Achilles and Pred

Now is Aus Alps Australian or Austrian Alps?

Pred can lead to achilles tendonitis on its own though it isn't particularly common I don't think. Medrol is the corticosteroid that is most likely to do it and even more likely to do it if you are given a quinolone antibiotic. That happened to me.

I understood from the literature that you don't have to have taken them at the same time and the tendency remains for some considerable time after stopping either of them - so a history of either is relevant.

I hobbled straight to A&E after the GP went "Ooohhh, I've heard of it but never seen that before..." and the lovely orthopod took one look and agreed with my suspicion. Warning: be very careful. If the tendon is swollen it is very delicate and a trip could result in considerable damage. I was immediately given a boot and crutches to reduce the risk. Waiting for achilles tendonitis to go away is bad enough - the rehab after repairing a torn one is far worse.

Julian, Last spring, a year into my pmr, down to 3 mg pred, walking up 20 degree ramp, tore something in my calf. Thought I was hobbled, so lived with it, and limped around. 3 weeks after my injury, while walking on level surface in a hurry, calf very painful, significant swelling, in calf and ankle. color change in ankle, looked like brusing.

Ultrasound to rule out blood clot, MRI determined a trout sized hematoma in my calf, from an apparent tear in muscle and/or tendon. Had to elevate calf for 6 weeks while the hematoma was very slowly absorbed, circulation restored. I think that set me back about 4 months on my road to remission. I believe it was referred to as "compartment syndrome" as the pressure in the calf increased from the internal bleeding restricted flow contained by fascia.

I was just starting activity after a year of forced sedentary lifestyle, and I stressed something in the calf that was not ready. Please be careful, as the incline and stress that resulted in the  injury was NOT strenuous or extreme, but was too much for me at that stage of my recovery.

FYI, down to 2.75 mg pred, riding 20 miles road bike, almost 2 years from initial PMR and feeling almost normal, for a near 66 year old geezer

Please be careful, and take your time. We had a discussion about time that was removed, no?

Good luck, Julian!

And Dan reminds me - I was forbidden to walk up or down slopes - it puts too much strain on the achilles.

Julian, I developed Plantar Facitis last summer/Autumn. It's an inflammation of the tendon under the foot, never had anything like that before.

It was hot and I had been walking (not a particularly long distance) in flat sandals, which had never bothered my feet before, so I imagine is was due to the weakness in my muscles caused by pred of course. Or I was just plain unlucky!

It was absolutely crippling and I hobbled with a stick for weeks. Did regular foot exercises, wore a support foot sock and it eventually went away.

So whether it was caused by the pred effect, who knows, but I suspect it was.

no tears, just mild to moderate aggravation. Bursitis and tendonitis and probably a few other itises. Feeling lucky again.

Swelling has faded. Stil taking one step at a time. Tiring and uncomfortable but steadily improving.

Looks like hopefully just a minor speed bump in the roller coaster. I'll use the boots more often than the shoes ....

Interestingly enough, I had achilies tendonitis from running the year before I got PMR and the pred finally got rid of the lingering inflammation!