Can stress make make your pain worse?
Posted , 12 users are following.
I don't feel stressed but there is a stressful situation happening at work and I knew about it coming about 3 weeks ago. I had got down to 12mg but the pain in my shoulders and upper back increased. I went up to 13mg and no change so have jumped back to 15mg yesterday. Not really feeling any different. I was good at 15mg so what do I do? How long do I give it before increasing again? My husband wants me to stop stressing as he is sure this is why the pain is worse. How can you stop when in my head I am fine but do sort of feel that frustratingly he may be right. He is suggesting that I think about leaving work if this is what it is doing to me but I love what I do. It is not terrible just uncomfortable!
0 likes, 37 replies
BettyE elizabeth40672
Posted
You say you don't feel stressed but I wonder if you are the best judge of that?
I had to cope with a very stressful couple of years and kept reassuring people I was fine but another two years on and the situation more or less resolved, it is only now that I realise I was nowhere near as coping as I said. Like you, I was fine in my head.
Will the work situation be time limited so you could metaphorically cross of the days?
Not sure that's any help but just want to say, don't be too hard on nor expect too much of yourself. Accept any kindnesses that are offered.
Is part time work a possibility?
elizabeth40672 BettyE
Posted
I was hoping that the work situation was limited but after a few months of relief it has reared it's fugally head again. I am not sure it will ever sort itself out. I feel I may be fighting a loosing battle. No part time is not on its all or nothing. Think i may need more relaxation techniques haha.
amkoffee elizabeth40672
Posted
You should try guided meditation. So as soon as you get home from work lay down on the couch or bed and turn on the tape for your guided meditation. This will help relax you before you get into your second half of your day which is the time you spend at home after work. Most guided meditation only usually takes around 10 maybe 15 minutes so you can squeeze it in after work even though I know you probably go right from work to making dinner. Take that extra 10 to 15 minutes. If you're a Prime member on Amazon you can download these for free if not you'll have to pay for it but even then it's really cheap here in the US.
elizabeth40672 amkoffee
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EileenH elizabeth40672
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Are you sure it is "just" PMR - or are your back muscles tensing in response to the stressful situation? If it were me and I couldn't bodyswerve the work situaion, I would look for a therapeutic massage therapist or a Bowen therapist and see if they can do anything to help.
And your husband has a point...
elizabeth40672 EileenH
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elizabeth40672
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escot elizabeth40672
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sandy65909 elizabeth40672
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elizabeth40672 sandy65909
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Hi Sandy I think the problem for me is that I am not 100% it is PMR as the rheumy is convinced it is AS but can't diagnose it. I am about to go for a second MRI which might clarify things a little more. I know that should not make a difference but sort of feel that if there is another medication that may make me feel better I might be able to continue longer. Does that make sense?
I am only 50 and qualified to do my job after having my children. To give it up so soon feels wrong. I have alway been the strong determined one and to let this make me leave before I am ready is not good for my head. I know what you are saying that life is more important than work but I am just not there yet. I will look at relaxation methods to see if that will help.
EileenH elizabeth40672
Posted
It may not make that much difference - although AS does respond pretty well to the anti-TNF drugs and there are 5 to choose from. But in the meantime - is your employer prepared to give some disability/illness help? GCA/PMR should be covered by the legislation if you are in the UK.
I have a friend who has AS, having been treated for a few years for PMR. Once a rather better rheumy had a lightbulb moment when she described nightime pain and dx'd AS she was put on Naproxen (I think) which made a big difference to the pain while she reduced the pred further. PMR is very rarely improved at all by NSAIDs - does Naproxen do anything for your pain? Someone else just recently has commented that diclofenac has given her a lot of pain relief for her supposed PMR. Either is worth trying.
EileenH
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elizabeth40672 EileenH
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I was put on Naproxen and diclofenac right at the beginning and it made no difference to how I was feeling at all. Feeling better today but I have upped my dose back to 15mg. Maybe that is my level for now...
I'm in Guernsey, channel Islands and I could probably take time off without it being too much of a problem but I don't feel that it is that bad yet. Even at it's worst I can still function which from what i read on here is better than most. Won't take time off for this as I don't feel being at home would make me feel any better.
sandy65909 elizabeth40672
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EileenH elizabeth40672
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constance.de EileenH
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They probably can’t make enough money with PMR patients so keep searching till they find something more lucrative.😏
EileenH constance.de
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Even in the UK Constance? They don't get more for an AS patient than a PMR one...
constance.de EileenH
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Didn’t know what AS was. Ouch! Sounds worse than OA (mine at least)! I’d rather have pains is my knees, hips and ankles than in my back. At least I can ease my pain if I sit down. You can’t do that if you have back ache all the time. Sometimes I forget how lucky I am.😏
amkoffee EileenH
Posted
I read about this all the time how patients suffer for months sometimes even years because a doctor refuses to diagnose it as PMR. I feel very fortunate that my GP diagnosed me immediately and my rheumatologist agreed with his diagnosis and started treating me right away. I have had a lot of problems come up since my PMR diagnosis. And she is entertaining the idea that either it's not PMR or it's also something else in addition to my PMR. I'm confident it's PMR because for one thing it responds to prednisone and secondly it feels like it. My symptoms are exactly what is described by other PMR patients and by the Mayo Clinic's definition.
amkoffee constance.de
Posted
Constance.de I don't know if I agree with your estimation. I have suffered from lower back pain for 13 years and have been on opiates for most of those years to control my pain. And my back hurts so bad sometimes and sitting is very uncomfortable so laying down is really the only time I get any relief from the pain. But I also have a knee that gives me trouble now and then and I would put my knee pain as more frustrating. Because if you have knee pain you are unable to do a lot of things. It wasn't until about a year or so ago that my walking was severely impacted because of my back. But if you have bad knees you're walking is kaput right away.
constance.de amkoffee
Posted
Hi amkoffee. I was only talking about me.😀 I have aggressive arthritis in both knees and ankles (also hips, wrists, fingers, thumbs, ‘elbows’ just starting! - that’s apart from PMR). I can’t walk outside the house without my rollator (on bad days wheelchair). But I am just soooo pleased my back is OK. If I sit down I have far less pain. I can walk around the flat without help, cook the dinner, even do a bit of housework. I’m 78 so I am pleased I can still do that much. I do find standing for long difficult, so if I had back pain I’d be done for.😏