Lower Back Pain
Posted , 7 users are following.
Hi, I have recently (3 days) been put on 40 mg of prednisolone for Temopral Arteritis and Polymylgia Rheumatica, on the very first day I developed really painful lower back pain (spasms) and have has these every day now after taking thetablets, can last a few hours. Is this a normal side effect as I can't find any info?
1 like, 12 replies
pat38625 freda68872
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Pat
freda68872 pat38625
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pat38625 freda68872
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EileenH freda68872
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I'm a bit surprised it happened so quickly - a lot of people complain of muscle cramps and that is often due to the effect that pred has on magnesium levels in the body. Magnesium supplements can help there. Pred can also affect potassium levels - eat bananas and dried apricots to combat that. Calcium levels may also be affected - are you on calcium/vit D supplements?
However, I really think you should call your GP in the morning and ask advice. In the old days of NHS Direct I would have suggested them but now getting to speak to a medically qualified person is far more difficult and the call handlers won't have a clue! It is a bit strange really - pred is sometimes used to deal with back muscle spasms! It could be coincidence - and the PMR part of the illness has affected your back via something called myofascial pain syndrome. They aren't the same but do often happen together - though again, I'd have though the pred would help not make it worse.
Do let us know how you get on with a doctor (who, by the way, I'd hope would do blood tests for potassium, calcium and magnesium at the very least) - yet another thing to add to the field of knowledge when it is sorted!
freda68872 EileenH
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I will post on the outcome from my GP.
EileenH freda68872
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Was it the GP or a specialist who made the diagnosis and started the pred?
freda68872 EileenH
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david14272 freda68872
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snapperblue freda68872
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I do not have spasms, but a constant discomfort. For me, it is relieved, at least temporarily, by lying on a warm heating pad (lowest setting). The effect is less now than it was last week, so I hope your spasms will decrease soon. Good luck!
freda68872 snapperblue
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EileenH freda68872
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freda68872
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I had my biopsy done last week and am now waiting for the results, in the meantime the 40 mg of pred is helping enormously.