★★★★★
Hi All, After 3 months just not feeling right and very tired my shoulder got really sore which then traveled to my arms, neck and finally to my lower back and hips. I felt very tired, mild fevers, vision changes, teary and in pain especially on waking. I am a practicing Naturopath and have cured myself of fibromyalgia and thyroid disease so there was no way I was going to believe "there is no known cure" I went back through my diary and realised I had influenza 12 weeks before and did not have enough time to rest to get over it properly as I was running my clinic. What I believe has happened in the low grade flu virus has infiltrated the joints and blood vessels causing the immune system to fight back which causes inflammation as the weakened immune system tries to destroy the virus.
After devising my own treatment, In 4 days I feel 60% better...still some stiffness in the neck and pain in my shoulders and sleepiness around the middle of the day but generally much brighter, energetic and less sore. My vision seems to be returning to normal.
My protocol:
1. Lauricidin (Monolaurin pellets) to kill all pathogens- Start low at 6 pellets 3 times a day and build up to 1 scoop three times a day. This could take weeks as the die off from the viral load can cause detox symptoms.
2. Fish Oils 10-12 grams a day as a powerful antiinflammatory
3. Essential Oil Mix to rub directly into the sore areas to kill the virus directly and releive inflammtion- THIS HAS BEEN AMAZING!
- Oregano Oil 40 drops
- Frankincense Oil 60 drops
- Teatree Oil 40 drops
- Peppermint Oil 40 drops
- Ginger Oil 20 drops
Combine in a dropper bottle and rub 4 drops into each shoulder/neck/arm with some coconut oil three times a day. DONT MISS as this continual flow of antivirals will really help reduce the viral load.
4. Rest as much as possible and eat low inflammatory food: No sugar, wheat, dairy or industrial seed oils.
This protocol is working incredibly for me. I couldn't believe after my 8 year battle with fibromyalgia I was going to be faced with another chronic inflammatory disease. My 5 years of study taught me to look for a root cause. Every disease starts for a reason and I believe polymyalgia is post viral inflammation.
★★★★★
★★★★★
Sorry to hear of the PMR. It is, indeed, a difficult problem to handle without the steroids. I will try to make this as short as possible: woke up in December with pain in my left shoulder and upper arm. Shortly thereafter, both legs began to hurt - felt like shin splints. I couldn't remember any physical activity that could have been the cause. During the next few weeks, I intermittently had pain in my hips, both shoulders and trapezius muscle. I have worked in the medical "industry" all my life, and so it finally clicked that I had all the symptoms of PMR. I knew the indicated treatment was prednisone, but since I had been on prednisone for 35 years for intractable asthma (took me 2 years to wean myself off), I preferred an alternate solution. Intent on finding a non-steroidal treatment, I read every available bit of material - this site being my first go-to. Being fed up with the pain, and an impatient person to boot, I used my usual shotgun approach!
Now, it is about 5 months later, and I am almost pain free from my self diagnosed polymyalgia. You can try things one at a time if you wish, or go for my all in approach, but this was what worked for me: Colloidal silver 10 ppm 2 Tb 3x a day (there is evidence that PMR is brought on by residual virus), Olive Leaf extract (same reason), homeopathic arnica montana 30x 4 pellets 2x a day, homeopathic hypericum perf. 30x 4pellets 2x a day, rhus toxicodendrum 6x 4 pellets 2x a day, vitamin B 50, benfotiamine 300, Alpha Lipoic Acid 600mg, and Turmeric, Bromelain, and Devils Claw throughout the day (when I thought of it). Additionally, heat feels really good, and when I needed a pain medication, aspirin worked the best.
Phew! I know, it is a lot. But, for me, much better than prednisone. Also, keep in mind, I did not have an official diagnosis. I know very little about homeopathic remedies, but did an enormous amount of reading, and came up with this combo. I apologize for the length of my post, but this particular problem is fairly complicated. Hope you are feeling better soon.
7-Keto-DHEA
★☆☆☆☆
WARNING!
Anti-inflammatory diet is a good start including removal of all nightshades - these are inflammatory foods. I also recommend moving the body into an alkaline state. You can do this with the introduction of lots of leafy dark greens, legumes, beta-carotene foods - any orange vegetable: squash, sweet potato/yam, carrots, lots of vitamin C foods (raw not cooked as vit C is destroyed by cooking) vitamin E for vascular health, and good fats like avocados, coconut oils, olive oils, flax/hemp oils. REMOVE Canola, corn and soy oils as these are highly GMOd here in North America.
Soups, stews, smoothies are a great to include lots of nutrients in one meal.
Lots of supplements- but a good multivitamin 2x/day is a good start (NOT from a drug store go to a health food store) a 2:1 mag/cal - 500mg mag/500mg calcium combo is great at helping the muscles relax, and take them 6hrs apart. It takes your body 6hrs to metabolize these nutrients; more is not better.
Hope this helps.
Jocelyn - Nutritionist
Turmeric, Ginger
★★★★☆
Acupuncture, Dietary Changes
Multiple Remedies
★★★★★
So I think as we sleep we dehydrate just a little and the tendons calcify, then our bodies attack this. I also read one article talking about interluekin 6 being high. I believe one of the reasons prednisone worked was by causing you to piss calcium out, the white cloud in the toilet, but the bottle says to take milk with it. I'm not telling you not to take milk, because there are long term side effects of long time steroid use. hip replacement, cataracts. It takes months to get rid of high vit d levels. I tried serrapeptase, it worked great, but after two days I had side effects. It eats scar tissue. I had had a hernia repair a year ago and have a bad knee with scar tissue inside apparently, they both started hurting after just two days use. I stopped it and the hernia fills fine now, but if you dont have any previous injuries or surgeries it might help you.
So what worked for me. No vit d, No multivitamins, limited sunlight, no eggs.
I took magnesium malate following label. Drink apple juice, malic acid in it. Eat bananas. I took a potassium pill a day. I also had a a half teaspoon of alfalfa. I took DHEA as it will help with making hormones that get downregulated with the prednisone as you wean off. I took chanca piedra for a while. I used some CBD in drops and in a oil rub for the shoulders, I also sometimes used a product called Lymphocare by Baar for massage, it has some peanut oil in it. I took epsom salt hot baths. Fasting helped clear some calcium but increased macrophages, so didn't help too much. Exercise if you can, start small, do shoulder exercises and walk. Get a vit d test to see if that could be the culprit. I believe some other supplements can increase calcium absorption also, I had been taking multiple. I also took fish oil up to three grams, it helped a little. I believe low dose naltrexone would work, but my doctor refused.
I always take a small amount of anything new to my body to see how I handle it first to avoid any emergency room visits, have not had any but have been close. Everyone is different and may be on medications that react badly to some supplements. I am a male and weigh 250 this would affect all dose sizes to others also.
Also, look up interleukin 6 reducing foods and follow those diets. I know your pain. You can get better. It will take time. Winter is your friend, less sunlight. Mine is completely gone today. It lasted 9 months. I may be wrong, but this is what may have worked for me. Even some probiotics can change some interleukins. My tendons got so stiff in my shoulders first, then my legs, and then my chest, where my chest popped frequently.
My mother use to say, "Never trust a woman who will tell her age because if she tells her age, she'll tell anything." But when I found out they give out discounts and some free stuff after age sixty-five I started telling everything that it is safe and helpful to share; after all, who knows how many more years I will have to share them. Therefore, my secret recipes are not a secret anymore; so here are a few of my back to health recipes.
When I first realized I had a serious case of stiffness (instead just standing up out of a chair, my achy body had to push up out of the chair), I was in my early sixties. What worked a wonder was 50,000 IU's of D3 daily for about a week, then down to 10,000 IU's of D3 daily.
After I began to take the high dose Vitamin d3, in the morning I would get up with an instantaneous stretch like I used to have when I was young. Be sure to take a K2 vitamin along with your Vitamin D3. I simply use Life Extension's "Super K" it has the Ks in a good amount.
About a year later, I noticed another change in me, I just did not feel like doing anything, and then I learned about "Pregnenolone" and "Dhea." When I took them, I had the Mind to Accomplish something. I take them at a low dose because I did not ask my doctor. I switch brands sometimes, I have found they all work for me as I keep them around 25mg. Younger women may only need 5mgs check with your doctor. What you can do if you find it to strong is only take them once or twice a week. Charity had mentioned that, that was a great Idea.
When I was praying about healing for my gums, I was also researching. One of the suggestions that some people from YouTube and Amazon said helped their gums to recover was CoQ10, many of them also said that that their doctor prescribed CoQ10 for them to take alongside their Statins, so maybe you have already tried CoQ10.
When I tried CoQ10 for my gums, it was a healing miracle; I got the ability to walk with stamina again. I had been riding from bus stop to bus stop. I did not want to do any walking or standing. The CoQ10 also stopped the muscle pain that was in fold at the back of my knee. The soreness pain is not there anymore. Anyway, as I studied about CoQ10, one doctor said he did not see good results using CoQ10 unless his patients used at least 400mgs a day. So start low, but don't be disappointed if there is no improvement, you may just need to take an extra dose.
I have tried several brands, whichever brand I buy, I get the gel caps they work better for me. See if your doctor will work with you to achieve less pain using CoQ10. Your system may take more or less than someone else's. According to the following article, they have tested with at least as much as 1200 mgs of CoQ10 depending on what the infirmity was. Also, please pay attention to your blood pressure. CoQ10 brings my top number down every time, except If eat crackers, you get it.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5807419/
In your leisure, please check out the above PubMed study. If you do not have the time to read it all, jump down to the part about 2/3s down the page that says "Inflammation".
I do pray that this will help you kick that painful ailment out.
HisJewel
Multiple Remedies
Acupuncture, Dietary Changes
For starters, I would recommend staying away from vaccines, municipal tap water, processed foods and plastic containers with Bisphenol-A. I do this to the best of my ability. I have not had a vaccine, not even a tetanus shot, since 1996. I virtually never get sick! If I do its a mild cold that is short lived. I am embarking on this journey to find relief for my mother from PMR and the steroid side effects which are effecting her badly. This is a great forum with a lot of useful info. Thanks to all.
Acupuncture, Dietary Changes
Reishi Extract, Licorice Tea
★★★★★
Reishi Extract combined with licorice root tea twice a day has quickly reduced 'muscle drag' and difficulty in arising. I should also mention that I have a high alkaline, vegan diet. No sugar, no stimulants, no alcohol. No doubt this helps set the stage for the notable improvement in my PMR, but apple cider vinegar and theracumin daily was not very helpful even with the same careful diet. I strongly recommend the Reishi tincture (Host Defense) plus licorice root to any PMR sufferers.
★★★★★
My DNA is from Northern European stock. In 2007 I started losing weight, was in extreme pain, couldn't sleep and was diagnosed with rheumatic. My blood specialist wanted me to take prednisone for 2 years, I took it for about one month saw a hurbalist who said she could get me walking I lived on pain killers, boiled roots and bark herbs and had acupuncture for the pain. Still no avail. Someone mentioned garlic and I remembered that my mother used a lot of raw garlic. A clerk at a health store helped me find out how much organic odorless garlic my body weight could tolerate. Nine months later my blood specialist said I didn't have to come back and I that garlic was wonderful.
It has been 6 years and I am still PMR free.
★★★★★
★★★★★
http://www.askdrray.com/our-endangered-food/
Polymyalgia is another one of the inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. Conventional medicine (before 2008 I belonged to that group) does not want to go there, but has not better answers than corticosteroids or methotrexate, both very strong and dangerous substances. Now I am retired and I can freely talk my mind; I am now interested in non-toxic methods of treatment as it is used by anti-aging medicine. One caveat: 10 to 15 % of patient with polymyalgia rheumatica develop giant cell arteritis in the temporal artery, which can lead to blindness. Your primary care physician can discuss this with you further.
Apple Cider Vinegar, B Complex
My Mother was on statin drugs and developed PMR. She always trusted doctors and would not get off the statin. For many years, she had to have someone fix her hair and clean her condo, change her bedding, etc because the pain in her shoulders was so great. (She lived in FL, away from her family). She took prednisone for years to be able to get around. When I was put on statins (before I wised up and became educated), I developed Lichen Planus, a sickening little autoimmune disease that has been linked to stain drugs, also. I had never even heard of it. Apparently the statins can do DNA damage that appears to be irreversible for some, at this point in time. I now also have Sjogren's autoimmune. Read up on the damage that lowering your cholesterol can do to the body and mind, especially in people's over 60, and compare the 20-30% permanently harmed with the feeble 1% less risk of having a heart attack over many years, and try to figure out why anyone would put them in their bodies, except that they are the biggest money maker for Big Pharm. The "Spacedoc" site documents Dr. Duane Graveline's deterioration from excellent health from taking low dose statins only for two short periods of time, to his death which he accurately predicted based on his studies. He was not only an MD but an astronaut and had written many books about the dangers of statins, as he researched the consequences. His site documents research from many prominent doctors and researchers on statin risks and small benefits.
Multiple Remedies
MSM
★★★★★
He couldn't get out of his chair...joints hurt him that bad but he is now regularly walking down to the chicken coop. The sulfur worked pretty quick...I think he really felt the results in his joints within a week. He added the other thing later so they at this point may be working in conjunction.
Chinese Herbs
Ted's Remedies Reader Feedback
EC: Here is Ted's protocol:
One whole fresh lemon juice you just squeezed yourself, then mix add some water, to about 1/2 glass of water at least. Then keep adding baking soda 1/4 teaspoon each time, until it the lemon juice tastes like water. Then drink this twice a day, once in the morning and once before bedtime. This will effectively alkalize the body, increase the immunity by more oxygen, raise the antioxidant level of ORP (oxidation reduction potential) of -140 millivolts, so the body can recover.
Acupuncture, Dietary Changes
★★★★★
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.
★★★★★
Turmeric, Ginger
My Mother got PMR after taking statin drugs. One doctor on a reputable site says when her patients say they have been diagnosed with PMR, she immediately asks if they ever have/are taking a statin drug. I am happy to hear you are doing well with your protocol.
Turmeric, Ginger
Just looking over these posts because I suddenly started having a hard time walking, carrying packages, getting out of bed or going down the stairs in my house. At first I thought I had over done the gardening, or housework and injured myself. It got worse and worse from May 1 until late July, when I finally found a doctor and was prescribed five days of 40mg prednisone after having very high CRP and ESR. It worked well for a couple of days after I stopped it, and then the pain came back again. Finally, after anothe month, my doctor prescribed 10 mg prednisone, which did nothing, so I upped it to 15mg, which relieved most of the pain. I now also have very bad osteoporosis, and my doctor told me this week if I trip or fall, I will certainly also break a bone. I have taken yoga for decades, walk, and have been physically active, so this was a surprise. I have an appointment with a rheumatologist in November, so it has been a long summer. I lost my appetite because of the constant pain, and lost 20 lbs., but the prednisone seems to be helping my appetite. I have found I can eat a peach in the morning so I can take the prednisone. My doctor told me to stop drinking tea because the caffeine depletes calcium. Coming from a family with an English Mother, and tea was consumed many times a day, this was a challenge, but caffeine free is OK, I would imagine, and I am drinking that.
My Mother also had this, but I thought I had just overdone the gardening and cleaning, and didn't connect it to my Mother, which was decades ago. I am finally improving. I was told if I didn't take statins, I could end up in the hospital with a heart attack (both of my parents had heart attacks, Father also had a stroke, and cerebral strokes have taken many of my relatives at young ages, so I took them for eight years). That may be the link to the PMR, and my Mother also took statins. I will be glad to be rid of this, and also hoping my eyes are OK from Giant Cell Arteritis at the November appt. It's been a long summer! Take care.
Turmeric, Ginger
I keep thinking I need to embrace this, but find I am usually thinking of fighting it instead. Still, all things considered, I am doing much better than I was just a few months ago, and for that I am grateful. I will look into your other suggestions, as well, and I so appreciate your sharing your knowledge and your time to help me. I have always enjoyed your posts on Earth Clinic. Thank you so much for taking the time to post the links and responding. I will look into what you have suggested. Thank you!
Apple Cider Vinegar
★★★★★
Apple Cider Vinegar
Acupuncture, Dietary Changes
I am an advocate on this wonderful web site for colloidal silver for killing virus, bacterial and fungal infections. Other things work to kill such infections such as echinacia which I love, especially for bites (use topically and take drops in water internally for a bad bite from spider) but silver solution will work better for a system wide infection.
I use a high ppm and take orally 2 to 3 teaspoons daily on empty stomach. For a really bad infection take over a six month period.
In determining if the "problem" say PMR which sounds at first not to be viral but actually may be based on virus/bacteria/ or fungus or yeast, I have found if one goes back to the inception of the onset, one might often come across some infection, surgical procedure, dental work etc, ever so slight... Well like vaccines mentioned in the posts above... and such might be the locus of the attack by the microbes.
So if I SUSPECT that virus/bacteria/yeast (mold, fungus, parasite) could be involved, even as a trigger, then at least try a strong ppm of silver solution. Use of silver goes back 2, 000 years to the time of the Greeks.
I have been on high doses of silver for nearly 20 years and make my own and give away bottles and bottles every year to friends and family.
I have never seen any issue with silver usage with side effects (eg skin tinting) ... not with liquid silver solution made with the electrical process where a solution is made so diluted that you cannot even detect a metalic taste in the water.
Multiple Remedies
Ashwagandha
EC: Hello,
Try amazon.com.
Ashwagandha
Since being on steroids, Ashwagandha is not recommended due to there being contra-indications to that of the effectiveness of the steroid.
Eventually I will return to this wonderful herb once I cease needing the steroid.
Chinese Herbs
7-Keto-DHEA
Turmeric, Ginger
Glutathione Accelator
★★★★★
Apple Cider Vinegar
Alkalinize
★★★★★
Apple Cider Vinegar, B Complex
Just FYI, it is not uncommon for people who are on a statin drug to develop Polymyagria Rheumatica. I don't know if Wayne is on this medication or not, but if so, it might be something to think about. Best wishes!
Acupuncture, Dietary Changes
Acupuncture, Dietary Changes
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!
Acupuncture, Dietary Changes
I am very interested in natural remedy and would like to know how long did you take the Prednisone for before going on to natural remedy and diet. Did you go the naturalpath?
Emily
Acupuncture, Dietary Changes
A close historical analysis shows exactly how his illness was financially very profitable for big business and a total loss on the family end. Of course this is just an example of the power of the disease care industry today. A very successful business model.
Multiple Remedies
Apple Cider Vinegar, Curcumin
Ashwagandha
★★★★★
Chinese Herbs
Chinese Herbs
WARNING!
I was just doing some research for a good freind who has been diagnosed Polymyalgia to see if I could find any alternative meds - I always look in that direction myself.
Word of caution however on the Chinese Herbal medicine - I tried it for a kidney problem I have - it was a few years ago now - it tasted vile but it did make me feel much better so I didn't mind. What I didn't know is that one of the herbs was a natural steroid and that was what was making me feel great but it was also covering up what turned into a very nasty kidney infection so please be careful.
Helen
Ayurvedic Byna
★★★★★
Turmeric, Ginger
I was just about to order capsules on line when I thought of my spices for my favourite Moroccan food. I have just finished my first warm milk with the turmeric and ginger added and was quite surprised that it was pleasant to drink. I will keep you posted on how I feel and if I notice any difference in the next few weeks.
★★★★★
Steep one quart of water, juice of one lemon, and 1/4 cup of finely grated ginger (grate with a zester) for 20 minutes. Strain and add 1/4 cup raw honey, pour over ice and drink with a straw.
Turmeric, Ginger
Yours is the first PMR writeup that mentions hand problems. I had very disabling PMR about 5 weeks ago and am on 20mg pred per day, and it is really gotten me back to "normal." My hands both were very painful, swollen, stiff, and weak. Couldn[t even bend the fingers on my right hand in the a.m.'s. Now it's time to start weaning for the pred! Hope your recovery continues and you are fully back to normal.
By the way, I grew up in West Bloomfield, Michigan. On Green Lake, then we moved to Upper Long Lake. You may be familiar with these!!
Apple Cider Vinegar, B Complex
can't answer your questions about homeopathics and insurance, but you can buy raw and organic Apple Cider Vinegar at most grocery store since it's become so popular. You can also find it online. Whole Foods has several raw and organic Apple Cider Vinegar "with the mother" brands. Trader Joe's carries it. Regular old grocery stores also carry the brand "Bragg", but it's more expensive now than the other brands which are just are good. I've tested them all! Good luck.
Acupuncture, Dietary Changes
Acupuncture, Dietary Changes
Acupuncture, Dietary Changes
Judy, I agree with what you are doing - the supplements you are taking and foods you are eating. I have taken many of these supplements but need to buy a good B complex. I will be going to a naturepathic Doctor in two weeks to see what she recommends. I am trying to avoid inflammatory foods - no citrus, coffee, sugar, nightshade veggies, deli meats. Not sure about dairy but NP will advise me.
I have been so healthy and getting sick out of nowhere threw me for a loop. I just heard from my doctor and all tests he did for other diseases came back negative!!
I'm so happy to find this message board and thank you and everyone on it for their suggestions. 😊
Acupuncture, Dietary Changes
I have researched sites to see how people treat and kept finding the dreaded "Pred." Tempting to relieve my intense pain, but nope, not for me. I appreciate your taking the time to contribute your alternative success tools. I will get my "diagnosis" but will diligently begin alternative treatments. It's exciting really to learn to take responsibility for my health. Grateful that nature provides so many answers.
