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Am I alone?

Posted , 5 users are following.

tony09890
tony09890

I've noticed most here, once started on prednisone, have said the pain vanished.   Prior to starting prednisone I was in pain 24/7, particularly mornings.   Once on prednisone the pain did vanish, but only as long as I did nothing, the moment I actually used the areas affected the pain returned, always that night and in particular in the morning, the severety and spread of the pain increasing dependant on the amount of activity.   My wrists are always painful; however, after activity the pain gradually spreads first to my forearms, then elbows, upper arms, neck and then right side ribs at the back, dependant on how long I've been active.   Not classic areas for PMR I agree, but not unheard of.   I see a rheumatologist/immunologist for the first time in a couple of weeks so I'm still unsure if mine is PMR - I'd put money on it though as it's the only condition that ticks all the boxes!.    

Am I alone in only being pain free as long as I don't use the affected areas?

1 like, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • julian.
    julian. tony09890

    Posted

    nope, you are not alone.

    I'm on just 4mg/day pred. I always have stiffness and twinges of pain. I'm quite happy with 20 minutes on an exercycle at almost max heart rate. Today I'm cutting pieces of plywood as floor for truck. My fingers are a bit painful and upper arms. All the lifting and moving to see if the pieces fit. Carrying groceries from car or stirring a pot at arms length I get a bit of pain - least that's my excuse! smile

    Flexing my fingers several times per day for the last week seems to have eased the pain a bit. It doesn't really stop me doing things, just a minor annoyance - its a different sort of pain, diffuse between the joints rather than the sharp pain in upper arms.

  • tony09890
    tony09890

    Posted

    Yesterday I spent a few hours in the shed maily cleaning but with a little work on the drill press and bandsaw and welder.   Today I can't do a thing, wrists and forearms just to painful - probably the same tomorrow I'll bet..   Day after no doubt I'll go out and overdo it again.
    • Silver49
      Silver49 tony09890

      Posted

      I think you have answered your own question, Tony. It's when I overdo it I have the most pain. I cannot stand in the one spot without being in pain eg standing at the sink to prepare vegetables etc. I even find standing talking with someone painful and have to shuffle about but still the pain continues. I try to avoid doing anything repetitive but cannot totally avoid it. I am pacing myself although it is hard when like many I was always busy and liked to carry on until I finished. Perhaps it would be better to have more rest periods which may mean being able to do as much but with less pain. We may all live to be a hundred with clear brains and a bit of pain!!! I'm on 10mgs at present and about to reduce.
  • molly1957
    molly1957 tony09890

    Posted

    I'm the same Tony fine as long as I don't over do it , I am learning to rest as soon as I feel discomfort but I can't seem to do a lot at all , there are so many different symptoms to this pmr which the Drs never tell you about nor do the leaflets I was given ,its always the basic stuff such as pain and stiffness in neck shoulders and hips and they always say it has to be in both sides , I've learnt loads from this site and found that a lot of the things I've experienced others on here have too some can also be caused by the pred but a lot are pmr, my worst areas are my shoulders and neck these are ok if I don't push too hard so don't think it's not classic pmr we are all different 

    take care molly

  • tony09890
    tony09890

    Posted

    GPs seem to have medical book vision: if it's not in their book it doesn't happen.   I saw one GP who asked if I could raise my arms above shoulder level or if I could stand from a sitting position without using my hands.   When I said yes; his conclusion was it couldnt' possibly be PMR then!
  • holly28923
    holly28923 tony09890

    Posted

    I had a doctor tell me the same thing about raising my arms  over my head. They don't understand that maybe it really hurts to raise my arms over my head, but I can still do it.  I also struggle with the prednisone allowing me to do more, but I over do it and then have major flairs.  I just experienced this the past couple days.  I still work and had meetings at a company back to back for most of the day, two days in a row.  I didn't arrange the schedule.  Two days of misery following that overload of meetings.  Also trying to figure out if some of the flairs are due to my doctor tapering me too fast.  She went from 15mg for 6 weeks to 12.5mg for two weeks and now wants me to go to 10mg this week.  Too fast from what I read here.  She feels that I'm young and in pretty good shape so I can taper quicker.  
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