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After two years of PMR with nineteen months on pred, I can say I'm pretty stable but not who I am.

Posted , 10 users are following.

paul45653
paul45653

I now realize that bilateral knee pain on stairs etc, is one of the last hurtles. I still have no diagnosis for the knees. Last X-ray did not show significant loss of cartilage. Regular walking is not deterred by the knees but thigh muscles limit the distance. I can understand the thighs being affected by PMR, but I question the knees. I have a Ruemy appt. On the 25th before reducing to 6.5 mg. what can I ask be done to sort out the knees as related to PMR? What are the symtoms of PMR when it gets to the knees?

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  • Oregonjohn-UK
    Oregonjohn-UK paul45653

    Posted

    Not sure if I can answer your question ref the knees but I had some trouble with my left leg, a few months back, mainly in the knee area and at one point a swelling of the left foot/ankle.  I took some advice from a consultant friend of my wife who suggested I try to walk more upright and not move around as I had been due to pain and discomfort from the effects of PMR - like an 'old man'.  I had to 'push' myself to do this and after a few weeks of constantly reminding myself, and my wife keeping an eye on my gait, I found the pain in that knee diminished and eventually the left leg returned to full use. I do walk and cycle a lot and as part of that do power walking for part of these sessions, I believe this is also helping to build my muscles back up. For ref. I too have been on preds for 19 months, started at 30 mg and now at 4.5 mg.  Best of luck, John
    • Kdemers
      Kdemers Oregonjohn-UK

      Posted

      Good advice and incentive! Hope you can still cycle with all that rain!
    • LayneTX
      LayneTX Oregonjohn-UK

      Posted

      Good for you John! I'm really learning how posture is so important for a lot of things in our body! 

      What I've been taught is let the core muscles help, I'll often engage them to help me lift my spine upright as you put it, takes off the compression feeling I feel in my back.  

      Also, Bowen gal taught me to not stick out our rib cage. Bring it down and to bring chin kind of down and back to help align ears with shoulders.  Some people  stick out their chest and pull their head forward. Ouch, makes me hurt thinking about it.

      also, another good one that has helped me so much (also learned from my Bowen gal), is putting more body weight on my heals rather than forefoot,  When I was a runner I learned the opposite.  So even standing in my kitchen I must remind myself to shift weight back, align my pelvis, ribs down, head over shoulders.

      I feel so much more strong and steady.  So in walking I try to do same.

      just thought I'd share what I've learned lately to anyone interested with all this PMR!! 

    • Oregonjohn-UK
      Oregonjohn-UK LayneTX

      Posted

      Great confirmation - thanks Laynesmile.

      I feel much better and as you rightly say it helps my posture and breathing as well.

      I too was a runner back in my teens thru' till my early 40's, and maybe one of the reasons it took me a while to get myself upright - you do get into bad habits!  I have noticed a number of older folks I meet on my exercise trips, around my local area, who also walk with a gait and/or head down and chest in.  It's so simply and common sense when you think about it - should have spotted it earlier!

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