polymyalsia rheumantica

Jeannette · Guest

I was diagnosed with polymyalsia a year ago after having a temperal biopsy.I was on 80mg of prednisone and am on 20mg now.I would like to find a natural anti inflammatory.My pain is severe with out the meds,we tried 5mg but I couldn't cope.Does anyone have this condition and do you have some advice.

coldwatermd · Guest

As a conventional/alternative internist, I have seen patients respond to eliminating food they were allergic to. Most common allergies/intolerances in PR I have found were: dairy, gluten (wheat, rye, barley, oats), nuts, spices (cinnamon, vanilla, etc.). Often there are several allergies. Most likely culprits are the foods you eat most often and the ones you like best. Especially the ones you think you can't live without...

Do not stop the prednisone unless your physician consents. But if you find out what triggers the chronic inflammation in your body, you might be able to slowly taper your medications under supervision.

More about inflammatory/anti-inflammatory foods in my books "Health20 - Tapping into the Healing Power of Water" and "Healthy to 100 - Aging with Vigor and Grace."

Hope this helps. Let me know.

Alexa Fleckenstein M.D.

jmsimard · Guest

I am now down to 5mg of prednisone,my Dr said it will be really hard to get off it.I don't understand how I can tolerate this pain without my meds.I can hardly get out of bed,the pain in my arms and hips are so severe.I want to exercise but I have no energy and the pain prevents it.I will discuss the food allergie theory with my Dr this week.But for now I would like to know if anyone has tried accuputure or some types of massages and did it help.

susanne · Guest

I also suffered terribly with polymyalgia rheumatica -- it came on almost overnight, and I was on Plaquenil for 5 yrs (usually against lupus, but it worked) and then on prednisone for a year or so.
Then I turned semi-vegetarian.
What has really helped keep the rheumatism away are the following:
No meat except very rare occasions (say, twice a year). And definitely no birds. Plenty of fish, and I do eat organic milk products and eggs.
I use silymarin, a milk thisle extract (I happen to use Yarrows 80%), 1 pill/day.
Milk thisle detoxes the liver, often needed in auto-immune disorders.
Best of luck, Susanne
PS For complicated reasons, I was recently having to eat meat almost twice a week for two months, and the rheumatism came back. Luckily, I have now gone back to my normal non-meat diet for one month, and the arthritic pain is receeding fast, and I am almost back to normal flexibility.