Severe joint and muscle pain post Camino Frances

[marigold]

Mike, 18 months ago I got the same symptoms as you! Your description is textbook for me. I had just returned from a trek in Nepal. With your CRP elevated (and likely sed rate too but not always), you could have what is called Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR). The best thing about it is, it is NOT a lifetime sentence! It runs it's course over usually 2-5 years but averages 2-3 usually. I am a retired critical care RN and diagnosed myself. The bad thing is, the rheumatologist has only one thing to offer for the pain and stiffness...steroids. To get a definitive diagnosis, you can do the trial of steroids (per your doctor) for a month and if your symptoms disappear (mine totally did after the first 3 days of the pill), it is considered definitive. I've had it bad for 18 months but I continue to exercise, do yoga, walk a lot and even hike in the mountains once a week and my husband and I will do the camino in Portugal next March come hell or high water. But the symptoms are far worse and most often at rest and are very challenging, especially because the pain and stiffness migrates all over the place at different times and its hard to sleep. But beat it!!!! I chose not to stay on steroids due to the long-term effects (I question if the cure is more harmful than the disease!) but many others can't take the pain. I wish you well and keep a positive attitude. I'd thought my trek triggered it, but it tends to be genetic and runs in Scandanvians and Northern Europeans four-fold, and usually hits people age 45-80 yrs of age. Good luck! I swear it sounds like that's what you have. I hope this helps you out.

Hi loumura, I was interested to read your post as I have Pmr too. Did you say that you are not taking the steroids? How are you managing? Are you taking anything? I couldn't imagine walking the Camino, I can barely walk down the road some days!

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Hi loumura, I was interested to read your post as I have Pmr too. Did you say that you are not taking the steroids? How are you managing? Are you taking anything? I couldn't imagine walking the Camino, I can barely walk down the road some days!

My older sister was diagnosed with pmr at around age 60 and hers was quite extreme as she had the severe headaches sometimes associated with it. After being diagnosed it needed to be treated with prednizone for quite a few years. She passed away three years ago, but from an unrelated health issue.

 

[peregrina2000]

Sorry to hear about your health issues post-Camino. It sounds like you're going through a tough time.

Just a heads up that this thread was started in 2018, and the OP has not been on the forum since Nov. 2022.

If you do come back to the forum, @tigermike, know that the forum continues to send good wishes for a complete recovery.

 

[John Crawford Howell]

Yes, Mike, should you care to share, please let us know how you are doing.