Natural Remedies for Polymyalgia Rheumatica Relief

I was on steroids over a year & a half.. Finally weaned myself off steroids. Five days later I was in horrific pain & stiffness again for 2 weeks. Then I found your website and read about apple cider vinegar. I began to drink it every morning. Must be raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar "with the mother. " After 2 days of drinking this every morning... Like a miracle... No pain! I am on my 5th day of drinking it and feeling better every day! I take 2 teaspoons of vinegar in 8 oz. of water. I am so grateful that I found your website.

Dear PMR friends, I was diagnosed 1 year ago, my Dr. put me on Predisone and is weaning me off it, I take Vit B as well as cod liver oil capsules, no pain killers but I do take ALKALINE POWDER at night. As an alkaline it works 100 percent, it works for me, get better soon my friends.

Are u off Preds for good? Are you still having systoms. I was dignosed with PMR in March. Preds make me feel great, but worried about long term. I am a 60 year old coach and teacher with the dept of defense, live in Portugal and just don't understand this. Hope you off Preds and can give me some advice. Thanks for any help...

It took 8 dr's before I was diagnosed with PMR. I had to search it up for myself. someone mentioned that condition. i then went to the mayo clinic. a blood test call sed rate & crp will show the inflammation in your body... i was on prednisone for about a year. now i am better, but i can sure predict the weather, my buttock tells me so... i take a b complex vitamin a couple times a week, & tbsp of apple cider vinegar (natural with the mother) not pasteurized, in a glass of water to neutralize the acidity the prednisone caused. so far so good.. hope this helps someone a little.

I, too, received the flu shot in October, 2010 and a couple of weeks later, my nightmare began. I thought I had injured some herniated disks in my neck when doing yard work, so I went to my neurosurgeon. My symptoms starting moving from my neck/shoulders to my arms, lower back and legs. I could hardly move. He ordered many, many tests, referred me to other doctors, and five months later, I was diagnosed with PMR by a neuromuscular neurologist. The day I began my first dose of prednisone, I was able to move normally again. I have had many relapses and am still on prednisone. My new rheumatologist has been tapering me (now at 8mg) and has recently combined it with another drug-hydroxychloroquine. I can hardly move most of the time, and am tired of feeling so bad, so I'm now looking for other ways to help me feel better and get off of the drugs. I will be exploring some of the suggestions of warm water therapy and accupuncture.

Hello, I thought I would respond to your post as I have been going through hell since my flu shot in Oct. 2011. Right after the injection, my arm began to itch (internal itch where you can scratch all day and it won't relieve the itch). That came with a burning sensation. Asked the doctor about it and she said she never heard of it.

Next few weeks I began to have this sensation in my spine like I was having a spinal tap. Then came some vision loss. It was like looking at lattice work around the peripheral visual area leaving only the center of my vision open to seeing what was in front of me. Next, dizziness, nausea and GERD that got so out of control I would wake up with vomit and pieces of food in my mouth and throat. Vocal cords became so inflamed I lost my voice for 3 days. Next, right leg seizures in mid step. Muscle pain in thighs... Then, the ultimate. I couldn't get out of bed in the morning the 'usual or normal' way. The pain in my lower back area was so severe I rolled my legs off the bed then used my arms to push my upper body to a seated position or to drop myself to the floor on my knees. Getting up from a chair or toilet was nearly impossible so I got a comode for the toilet so I'd have something with arms to use. I stated standing to have my meals...

Like you, I had several tests, labs, etc. Finally, I took all my records to a new primary doctor who sat there piecing things together and came up with PMR. I'm concerned most about the visual problems/headaches so I have another apt. with Neuro. I am looking into acupuncture as I don't like the side affects of Prednisone. I've never heard of PMR/GCA but boy, my symptoms all seem to line up with it and I know it had to have something to do with that flu shot... NEVER AGAIN!!!

Adding epsom salts to the bath (magnesium sulphate) would help with the inflammation as well.

I had been suffering from lower back pain in early October. On 10/25/11 I got the flu shot, and things went haywire, with pain up and down my legs, lower back, hips, and a low-grade fever. Had bloodwork done and they found Sed rate was 120 and my latest C-reactive protein was at 113! (low hemaglobin & high platelets too). Between the severe pain and inflammation, I was admitted to the hospital and had every test imaginable to no avail. (thankfully, no tumors or signs of cancer or any infection).

Because low doses of Advil helped the pain (the only anti-inflammatory drug I'd been given), I was sent home. 2 weeks ago, saw an acupuncturist, and what a difference! Pain is gone from legs, but I still have it sometimes in lower back. Combine that with a strict anti-inflammatory diet (no coffee, sugar, alcohol, meat, and eating lots of veggies, tumeric, green tea, etc. ) AND reading Dr. Sarno's book "Bodymind Prescription" and I can sit here at my computer and write this!

My doctors are saying I have PMR, but they really aren't sure of anything. They want to retest my blood and start me on low-dose steroids (they say if I respond, it will "prove" I have PMR).

After what will probably be over $100k in medical bills (yes, I have insurance), and over 10 doctors, and no answers, I have to say I'm a bit discusted with modern medicine at the moment.

Funny how no one asked me what's going on in my life, what I eat, or what seemed to help me (I had to tell them that Advil was the only relief from pain before I was let out of the hospital 3 days later).

I like the idea of lemon baking soda. Was also suggested to take a "baking soda" bath. Put several cups of baking soda in bath water - and relax!

Would love to hear from others if anyone has experienced a connection between PMR and the flu shot, and love hearing what natural remedies work.

Thank you all for contributing!

Hello, 2 days on your lemon and soda after being diagnosed over 2 years ago and down to alternate days prednisolone 2.5 mg and 5 mg , any lower typical sites of pain return, being very quiet about it but today halved dose to 1.25 today and my soda and lemon, so far hardly any stiffness! I'm praying this is it and I will be able to get off the wonderful winner drug predisolone which I couldn't have done without but want to now say bye bye to!! TRY IT!

I agree with Jamie - getting off of prednisone requires your doctors input - only your doctor knows how long and how much you have been taking. My husband quit taking it "cold turkey" last year, not knowing how serious it was until the terrible symptoms set in and we found out how bad it could be. Long term prednisone use requires great care in coming off of, trust me. If you do it too fast it can actually shut down your adrenals and kill you. Too bad the doctors do not let you in on this little fact when they prescribe such drugs. Take care, and do what your doctor says on getting off of them PLEASE. Best of Health to you.

Sally, ask your doctor, please!! I would be leary of medical advise from an internet discussion board.

There are many knowledgeable people who come and visit this website and share. So I do not mean to be disrespectful. You medical care provider has your chart and history, and is aware of all details.

Prednisone must be weaned off, my dog was just on it for 11 days. He took half a pill twice a day for 3 days, half a pill one a day for three days, half a pill every other day for 3 doses.

Not trying to compare vetrinary medicine to your care. However, the point is even for such a short regiment there is a weening process.

If you are anxious and cant wait to see your doc, call the pharmasist. I am sure they could help you too, at least give you some information.

I have just been diagnosed with PMR and am on a prednisone treatment. I am wondering how long you had to be on the prednisone after discovering that acupuncture was what helped. I have heard that you have to be weaned from prednisone very slowly. Thanks for your advice!

If I have PMR at all, it's very mild. The doctor wanted to put me on a trial week of steroids but I declined in view of all the nasty side effects. Also, most of the time I don't need to take anything at all for my various aches and pains, so taking steroids would be like killing a mouse with a howitzer. I know this sounds sort of nuts, but what helps me the most is the healing code. It isn't black magic; it's similar to the EFT used by the psychiatric profession. It's an effective way to teach your brain how to dump negative thought patterns that promote anxiety and stress. Stress is a big contributor to an impaired immune system. Unless you find a way to eliminate it, all the ACV and baking soda in the world isn't going to help. Another thing you might want to look into is muscle imbalance. Your sore, stiff muscles might not be PMR at all. It might be a severe case of muscle imbalance, which can also cause inflammation but is correctable with appropriate exercises.

PMR diagnosed 6 months ago. D.O. recommended Prednisone. One month later the Prednisone symptoms came: bruising, more night sweats, "moon face", threat of diabetes, osteoporosis, high cholesterol... I saw neither as a "solution".

I began to see an acupuncturist, two weeks ago. I have had two visits. She let my body tell her what I needed. She administered acupuncture, then cupping, followed by massage. She adjusted my OTC herbs, which closely follow what I have already read on this site. She suggested using the book "Eat Right 4 Your Type" (D'Adamo). I am eating 50% organic, and follow my blood type recommendations to a T. "Good food is medicine" she says.

I feel SO much better. I can get thru the day without a nap, my muscles hurt less, my temp at night is lower, I have less heartburn, and am HAPPY!

I would never have tried acupuncture unless I felt cornered. I felt no solution otherwise. Feel free to use what ever info you would like. I am 60 years old, and work full time. God bless.

Wow-I am so glad I found this site. It was given to me by a new dear friend. I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia 2 years ago after going to 4-5 specialists. No one knew how to really treat it. Last year I saw a chiropracter and he put me on a PH balanced diet.
Sort of vegetarian but you could eat all the fish you liked, no breads, pasta or anything with grains. Vegetables, lots of salad with olive oil, fruits and fish. No sugar products all natural fruit drinks. Vitamin supplements a day: 3 omega3, 4 flax oil, 4 C, 2 E, 3 calcium, 3 MSN, 3 Mineral, 3 Glucosomine. I was on it for 6 months and while I had some relief I still was stiff every morning.

This year I started a new neurologist and went thru all the tests again: blood, MRI, EMG. She actually says I have Polymyalgia Rheumatica. Now I am taking Prednisone but am very concerned with side effects. I did get immediate relief but realize it will weaken my immune system. How frustrating!