Polymyalgia Rheumatica - I am not sure I can work with PMR. It takes A couple of hours in the?

I agree its important to take enough prednisone to control the pain, but I found it wore off during the night. by 3 am I would be miserable and couldn't sleep. So it worked much better to take 1/4 to 1/3 of my daily dose in the evening.
Regarding applying for disability, I had better results using an approved representative rather than an attorney. The SS Administration can give you a list. The person doesn't have to be close to you, but must be able to be present at any appeal hearing. They get the same percentage of the settlement as an attorney. Its easy to start the process online before you select someone, so don't waste time.

Are you taking prednisone? It helped me.

I am 65. I have had PR for 4 years. I'm an RN and I switched to a job that was mostly computer and office and managed to work for a year. Then I had to have eye surgery (unrelated to PR) and went on my employer's disability plan. The first time I applied for SS disability I was turned down. The company that had been paying my disability appealed it and I had a good disability lawyer. If I were you I'd start with a good disability lawyer. Another option is a company called Allsup. They specialize in getting you through the process and have lawyers to work with you. I got approved for SS disability nearly 2 years after I applied the first time. Good luck! This is a frustrating disease. Hang in there. If online teaching is something you might be interested in you should check into it. You are better able to set your schedule. It's less physically difficulty than classroom.

I am also 58 years old and was diagnosed with PMR 2 years ago. While I am sympathetic to anyone who has this as I have gone through a lot of pain over the past 2 years, I simply don't understand why you think you should go on disability. The prednisone helps the pain so obviously you aren't taking enough to get yourself up and ready for the day. I took my share of prednisone so I could get myself to work each day and have tapered myself off of it after 2 years. It's now been 2 weeks since I've had to take any medication. You can take prednisone and go to work each day or you can stay home and take it and pity yourself. Try to stay positive. There are plenty of people who take a small dose of prednisone and are perfectly fine. Seems like you are going to the extreme. Better for your students that you are there for them each day while taking prednisone instead of staying home. My advice to you is stay as active as possible and take your prednisone and start tapering down. It will be worth it in the end.

English: agreed this is a terrible disease. I’ve had it for 8 months. People ask me how bad the pain is and I tell them I would rather pass a kidney stone every day than have this. I have tapered the prednisone down to 7 mg a day from 20 but I feel pain gets worse every day. Not to be morbid but if I thought I had to live this way forever I would take my own life. Please tell me there is hope.

You should be able to get disability. Be aware, however, that it can take quite some time to do so. It took me about 3 years to get a hearing scheduled. And be sure you have an experienced attorney who specializes in Social Security disability working with you on your case. That is VERY important. A generalist attorney would be less expensive, but believe me, you need an attorney who is a specialist in disability. It will be well worth it.
I had worked as an RN before going on my employer’s long term disability when I became unable to do my job due to the physical challenges. I remained on the employer’s long term disability while I waited to have the hearing for Social Security disability, which took about 3 years in total. After the hearing, I received notice of my Social Security disability within about 2 weeks of the hearing date. Good luck with your disability claim!

PMR is similar to fibromyalgia in what pain refers to. Fibromyalgia was approved recently by federal law to be disabling so if you go to a special lawyer and get a doctor review you can get disability. PMR is incapacitating and the first 2 years are unbearable in pain. It will be very difficult for you to work Get the help you need, go to a good disability lawyer they usually don't charge until they win and they will win.

English; Yes you are right as far as taking as little cortisone as possible but this is something you and the doctor have to weight out. But first, it is getting your condition under control. and the answers you have so far are great and keep at it. Talk to your doctor and see about even a leave of absence until you can figure out what you have to do. Or while you are having the run around with Disability. Ps you can also go to the person with the nasty disposition and block him and you well never see anything while they are working on pulling his post. which I am sure has been turned in. WE DON'T DO THINGS THAT WAY OR LET ANYONE ELSE DO IT TO ANYONE EITHER. chuck1957 Keep us posted but you just have to click on his Republican name the circle and it well go to his profile and then there is a place to block or friend him. Chuck.

Getting disability is not easy with PMR. As suggested, working with a disability lawyer will yield better results than trying to do it on your own. If you are in pain, then your Prednisone amt is not a high enough dosage. You should be pain free. It doesn't help the fatigue and other symptoms but pain free is a start. There is an excellent group on Facebook called Polymyalgia Rheumatica with people from all over and lots of great information. It is also a very supportive group. I recommend you join.