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Any suggestions for a left buttock that has really stiffened up lately?

Posted , 5 users are following.

leonard12916
leonard12916

 My left buttock area has become increasingly stiff in the last 2 weeks and after a downhill walk yesterday I'm hobbling like an old man!  I've been on Pred for 2 years for PMR and at 10 mg for about 2 months and unable to come down.  I've mentioned this before and had hoped things would settle enough to go lower but in the last 2 weeks the stiffness went into the buttocks/hip area, especially the left buttock.  It has gradually grew stiffer each day and last night a 4 block walk with my wife in a hilly part of town caused me real discomfor and sure enough today I'm hobbling like an old man.  I want to immediately increase my Pred as this appears to be a classic sign of a flareup.  I figure I'll go slowly increasing it to 12mg then if need be increase it 1 mg a day until I hopefully see a lessening of symptoms.  If the discomfort is growing worse I'll consider jumping it quickly to 15 if not higher.  From there I figure the 'dead slow approach' will be instituted.  Any advice?  Had you had a similar flareup?

1 like, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • pat38625
    pat38625 leonard12916

    Posted

    Hi Leonard, I am not qualified to answer your question.  One thing I do know is that any sign of a bad flare, I would up my steroid dose.  I started off at 20mg of pred November past and have recently got down to 10mg, so will be staying at that dose for quite a period of time.  I am winging this, but sometimes we know our bodies best. Hope you get some kind of pain relief.  All the best.  Pat
  • leonard12916
    leonard12916

    Posted

    Thanks Pat for the support.  Hopefully others here have some good advice.  Upping the dose unfortunately appears an immediate prescription.
  • EileenH
    EileenH leonard12916

    Posted

    Have you access to either a physio or to a Bowen therapist? What you describe would fit with piriformis syndrome and either of them could help you. It does seem more common alongside PMR but I don't think more pred would make a lot of difference as it isn't inflammation as such. Walking on hills and stairs typically make it worse.

    There should be a video of exercises from the NHS but it is "currently unavailable" though that could mean it doesn't have a passport for us foreigners to see! 

  • tina-uk_cwall
    tina-uk_cwall leonard12916

    Posted

    Hi Leonard, if you think what you have us a flare the only way to find out git sure is the ultimate the preds and see if the pain reduces. I would! I would definately go back to the last dose where you were comfortable and stay there for 6 weeks then as you say reduce by Eileen's dead slow and almost stop method, even above the 10mgs mark.

    i suppose you could always go back to20mgs for 10 days then go back to the last dose prior to the dose that has resulted in this pain. That's what my rheumatologist suggested if I ever suffered a flare?

    all the best, christina 

     

  • leonard12916
    leonard12916

    Posted

    Thanks Eileen and Christina for both your suggestions.  There we have two quite different ideas.  Is periformis syndrome something many PMR people tend to experience?  I spoke briefly this morning with one of my sons who is a physiotherapist and he said a physio could be a good option to explore.  It's not the easiest choice to make here as to how to treat it but one I need to choose quickly.
    • EileenH
      EileenH leonard12916

      Posted

      As I said before, it does seem to happen in PMR - I know a few people with PMR who also have had piriformis syndrome. Some got relief with bowen therapy - but I agree with your son that a physio should be a good option and probably easier to find quickly. 
    • ptolemy
      ptolemy leonard12916

      Posted

      Leonard if you go to a physio, make sure they have an understanding of PMR as some can really cause problems as PMR is so intolerant. I go to an osteopath who has PMR and Rheumatoid Arthritis clients and she is very aware how easy it is to cause flare ups if she is not careful.
  • leonard12916
    leonard12916

    Posted

    That is so true Ptolemy.  Before I was diagnosed with PMR I saw a massage therapist who did deep massage and as a result I was in great discomfort for 2 weeks.  About 6 months ago I went to my physio for exercises for my PMR and instead he suggested using his new machine which sent pulsations that were so suppose to allow a faster reduction of Pred, at least this was his experience with others he had treated.  For me all it did was bring great heat and discomfort for several days to the mid back which he treated.  Quite simply I'm uneasy with any treatment on my body now! 
    • ptolemy
      ptolemy leonard12916

      Posted

      That seems a very sensible attitude Leonard. I wonder how many people with PMR the physio you saw had actually seen. I am not that sure they come across that many people.
    • EileenH
      EileenH leonard12916

      Posted

      Yes - deep massage will release cytokines and effectively cause a flare and also have a similar effect on the muscles to exercise so they take longer to recover than they would normally. I go for massage on occasions and find it does help me - but my PMR is well managed with pred and I know what to expect.

      As for his new toy - maybe the others didn't have PMR! 

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