Exercise and PMR

Posted , 13 users are following.

55 years old and have PMR for 2 years , first flare responded really well and got down to 1 MG of prednisolone before having to return to 5mg as maintenance.however it came back again couple of months ago and am now back on maintenance dose. Was very active prior to this and am a keen runner whilst I have come to terms with no more marathons would like to keep running , does anyone have tips on how to manage.

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  • Posted

    I was very active before PMR, but major stress in my life in 2011 kicked me into PMR. I was an active runner and participated in Tri's too!

    I'm heading into year 5 of PMR. I was able to maintain at 5 mg the first 3.5 years. The longer I have PMR the more flares I'm having. I've had to bump up to 20 mg to get the pain to leave the last year or so. Im trying to get back down to 5mg. My pain seems to radiate in my left hip area, last year it was in both feet.

    I still cycle and swim but the running is too much. Let's not forget the head sweats for me are horrible.

    If I did run I'd probably look like I ran in the rain.

    I tried to run this winter in the cold. My feet were killing me. I've had a lot of foot surgeries, but this was a different pain. Good thing is no head sweats at 20 degrees.

    I won't let PMR run my life, but it can slow me down.

    • Posted

      Pam, my head sweats is (are?) possibly the worst side effect I have from this awful condition. I pour. Have not found anyone with the problem as extreme as mine and have not determined whether from PMR (diagnosed nearly three years ago) or the Pred. So constantly on the Pred see-saw - up-down, up-down, as the low digit mgs beckon, enticing but mockingly out of reach. I live in Africa so you can imagine how I suffer in this heat. Sorry you suffer similarly but relieved I'm not alone. 

    • Posted

      I can't imagine the heat where you are. I try to wear my hair up but when I take it down it's soaked. Really gross. I live in northern Indiana and the summers here are hot and humid too. Luckily I live on a lake, so I just jump in!

      I commented to this post below about the head sweats again, so maybe Eileen can respond.

  • Posted

    As ever, really hoping for some good news stories here!
    • Posted

      I have heard of people running again.  I don't know if they were on this forum, or Healthunlocked.  I think the secret is to never overdo it - and learning that limitation can be a bit tricky as we may feel great and do just too much and set ourselves back.  Why not start with one of those training programs beginners use?  You'll be able to ease back into training at a slow rate.  Check your running shoes are right for you, maybe you need more or different support than you did before PMR?

  • Posted

    OOps, replied to Rachel, meant to reply to your post, Tracey!
  • Posted

    Tracy, I am 73, male, have had PMR for about 9 months and have tapered the Pred to 5mg, ready to taper further. I work out 3 days per week with moderately heavy weights and am a very active rancher and I have made an effort to not stop doing anything, but I have modified my workouts by using slightly lower weights. I know that everyone on this site goes crazy when I say this, but Ibuprofen before a workout seems to help me a lot - as much or more than the Pred.  And yes, it can hurt your stomach, but so can coffee, alcohol, carbonated drinks, any foods with acid, etc. etc.  My Rheumatologist recommended it and told me that I could take both if needed.  From my standpoint, you are in uncharted waters - and I hope that I am lucky enough to avoid what you are experiencing, but I would really like to stay in touch to find out how you progress and what you find that works. Good luck!
    • Posted

      Thankyou , I also do 45 minutes hit sessions 3 times a week and it does help to keep some of the stiffness at bay. Well done on staying active , I truly believe you have to keep moving albeit me modifying like you the weights and duration. It has taken some time to come to terms with but my next challenge is a 5k mud run so hopefully will be more fun than painful.
    • Posted

      For ME, if I am going to do something that strenuous, I take 800mg of Ibuprofen at least 2 hours before the event.  I skied this winter and did that every morning, with pretty good results.
    • Posted

      Thank you shelly45866 for that tip on taking Advil/Ibuprofen before a workout.

      I will try taking it before the next time I have to mow the law (mow the weeds) on my hilly property in a few days.

      I mowed the lawn yesterday and felt almost sickened today, with burning pain in my shoulders.

      There is something about aggravating the pmr-afflicted joints with hard work that seems to create a feedback loop to the systemic, chemical source of pmr. I was tempted to further increase my pred dosage for a day, but I had already increased from 1.75mg to 2.5mg for this Spring's yard work season.

  • Posted

    Dan posted on this thread today about his running:

    https://patient.info/forums/discuss/zero-prednisone-discussion-450915?page=1#2670834

    • Posted

      I wish I had found you lovely people 2 years ago, have felt really isolated with this illness and your support is fantastic and I didn't realise head sweats are a symptom , thought it was the menopause!!.

    • Posted

      Not sure where these head sweats come from, is it the PMR or the Prednizone? It started my third year on Prednisone. I'm starting year 5. It can be embarrassing for sure! I love working in my yard, but I need to keep a towel with me, just for my face.

      I'm getting older too. I will be 64 this summer. I want to do so many things before I can't do them, let it be my age or this PMR. I retired this year and so wanted to do a road trip west. I drove for 2 days in April to So. Carolina and wow did it throw me in a flare! So my 3 day road trip to Colorado is a no go. I did plan a trip to Canada which is a 3hr drive and train ride. So you just compromise. That will have to do to celebrate my retirement.

      I just keep moving along. Oh, that women's event in Canada in June I'm going to east of Toronto, includes a high ropes tree course, zip lining and night hikes. I'm very excited!

    • Posted

      I found Patient in the middle of a sleepless night about two months after starting pred.  Made a very big difference to me! 
    • Posted

      You are braver than I!  I haven't done much since starting pred.  Before diagnosis I had a trip to England to visit my cousins.  I was carrying a heavy backpack all day upon landing (my room wasn't ready so I kept my electronics as well as wallet and water bottle with me) and thought I'd be a mess the next day.  In fact I felt better all that week than I had for months before, and better than I was to feel for about another eight months when I finally got a diagnosis and treatment.  So who knows?  I must confess, however, that I begged off the evening to go see Guy Fawkes fireworks in the rain!        

    • Posted

      I'm traveling as much as I can. I'm in year 5 this year with PMR. A trip to Greece is this September with my daughter. I live in the states. I will take extra Prednizone with me just in case. I know how to regulate it when things get bad. My Rhumy let's me handle it. You just need to know when to rest.

      Make adjustments. Take a suitcase on wheels, extra meds, rest a lot and have fun.

    • Posted

      "Not sure where these head sweats come from, is it the PMR or the Prednizone?"

      Both - PMR can cause sweats, GCA is even worse, but they are also listed as a side effect of pred. Apparently there are doctors who haven't read the literature about either - someone told a patient recently they aren't anything to do with pred or PMR!  I wonder if the pred side is part of the mechanism of reducing the inflammation - sweating it out so to speak! 

      I still travel long distances - we drive to the UK and back every summer. But now we don't drive for more than 3 or 4 hours a day, stop somewhere nice for the afternoon and evening meal. Once in a while it doesn't work out and we have to drive 6 or 7 hours - and while I say "we" I do pretty much all the driving as the driver's seat has a lumbar support, passenger seat doesn't and I find it uncomfortable. Then I feel less well afterwards but it doesn't send me into a flare. I think it is more the "add-ons", the myofascial pain syndrome and so on. But taking an extra couple of mg pred for those days also helps a lot I find.

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