Carpal tunnel
Posted , 16 users are following.
Perhaps one day researchers into PMR (is anyone out there interested in our condition other than those in its grip - and they would be too fatigued to do any research?) will find PMR pain attracts more pain. I can't believe that I have a new pain to add to my neck and my arm and my back.
The pain in my left hand started slowly yesterday and I thought: winter is on its way; this must be what arthritis is like. But by last night I was in agony and couldn't move my hand. So consulted Dr Google and together we diagnosed Carpal Tunnel (which I had had operated on my right hand several pre-PMR years ago).
Have any PMR sufferers found a link between that syndrome and ours? And would increasing my Prednisolone help? I have been struggling since June to reduce from 15mgs (I had gone all the way down to 6mgs - my personal best in five years - before being Flared Out) and can't get below 10+lingering pain.
When it is such a battle to reduce the Pred, I am reluctant to up it for the suspected Carpal Tunnel without your advice on whether it may help. You are all I can turn to. I have a horror of being labelled a hypochondriac by that lucky non-PMR world.
0 likes, 21 replies
peggy_56092 heather39822
Posted
I used to get it when weeding in my yard. After resting for a few days, it went away. I did not increase pred for this. I never had a carpal tunnel operation but I got the painful symptoms before PMR when typing too much. I think this is a common ailment with PMR. I have noticed that using any muscle too much will cause it to hurt.
lodgerUK_NE peggy_56092
Posted
Using your muscles too much will result in pain..............PMR causes the oxygen supply to all your muscles, including every hair on your body to cause pain.
Trick is to take it easy, listen to your body and stop and rest.
bob03667 lodgerUK_NE
Posted
This is from the Arthritis Foundation:* *Too much exercise is likely to make your symptoms worse, but activity usually helps to ease pain and stiffness in the muscles of the shoulders, hips and thighs. ... Walking is usually the most suitable weight-bearing exercise for people with polymyalgia rheumatica.
I think one reason my fairly strenuous morning workout really helps eliminate almost all stiffness is that I'm doing my exercises in water. I think for anyone who doesn't own a hot tub or a swimming pool, find a place where you could try water aerobics.*
The bottom line, as everyone is mentioning, is that we're all different. You have to listen to your own body and experiment with what your body tells you is best for you.
pam7653 heather39822
Posted
I am dealing with a similar issue. Six years into PMR. I spent all winter dropping from a flare last summer. I was at 20mg and finally got to 10mg this Jan. I had a minor surgery in Jan. which I now believe sent me in a flare. This happened to me post surgery (3-4 mos) after a surgery in 2015. Or its Spring related. I dealt with it for 6 mos till I upped my pred to 20. I asked to go up, it was intense foot pain. I had had foot surgery and a hysterectomy months before. Turned out to be inflammation. My podiatrist and rhumy were baffled. My PMR rests in my hips, piriformis and hip flexors. Never my shoulders. I'm at 23mg with no relief. Very reluctant to go higher, but I am hurting! Especially after any long walking. Does my body get used to 20mg forcing me to go higher in a flare? Do I have MYOFACIAL pain syndrome as suggested? I find out tomorrow as I see my DR.
also a physiotherapist. Does anyone know of Drs in the USA with any knowledge of PMR? I'm just not finding them.
lodgerUK_NE pam7653
Posted
Dr Eric Matteson, Mayo CLinic, sits on ARC/EULAR and is worth putting in your search engine and reading up on him, he is one of the top researchers.
EileenH pam7653
Posted
Your hip etc pain that worsens with walking sounds very trochanteric bursitis-like to me. It doesn't respond too well to oral pred but local steroid injections make a major difference.
jean39702 pam7653
Posted
Pam, I have hip pain from trochanteric bursitis, which flares up every so often. It's like spikes being driven into my hips when I walk. So far I've always been able to deal with it through exercises discovered on the the Internet. However, a recent flare took more than a month to settle down and I was considering steroid injections when it suddenly disappeared.
pam7653 jean39702
Posted
Wood this bursitis show up on an MRI? My MRI came back normal.
Michdonn pam7653
Posted
Pam, sad to say, but after reading the articles on the website and research of my only online , I would say NO! I don't think must Rheumies have the exposure to PMR. I been managing my dosages for almost two years. It your body, listen to your body, only you can manage your pain. In the past two years I have increased and decreased controlling PMR pain in and out of flares. I believe this is what we have to do. Good luck on the rest of your PMR journey stay positive and try to smile. 🙂
karenjaninaz pam7653
Posted
in which state do you live? I am quite satisfied with my rheumy and my internist was board certified in rheumatology as well. It was required I have an internal medical doc to collaborate with the rheumatologist.
I live in NJ.
ON-line you can try HEALTHGRADES where the patients rates the doctor plus you can see all their qualifications.
Michdonn karenjaninaz
Posted
Lucky you Karen! I am in NM!
margaret22251 heather39822
Posted
Hello Heather
i was having a lot of pain in both my wrist, and my doctor sent me to see a specialist.
he confirned carpel tunnel and i slept in some (Sorry brain fog cannot tell yoy the name)
but they were like gloves for a year and touch wood my hands are ninety percent better, i take care not to put too much strain, if i garden or knit i pace myself.
no you are not a hypochondriac, nobody but , the people who have PMRknow what its like, mu HO has never come to grips with my condition and cannot understand why i cannot do things i could befor our friend (PMR) reared its ugly head.
You are onthe right forum for info, we have a lot of experts that will help you,
best wishes Margaret
judith90525 heather39822
Posted
NO ONE with PMR would label you a hypochondriac Heather! Whilst I haven't experienced carpal tunnel myself, I have all sorts of other pains that come and go and leave me feeling quite crippled with pain and discomfort.
I too simply up my pred and it seems to work despite doctors being horrified about "being on too high a dose for too long" Only 2 years in my case. It's a case of having some quality of life and being able to operate at some capacity! Do what works for you recognising that PMR affects all of us so differently and that upping your pred to cope is NOT a crime!!
Prayers and Blessings....
karenjaninaz heather39822
Posted
My experience with carpal tunnel issues: way before PmR both my hands had carpal tunnel release which is really an incision into the ligament in the wrist. It was very successful and I used my hands extensively as an anesthetist. At one point my hands became terribly painful and a hand doc recommended splints and nsaids. It did not help and got worse. The doc (pain specialist) I worked with suggested an excellent physiotherapist who happened to be in the same building. She put my hands in hot wax or something similar then did a deep painful manipulation; after a couple of sessions the pain was permanently relieved. I surmise scar tissue entrapped that area. The reduced physical activity and stiffness we often suffer might give rise to such problems.
EileenH heather39822
Posted
There are a lot of researchers out there even if you can't see them! I am part of a very active group in the north of England as a patient research partner and there are similar groups in other countries.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is known to occur as part of PMR and what has possibly happened is that your reduction allowed the CT inflammation to return. It is often the case that when you try to force a reduction to get to a lower dose it may cause a flare of the inflammation - and, for some reason, no-one knows why, it is often more difficult to get things under control.
Are you sure it is carpal tunnel? Do you have tingling in the right fingers? I had hand pain with PMR and also pain from the outer aspect of my elbow to the inner aspect of my wrist - we though it was RSI (repetitive strain injury) but it was tendonitis related to the PMR.