Muscles

Both my GP and rheumie have said that they did not think physio was worth while. When I suggested I went privately their faces lit up and they said they thought it was a good idea! 

Prof Sarah Mackie is of the opinion we should all be given an exercise programme and support. Funny how things suddenly are a good idea when we pay and it doesn't come out of their budget isn't it?

It is the same thinking as bus passes for OAPs in UK. They want to cancel them, which will mean that many old people will be stuck at home and will probably be less healthy and use up more medical resources. I want to set up some training classes at our outdoor gym in the local park. I wrote to our GPs' surgery about it and they do not want to know. I would have thought that by advertising it, it would help people to get out and improve their health. I suppose they think they are not paid to think laterally and they might use customers! 

Some of them think they aren't paid to think, never mind laterally!

One GP told me he was free! I assume he forgot the hundred grand plus that gets paid into his bank account each year. 

Free at point of receipt maybe. I paid NI and still pay UK taxes - that isn't quite free. 

I mentioned the word taxpayer, it went down like a lead balloon! He thinks he is a fairy godmother. 

How do you manage to keep going back????

I don't, he won't speak to me after the lead balloon incident. I am probably notorious at the practise and have a black star by my name. 

hi Eileen hope all is well, just wondering how you got Achilles' tendon injury, like was it to do with PMR, noticed I have problem with back of knee, like tendons pulling as though there going to snap, only when walking and then wouldn't have it all the time, is it related to PMR, GCA thanks

My achilles problem was inflammation due to being given a quinolone antibiotic while taking Medrol (methylprednisolone)! Each of them is capable on their own of causing achilles tendonitis as an adverse effect, put the two together and it increases the chances! I didn't look it up (serves me right) as I assumed both the GP and the pharmacist knew I was on Medrol and would notice. That's why i am really not very trusting any more! The GP said "I've never seen it before..." A&E at the local hospital just said "yes, quite correct, we'll strap it and here are some crutches..."

I have heard ohers say they have knee problems - bit whether it is the PMR I really don't know.

 Thanks Eileen, it's not my knee, it's the back of knee where it bends, almost    Like I can't straighten my leg fully and when I try to straighten it, it's like the tendons are going snap, just wondering has anyone suffered with this, it doesn't feel like this all the time.

That's what I meant - I have heard others mention something similar but they aren't on this forum. But I don't know what it turned out to be either.

Hello Eileen, would like to start a discussion on specific exercises with links to actual exercise plans for quick visual ref'. perhaps peole could list exercises that are easy to follow and which have been successful.Has this been done before? do you have any links from Prof Mackie?

I have one from NOSoc, will ask moderator if we can pin it perhaps.

Guessing you & others have answers as usual !

No - sorry! Since it isn't a problem I've had I've never taken a lot of interest in it and don't have much time to think about it. I did have a problem with one form of steroid (Medrol) - but I was also having other problems at the time which would have made ANY exercise problematic! Apart from anything else I was on crutches because of an achilles tendonitis (partly due to the Medrol)! As soon as i stopped the Medrol the muscle wasting stopped getting worse and then I started walking (hobbling    and within a relatively short time my leg muscles were fine again, they aren't the limitation for what I want to do it seems. 

I do know that the study they are doing currently in Leeds is basically encouraging patients to walk more using a pedometer. I don't know if they also provide other simple exercises to keep muscle tone - but any physiotherapist could suggest those.

I'm sure there are several gentlemen on here that would simply love to share their exercise regimes.......:-)

I would be interested to know of specific exercises for upper arms and shoulders. These are my painful areas. I was given some exercises by a physio, involving raising arms over head, but this is very difficult for me. However I do gentle yoga most days, which is very helpful and relaxing.

and the fact that none of us ladies can even think about, much less embark on, such a routine will not deter them!

Obviously your physio has no concept at all of what PMR is!

There are no exercises that will do anything more for PMR that doing the level of walking or other perambulation that YOU can manage will achieve. Half an hour every day at the pace YOU can manage is a good start - and as time goes on you WILL manage a bit more providing you don't have other problems. 

As with so much in PMR, everyone is different, has differing activity abilities and time to do such things. Not to mention other things that perhaps must be done before they feel able to indulge themselves.

I was freelance which meant I could plan my work day entirely to suit me and could afford gym membership (el-cheapo, daytime only, Mon-Fri) so did an aqua class and Pilates and yoga that was carefully adapted for me. That kept me going - but none of that is an option now, walking suffices.

 

Susan I am sorry you are having upper arm pain. If you are, it is probably not a good idea to start full on exercising which may make it even worse and cause you more pain. Yoga is a good idea, I hope it helps, and Thai Chi. Keep it all gentle. Do you go swimming? 

Susan, I think the idea of exercising your painful area is generally not a good idea, but if your exercises are designed more for improving your range of motion, rather than strengthening muscles, then they probably are worth doing, with care.  Repetitive exercise is hard on PMR/pred weakened muscles, so only a few repetitions a couple of times a day.  And, as Eileen says, carrying on with what you are comfortable doing rather than adding new things is best, at least for now.  

I would echo the cautions about exercising.  My physical therapy for range of motion was ok, but the exercises to gain strength caused pain that wouldn't stop and the exercises were reduced, but in hindsight, were still probably too much.  I suspect I am experiencing a flare right now.  I will discuss this with my rheumy, but the combination of reducing prednisone while doing physical therapy might have set me back on the pmr.  It is a fine balance for sure.  Learning patience is very difficult, at least for me!

Thanks for your prompt reply. My problem is really that I want to do anything I can to improve my condition , y

and as you imply in your response, there isn't much I can do about the arms and shoulders. I am very fortunate that I'm able to walk my dogs for about an hour every day without any difficulty

Take gentle exrecise but do not overdo it. Walking can be very beneficial.

Eat a well balanced diet without simple carbs.

Rest when you can and take it easy. 

Do not get stressed.

I boight one of those things that you put in the microwave to heat up, mine smells of lavender. I think they contain some sort of grain. Anyway when heated they can be rather pleasant around areas of pain, particularly the shoulders I found.

Rest will improve your condition.