Which PMR Patients Should Rheumatologists See?

Dr. Sebastian Sattui, Pittsburgh, PA, talks about which polymyalgia rheumatica patients rheumatologists should see. This is part of a video series produced by RheumNow for its October 2023 campaign, Make Rheum for PMR.

[@zootybeano]

Where we are, a rheum takes at least 8 months to get an appointment, IF they accept the referral! I was refused 3 times, probably because my husband is a retired Internist.. I did see one who ruled out a couple of things, but refused to diagnose PMR because I'd been on steroids for 8 months. My family doc was left exposed and she refuses to prescribe low dose prednisone. So I use my husbands retired partner for my RX.

[@racquelbarthen9420]

Great information, I was diagnose with PMR in 2022 and have been taking 10 mg in the am morning Prednisone since. I just feel different - My red blood cells are very high and need blook work almost at every month. What do you suggest, please?

[@npvaughn]

Great talk! It's been my experience thus far that very few PMR patients outside of academic/VA referral pools in the US are managed (exclusively) by the PCPs any longer. Frequently, however, they do come to the office on glucocorticoids, likely due to anticipation by the PCP for the wait time to see rheumatology.