DEA'S Update PMR and vack
Posted , 9 users are following.
Hi everyone, My last update was 3 months ago, I have been busy since then.
Last time I spoke I was taking blood thinners for a clot, well off them and all cleared. YAY!
also I had a MRI scan done on my back and showed Spinal Facet Joint Arhritis > at that time I was asking for any information to help. Well I did the dry needling without any long term help. Also some physio excercises. 3 months alter and I am still in consant pain. I can only stand and walk for 10 to 15 mins, then have to sit, and start again. So now I am going to start the hydrotherapy pool that has just opened up down the road, its a public pool but has ramp access for people like me, all brand new and they also have the excercise classes for later.....
I have gone from 40mg Preds to 17 mg now, and tapering very slow, thanks to Eileen and others advice on here.
Because of my back I don't have much of a social life, and that's why now my main focus is to get the back fixed as much as I can for a better quality of life. It was said to me to try the injections, but to me pain meds and injections are just masking my problem which I am hoping to fix...
I hope everyone else is managing their PMR etc and being pain free as possible.
Cheers Dea
0 likes, 14 replies
Michdonn dea13
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pat38625 dea13
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Kind regards to you for updating us. You have had quite a tough time but hopefully now your journey will get easier. As I always say - you can't fall off the floor. So hopefully you get your back sorted and start to have a Social Life (don't know what that is) The Best of Luck with your back. Regards Pat
Anhaga dea13
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When you were treated for your back pain were you prescribed any exercises? I think I'd be one of the people who suffers severely from back pain were it not for an incident many years ago. I'd had back problems off and on most of my adult life, nothing too bad, but enough that my doctor once commented that it was the reason, apart from pregnancy, that I had usually gone to see him. Anyway one night I thought I might be having a stroke as I felt my entire left side felt a bit numb. Went to hospital emergency where I was given a very thorough examination, kept overnight so they could do some of the tests as an in patient. When released I was brought back a few days later for some sort of scan of some arteries. Everything checked out fine. It was then that my GP mentioned the frequency of my back complaints, and said as everything else had been ruled out, I should go to a physiotherapist. So ever since then nearly every morning and evening I have done the world's most boring exercises to keep my back mobile, and to strengthen the muscles supporting the spine. More recently PMR, got me back to a physiotherapist where I've picked up more exercises to straighten my spine as I'd started to develop scoliosis. This is much improved. I still have that sensation of numbness, very slight, if I think about it. But it's never got worse. My back gives me amazingly little trouble, and when there is an issue it's usually referred pain in my hips, which is also sorted out by exercises and other physio techniques and come to think of it hasn't bothered me for months. I should add that I do have osteoarthritis in my lumbar and cervical spine, some of it described as severe.
jean_b Anhaga
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Hi anhaga I was just doing my usual catch up on messages here and picked up on you having very bad osteoarthritis in spine .if I'm not mistaken in your posts in past I think you said you don't take alendrinic acid and go down the natural vits line for this instead.as I am seeing reuhmy on Monday for results of my dexa scan and know she will be brassed off with me as I have refused to go on it once before and know she will push me again.my question is was you pressurised at all and how did you deal with it when refusing.also has any one out there had a pet scan as I have to have one soon and would like to hear what it was like as am anxious .best wishes to all .
Anhaga jean_b
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My doctor wanted me on aa because I was on prednisone and my DXA scan showed a t-score of -2. However osteoarthritis has no bearing on osteoporosis as far as I know. I refused the drugs, and when my t-score improved my doctor was very pleased and asked me how I did it! And you already know how I did it! It's your body and you are the only person who can decide whether to take drugs or not. Many people do take the drugs and seem pleased with the result. But I believe that if more people knew they could in fact manage without drugs and still improve their bone density they would opt to try that way first. My doctor, give her credit, wasn't pleased, but she never pressed me, just encouraged me once or twice but I kept on saying no and she gave up. This is my gp, I see no specialists.
EileenH jean_b
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It all depends on your dexascan results - if they are OK it is a lot easier to refuse to take alendronic acid as I did. I've been on pred for 8 years, there has been little change in my bone density from the outset - although I met a new doctor recently who announced she would have to study my latest dexascan results more carefully before deciding what to do. I suggested, politely, she save herself the work because I wasn't going to take alendronic acid anyway. She was a bit taken aback but didn't argue much!
I was given it originally and took 4 tablets - then did my homework before discussing it with a different GP who agreed with me on the basis of the dexascan (t-scores of -1.3 or better). My next dexascan was to all intents and purposes identical and the most recent one 3 1/2 years later is slightly down. Still OK though. All I take is calcium and vit D and walk for 1/2 hour almost every day. Had they been poorer results I'd probably do something more like Anhaga does.
jean_b Anhaga
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jean_b
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amkoffee dea13
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I've suffered from lower back pain for 13 years and one of my problems is arthritis in my facet joints and my SI joints. I am in a horrible amount of pain and I it can not be fixed with surgery. So I treat it with injections and opiates. I do want to give you so unsolicited advice. First please don't put all your hopes on back surgery fixing your problem. Even if they say they can fix your problem with surgery most surgeries are not successful. A lot of surgeries if successful the pain relief only last a short time meaning a couple of years at best. A lot of surgeries don't work at all and then there are those that are what they called failed surgeries which means that the surgery made things worse. Ask your doctor for percentages he should be able to give you a percentage for your surgery on the success rates. At least my doctor did when we were talking about surgeries 2nd Lane the injections would not be a mask of for your pain. The injections are steroid in your epidural that helps relieve the inflammation very much like us taking Prednisone for PMR.
amkoffee
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dea13 amkoffee
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I have no intentions of having a operation.
I am still taking 16mg of prednisone for the pmr and slowly tapering.
I will see a physio for more excercises.
thanks for your sharing and information...
anne57814 dea13
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Great to hear from you, but sorry you are going through such pain. I can sympathize. I hope you can get it sorted out.
patricia59727 dea13
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Know how you feel, I have had this Back problem for over a year now,I can sit 3or4 times just making a Cuppa, The only exercise I can do without Pain is in Water and had stop that in February due to a trapped Nerve in my Bottom and down my leg,Was in Tenerife at the time so had to go Private with a Chiropractor 6 sessions and no change,He referred me to a Sports Therapist 3 Sessions and that seems to have eased the Nerve, I think this was brought on because of the way I was holding myself (ie)Clenching my Muscles when in pain from standing,I am seeing a Phisio this month so will see what they have to say.In to my 4 year now with PMR-GCA on 21mg Prednisolone reducing very slowly, Wish I could get to the Bottom of all this,excuse the pun.Just want to Walk normally again without having to take more Meds, Hope you get your Problem fixed soon,I will look out for you're Posts.
dea13 patricia59727
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