50 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	My symptoms started at a very early age (in my 30s) but because the rheumatologists I was referred to found no RA factor they said I was "factitious" and I received no treatment. I persisted and was given a diagnosis of "osteoarthritis". I entered peri-menopause following the death of my husband in 2001. I was on Naproxen for many years then I was deregistered from my GP in 2012 due to funding shortages in my rural area resulted in the near-closure of my local GP practice. I have been unable to access NHS medication since. I am unable to re-register with a different practice as I am very rural and outside other practice areas. I have been self-medicating with herbal treatments and Ibuprofen. Recently (the past 18 months) my migraines have worsened but it was the appearance of spontaneous black eyes (spontaneous ecchymosis) coupled with an optician's assessment that my eye problems (double vision and spots/floaters) which led me to investigate further and come to the conclusion that PMR with GCA is the most likely diagnosis. I still have no access to medical care though. I am treating with herbal steroids and high dose curcumin along with the Ibuprofen. Its the best I can do.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I started with pains in my legs which I thought was down to sciatica brought on my working hard at my Pilates class. But after 4 months I went to my doctor, who after about a month came to the conclusion that it could be PMR and did blood tests, which proved positive for PMR.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	Acute symptoms felt 7 days following THR
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Feet and hands first
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Feet and hands first
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Feet and hands first
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Feet and hands first
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	Within 3 months all appeared--- weight loss, extreme headaches, scalp pain with tenderness when touching hair - rotating all over head, eye and ear pain, shoulder ache, very painful hips, tiredness, jaw and tongue pain, blurred vision, double vision - all diagnosed as neuralgia - ESR was 26 at start of symptoms which made 3 different doctors, a nurse and a neurologist all dismiss the signs. By the time first eye went blind ESR was 65. Diagnosed by optician with PMA/GCA - sent to A&E Started on 60mg Prednisolone but left eye went worse. Discharged from hospital then right eye got a veil coming up from below as well and finally lost sight in both eyes within 10 days, despite upping Pred to 500mg IV No improvement, total vision loss. Right eye that went last retained some shadow perception for 3 months until pred dose dropped to 20mg then this disappeared.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I had a frozen shoulder the year before, which I felt spread across my neck and and also to the other shoulder. I was treated for frozen shoulders and thnk it was PMR
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = Under 50 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Diagnosed aged 47 by endocrinologist, went to Gp with tiredness and shoulder hip and knee pain, blood tests showed hypothyroid and anaemia, referred to endocrinologist who took further bloods and other tests. Diagnosed: hypothyroid, PMR, hypophysitis, positive adrenal antibodies and post menopausal. Put on 75ugm levothyroxine, 30mg prednisolone, 200mg ferrous sulphate and 25mg vit d daily. Pain disappeared within 48 hours. 2 years later have now tapered to 3mg prednisolone daily - still pain free.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	cramps behind both knees was first symptom followed by hamstring nerves "on fire". Could not sit at all - lying down was only relief. Shoulder pain and stiffness appeared a few weeks later, followed by pain in knees. Later pain and stiffness in pelvic girdle area. GP was trying hydrocodone and PT with no good results. Stiffness and pain made moving from bed to chair a very long process. A second GP ordered more lab tests and found the elevated inflammation markers. Finally got in to rheumatologist after 2 months of suffering. With her dosing of prednisone, I finally started to feel somewhat normal.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	It started on holiday and in my upper back - I though it was from carrying a heavy rucksack and sleeping on uncomfortable pillows piled too high. When we returned home the symptoms descended down my spine. Two and a half weeks later, I started waking up in the night as I could not turn without experiencing pain in my hips. Also in the morning, when I tried drinking my coffee I felt pain in my jaw - I had a massage and as usual symptoms were always better in the afternoon/evenings - around 5pm I almost felt normal. Slowly I started experiencing problems with getting out of bed in the morning and walking. The first GP had no idea and told me to go home and come back two weeks later if I was not feeling better. The second prescribed Naproxen and organised blood tests. 2 weeks later she told me I had PMR. I was 52. The diagnosis was confirmed following PET CT and I started taking Prednisolone.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Sudden overnight stiffness in shoulders, neck, knees, (unable to get out of bed). G.P. prescribed painkillers and x-rays for osteoarthritis, which proved negative. Referral to physiotherapist who suggested I return to G.P and request PMR examination Symptom free after 1 day on Prednisolon 15mg. Tapered down to 12.5 after 3 weeks, then tapered to 10mg after 9 days. Am still on 10mg with no pain.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I had a TKA (left knee) in 3/2020. Bilateral shoulder pain began in 4/2020. Diagnosis in 7/2020. Began prednisone treatment with GP (7/2/2020) and Rheumatologist in 7/20/2020. Discussions have wondered if stress caused by surgery or if I had a virus prior to surgery were reasons for the development Of PMR.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	With hindsight, there were niggles of pain and stiffness in thighs, and difficulty touching toes.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	Diagnosed with GCA in February 2020. Received Oxford AZ vaccine in January 2021 then had sudden onset of PMR symptoms, this diagnosis was confirmed via PET CT scan in April 2021.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = Under 50 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Started in my shoulder blades and then progressed to neck, shoulders and finally hips. It started in 2016 and I am still on steriods.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	Started in the neck and proceeded to arms and legs
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	Started in the neck and proceeded to arms and legs
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 75 to 79 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	The pains in upper arms became so painful that I couldn’t lay on them for longer than 30 mins.
Gender = Unanswered Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Pain in finger joints gradually worsened over months.
Gender = Unanswered Age When Symptoms Started = 75 to 79 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I have arthritis after an undisplaced fracture of the sacrum, so put the stiffening down to that. I woke up one morning on my back, unable to move and was choking. My husband saved my life by pulling me up and thumping my back. Doctor came straight out. She recognised symptoms from knowing her mother suffered. I went for blood tests.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	STARTED WITH EXTREME PAIN IN KNEE JOINT ( I HAVE HAD BOTH KNEES REPLACED (TOTAL) , GRADUATED THROUGH THIGHS IN BOTH LEGS TO HIPS , THEN UPPER ARMS . THOUGHT IT WAS JUST ARTHRITIS CEEPING IN BUT PAIN KILLERS ( CO-DYDROMOL) DID NOT TOUCH THE PAIN. WENT TO GP & WAS DIAGNOSED WITHIN 24HRS
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 80 or over Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I can't answer questions 7 and 8. My GP Practice is not very cooperative but to be fair, they are under huge pressure so I don't bother them unless absolutely necessary.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	It appeared just after I'd walked up a moderate hill on my 60th birthday. Thought it was stiffness from the climb but it didn't recede. Went to the GP after 4 weeks. Prescribed prednisolone which had an immediate effect, 2 hours.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	neck and shoulder pain, then hips and then overnight couldn't get out of bed for an hour in the morning...
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I was treated for various symptoms over two or three years that I believe were PMR. For example, I had bilateral steroid hip injections, shoulder surgery after bilateral shoulder symptoms, costochondritus. I experienced times of severe fatigue when I had to lie down by the side of the road.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I have suffered from aches in my back/neck and shoulders for some time (maybe five years) but at the end of 2020, this all escalated to the point that I could not get myself out of bed without assistance. My shoulders, upper back, arms and chest were so sore. My back sometimes felt like it was on fire, it was so painful. I found walking very tiring (even walking to the bottom of the garden and back was a problem) and I knew that I needed extra help. My left foot was so sore to walk on that I went for an xray but it wasn't broken. The difficulty with my foot was making me limp and my back was getting even sorer. I tried physiotherapy for my foot which slowly improved but when he worked on my back, it was so painful that at times the treatment had to be abandoned. It was my osteopath who suggested the diagnosis of polymyalgia rheumatica because he had other clients suffering from it and once blood tests were done and the inflammation markers were raised, my GP gave me a referral to a rheumatologist.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Started with loss of appetite at least 8 months before diagnosis. 3 months before diagnosis started having pain in knees, thighs and arms. They grogressed with pain intensity and spread to the neck. I eventually sought medical help when I couldn't get in and out if a chair or walk properly.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 75 to 79 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Onset of PMR was 3 days following my first Astra Zeneca Covid-19 vaccination
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	I was diagnosed with PMR in 2011. I am almost certain the symptoms had been developing gradually for about 2 years. I was prescribed 30 mgs prednisolone by a rheumatologist. On taking first dose, the pain and stiffnes completely went after 3 hours. I still take steroids to this day. Am on 4mg now. I have had 2 relapses of PMR in the past and also, a brush with GCA, but saw a specialist immediately who put me on high dose steroida again which stopped the progression completely.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I have been in remission for about 5 years. Started Prednisone after diagnosis and was almost normal by the next day. The cpday before, I had to crawl to the bathroom.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 75 to 79 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Noticed pain in one arm when driving approx one week before waking up one morning and I couldn’t get out of bed.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Bilateral muscular pain, first in shoulders,then glutes, then buttocks. Weight loss. Very tired. Hips were strange, which made walking more difficult. Could not sleep. Stairs were difficult. Muscle pain. At first, I thought it was gardening injuries. I deteriorated over a couple of months.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	esr and crp options above not enough. esr 84 crp 49 platelets of interest? 462 creatinine 55 one hip, then one shoulder, then neck, then both hips, then both shoulders then stuck!
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	6 months earlier I developed sharp right hip pain which left me unable to walk without assistance. It took X Rays and MRI scan to show there was NO arthritis as assumed, but inflammation only. I cannot take NSAIDS due to being on blood thinners. Paracetamol, codeine etc did not help. Physio made it worse. It was very slowly getting better though until 6 months later when I started getting very stiff and painful knees and back especially in the morning but it would last until about 6pm. It was difficult to bend, kneel, crouch, get in and out of the car etc. GP prescribed diazepam and a massage which did not help. A blood test showed slightly raised ESR. CRP was not tested. After about a month the stiffness spread to my left hip (as well as my right) then my neck and finally my jaw. I felt like I was about 100 years old. At no point have I ever had stiffness in my arms or shoulders. However after research I came to the conclusion it was polymyalgia and asked for a blood test. GP confirmed and out me on 15mg predisalone which cured all my symptoms including my right hip within 12 hours. However I had now developed a headache which did not go away, at the back of my head. Referral to an urgent assessment centre led to a diagnosis of GCA and I was put on 40mg prednisalone. The headache went.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Symptoms started suddenly within days of first Astrazeneca Covid vaccination.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	My symptoms started shortly after having 1st Covid dose.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 75 to 79 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	PMR came on suddenly three days after my first (AZ) Covid-19 vaccination.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I was a psychotherapist working empathically in highly stressful working conditions however as I had my own business I was able to limit my working hours. I was very well supervised. I also worked with my own personal therapist. I was very resilient and I often pushed myself to a place of exhaustion - but I had good work life balance and rested well. A very close young family member contracted cancer and it took 18 months for her to die. The emotional pain was very difficult but I carried on at work under great strain. It was an emotional roller coaster ride and I was devastated when she passed away. I started experiencing a lot of fatigue about 5 months after my niece passed away. We used to walk the dog a lot but my pelvic area started siezing up. My legs felt like lead and it felt as if I had balloons behind my knees. They were very stiff. I thought that I had MS. I woke up one morning and couldn't lift my arms up. I then visited the doctor as I felt that I was becoming immobilised. I went on 15mg steroids and I was up and about and back in work within 2 days.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	It took a month for me to realize something very wrong. When I couldn't get out of bed without help...husband pushing on my back so I could roll over and sit up I knew something was wrong. Figured it out on internet and then went to doc who confirmed. Neck, shoulders biceps and thighs were the most impacted. I had a bike / car accident (me on the bike) and cracked a couple ribs and then flew 4 days later internationally and picked up a bug on the plane and that was the beginning of it.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I progressed over time, my doctor diagnosed a virus which went in and in! In the end I could hardly move so went to a rheumatologist who diagnosed PMR in about five seconds. He gave me steroids and they worked like magic.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Was not told my ESR or CRP values, but both were raised
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = Unanswered Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Upper arm pain for a few years, due to physical stresses. Acute hip and groin pain on waking was more sudden and debilitating.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	Pain in right hip started 8 months before diagnosis with PMR. It was painful to move. Referred for physio and MRI scan which showed no arthritis just inflammation. (Previous history of tendonitis in knees, elbows, ankles and right shoulder). Then knees became painful about 2 months later, sharp stabbing pains and sciatica type pain radiating down to my feet. Another 2 months later I noticed the stiffness especially in the morning, in my back, hips and knees but not shoulders. It became very debilitating and didn't ease until around 6pm. GP diagnosis came after 9 months due to difficulties getting appointments and being told to get a massage. The main stiffness symptoms started 2 weeks after my second covid jab. I also developed neck and jaw stiffness after 8 months, with a headache in the occipital region. I was prescribed 15mg pred which almost immediately took away all pain and stiffness but the headache remained, just slightly, so I was also diagnosed with GCA and pred put up to 40mg.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 50 to 54 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Muscle twitching and wasting and weight loss and weakness was profound in the beginning. So doctors said no PMR. You are to young, and tested for MR and ALS. After 3 years I now am stable. I did have a lot of tick bites that year, could have brought it on
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Stiffness after sitting increasing to severe stiffness and pain eg unable to roll over in bed, put on socks under half an hour.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Sore right shoulder and upper arm at 61. This healed then stiff legs followed by sore lower back and left shoulder. At 65 both shoulders, back hips and legs over one month. So painful I couldn't sleep and had trouble turning over in bed. Couldn't lift my arms above my shoulders.. Saw GP who did blood tests, physical exam and prescribed 25mg prednisolone. Within 24 hours 90% of pain gone.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Firstly I began to feel stiff in the hips after my first dose of Pfizer vaccine for Covid, then the shoulders as well but I thought it was a side effect and would wear off. It did begin to ease off just before I had my second Pfizer Vaccine. Immediately after that (within 2 hours) I experienced very bad pain, could not get into bed or turn over in bed and walking or doing much was difficult. I rang GP to report this as a severe side effect of the vaccine but as I talked to her she suggested it was PMR. Blood tests done revealed high inflammation levels and put on to steroids - I am still taking steroids a year later. I also experienced knee pain at the same time.
Gender = Unanswered Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Following a TIA 2months previously in August 2020, I was taking Atorvastatin 80mg daily which affected my LFTs, alkaline phosphatase 741, ALT 345, Gamma GT 278. The muscle pain and stiffness was attributed to the high dose of statin.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 70 to 74 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	starting noticing stiffness in shoulders, hips. Seemed to be quickly but not sure. This progresses to GCA within a month.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	Started with a twinge in one hip. Gradually got worse. Was seeing a physio after 6 weeks, for a month. Didn't help, and after total of about 10 weeks could hardly move, so saw GP. Diagnosed immediately.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Stiffness in shoulders...then hips and down to knees getting worst over 2 week period.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	My neck and shoulders were affected first. Felt like I needed to see a chiropractor. After a week or so it started affecting my hips and lower back. My first symptoms were 8 months after my husband died.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	My neck and shoulders were affected first. Felt like I needed to see a chiropractor. After a week or so it started affecting my hips and lower back. My first symptoms were 8 months after my husband died.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Neck pain thought to be whiplash investigated Nov 2015, MRI confirmed other urgent condition requiring hysterectomy jan2017.. meanwhile Carpal tunnel syndrome investigated, 5 x steroid injection in right thumb over 2 years. Thought pain due to statins, started ezetimibe May 2016. Constant pain and stiffness Started after back spasm (May 2016) which brought on sciatica in pyriformis, this travelled down both legs to knees and lower leg. GP treated with increasing doses of pain relief, gabapentin and pregabalin ineffective, fentanyl patches relieved pain but general stiffness set in over many months. Acupuncture ineffective. Finally blood test confirmed raised ESA and diagnosis of PMR.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Stiffness after sitting increasing to severe stiffness and pain eg unable to roll over in bed, put on socks under half an hour.
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 75 to 79 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Symptoms appeared 3 days following my first Covid-19 vaccination (Astra Zeneca). Diagnisis followed 7 weeks later. Commenced at 15mg/day Prednisolone. Down to 10mg/days after 2 weeks. 5mg/day 9 months later and stayedon that dose for 7 months before commencing slow (over 5 weeks) taper to 4.5mg/day which is where I am at present
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	PMR pains for about 2 years before diagnosis without realising it was anything other than the aging process. Sudden onset of extreme fatigue prompted me to go to my GP in November 2021.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	Started on n neck - then shoulders and finally thighs. All Bi-lateral
Gender = Male Age When Symptoms Started = 55 to 59 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = Yes	For me it started in the hips and then shoulders and then I thought I had the flu. two weeks before passing out and then seeing a doctor. three weeks later the Rheumatologist due to GCA
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 60 to 64 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I think my diagnosis was delayed because my symptoms were taken in isolation, for example I was sent to a hip specialist who found mild osteoarthritis but severe inflammation so I had ultrasound guided injections, then I was sent to a shoulder specialist. The same thing happened. In tthe meantime I felt awful fatigue. Finally a new GP took a holistic look and made the diagnosis. My symptoms were actually textbook.
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	Symptoms started after first astra zenica vaccination but initially only an aching in my quads after second injection neck became very stiff and painful, great difficulty driving as shoulders so painful. As time progressed walking more tiring and fatigued, needed to sleep in the afternoon. Spoke to Pharmacist who knew me from picking up husbands mediction who advised me to speak to my Doctor. Completed e consult and over the next couple of days became more difficult to get out of bed because of pain in neck. Increased difficulty getting up straight in the morning because of stiffness across front of hips. No loss of range of movement in major joint just a stiffness on movement and pain
Gender = Female Age When Symptoms Started = 65 to 69 Diagnosed with Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis = No	I dont know my ESR but I cannot erase my answer.