Back pain is holding me back

Posted 8 years ago, 10 users are following.

sandra28555

this continued back pain is high and creating more pain even though the prednisone 20 mg seems to be helping the upper body and hip pain. I sincerely feel the pain medication is working against me as I don't dare to just stop the pain meds for my back. Has anyone experienced back pain along with their polymyalgia rheumatica?

0 likes, 57 replies

57 Replies

erika59785 sandra28555

Posted 8 years ago

Yes, I have and need to deal with it with my Painmanagement Doctor this week to find a solution.
FlipDover_Aust sandra28555

Posted 8 years ago

I have lower back pain - I suspect mine is from sitting down too much both at work and at home. I've lost all muscle tone. I was feeling so bad I just couldn't do anything. But I am much improved these days and I'm seeing a physio and a massage therapist, both are invaluable to get me moving again.
I have bursitis in both my hips (pre PMR) and also have Sheuerman's disease, a back complaint which has caused crush fractures in my spine.
I was amazed when the pred got rid of the pain and inflammation from both these problems, but as I drop the pred they are both starting to hurt again! I can't win!!
- EileenH FlipDover_Aust
  
  Posted 8 years ago
  
  I had a diagnosis of residual Scheuerman's - and had back pain for a long time which the othopaedic guy I saw in Germany said was due to it. He had been taught chiropractic at medical school (his boss insisted on it for a "complete orthopaedic specialist") and that helped a lot but the muscle work done here has just about sorted it.
- EileenH
  
  Posted 8 years ago
  
  And forgot to say - I have the latest PMRGCA book from some of the top experts which I was reading yesterday. One of the chapters emphasises how trochanteric and iliopsoas bursitis (and another we have talked about but I can't remember which) are ALL components of PMR and will be seen if the right imaging is used. Ultrasound is enough for some and of course PET or any sort is phenomenally expensive so it isn't done routinely - but it is there and I believe that the bursitis may well actually be the first sign of the PMR starting up in many patients.
- FlipDover_Aust EileenH
  
  Posted 8 years ago
  
  Now THIS in INTERESTING!! I'm going to mention this to my GP when I see her tomorrow. I'm also going to ask if I can get injections for my hips. they hinder me walking so much.
sandra28555

Posted 8 years ago

The prednisone does nothing for my back. I have had back injections directed specifically to my hips but even that doesn't help my back pain. My back pain is at L4-5. I am hoping the prednisone will help my hip pain. I am having insomnia from the prednisone. Who else has that?
- EileenH sandra28555
  
  Posted 8 years ago
  
  Insomnia due to pred is quite common - though not everyone suffers at PMR doses. Lots of people have found hobbies they can do at night when they don't sleep rather than just lying there worrying about it! You do learn to rest when you have the chance - and actually sleeping for a few hours, waking for a few and then sleeping again later is a natural sleeping pattern. A few centuries ago it was common to do that - they often got up and wrote letters and things at night.
- Anhaga sandra28555
  
  Posted 8 years ago
  
  My lifelong intermittent insomnia has been "cured" by taking one of my calcium doses with a small snack at bedtime. I agree with Eileen. It's best not to stress over not getting to, or staying asleep. One thing that tended to make me nod off again (in a chair in the living room so hubby not disturbed) was to work on a difficult crossword puzzle, or read some non-fiction. Nothing stimulating. No screen time. No suspenseful stories.
- ptolemy EileenH
  
  Posted 8 years ago
  
  It is the people with insomnia who get up and do the housework that amaze me. There is no way I am in that group! I think I am probably allergic to housework anyway.
- Anhaga ptolemy
  
  Posted 8 years ago
  
  I can't imagine doing that either. Although I must confess that it was an insomniac nightthat took me to my computer and helped me find this forum. I typed in something about prednisone reduction and found an old thread with the answer. Spent the rest of that night reading multiple threads, feeling like I had fallen amongst friends. ❤
- EileenH ptolemy
  
  Posted 8 years ago
  
  Heck - PMR is the best excuse not to do housework I can think of...
- FlipDover_Aust EileenH
  
  Posted 8 years ago
  
  Getting up in the night with insomnia is not great for those of us who still work full time... I just lay there and suffer. At least I'm resting. Sort of. lol
- EileenH FlipDover_Aust
  
  Posted 8 years ago
  
  Part of the problem becomes that you associate being awake and worrying about it with your bed/bedroom instead of it being the place to sleep. So it is actually better to get up and go elsewhere. That's also why it is better not to have TVs and computers in the bedroom - says she who has both...
- faye______00403 FlipDover_Aust
  
  Posted 8 years ago
  
  My solution probably wouldn't work for everyone but I learned
  to take my pillow and blanket and go out on the living room
  couch, turn on the TV, put the station on Nick at Nite or
  some other boring,old show....The drone of the TV lulls
  me to sleep. I sort of listen to the show and don't think
  about the fact I can't go to sleep. Works for me.
- FlipDover_Aust EileenH
  
  Posted 7 years ago
  
  Once I can convince Mr Flip to finish the renovations to our house we'll have a spare room I can flee to! often times I just need to stop worrying I'll wake him up with my incessant tossy and turning.
- Anhaga FlipDover_Aust
  
  Posted 7 years ago
  
  maybe your incessant tossings and turnings could be an incentive to complete the task....
- EileenH FlipDover_Aust
  
  Posted 7 years ago
  
  Since my dear OH comes to bed at midnight, a good 2 hours after I've gone to the land of nod, makes little effort to be quiet when he arrives and snores like a grampus to boot - I have little compunction about possibly waking him by sneaking out...
  We've put up with each other for over 45 years - don't see it changing much now!
- FlipDover_Aust EileenH
  
  Posted 7 years ago
  
  that often happens at our house these days... but he complains about my farts more than my tossing and turning. lol

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