Pain
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I was diagnosed with PMR three years ago. Took prednisone three different times and it helped each time. Haven't been on prednisone for several months. Now I am having pain in my lower rib cage and both shoulder blades. Have any of you with PMR experienced this type of pain?
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MrsO-UK_Surrey judy47
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tina-uk_cwall judy47
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My gp also then prescribed omeprazole as she believed the pain just to the left of my sternum, under my left breast could be because of the sore and all these medications were probably antagonising it, although as I said I had the pain before I was diagnosed with PMR, but then the original terrible pain was not helped with all the pain killers I was taking. Since then all my pain had settled down but following my last reduction that didn't work the pain in my rib cage and left of my sternum have returned with vengeance. I attempted to reduce from 9 mgs to 8 mgs only to have to return up to 9 mgs after 16 days because all the classic symptoms returned. I remained in the 9 mgs for 18 days and then attempted to reduce by .5, ie, 9 mgs 1 day followed by 8 mgs the next. All appeared well then all of a sudden pains returned and this time all the pains in my rib cage and to the left of my sternum returned too. I went back up to 10 mgs today in an attempt to control this flare up, there is presently no difference but I'm hoping to see an improvement within the next couple of days.
today I have been very down as all the tapering I achieved over the last 3 months has been wasted and I'm now back to where I was in sep of this year. I will stay on 10 mgs for at least 6 weeks no matter what. But yes like you the pain around my rib cage and left of my sternum where unbearable. Christina.
EileenH judy47
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EileenH
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tina-uk_cwall EileenH
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although I'm not sure if this is the case, it could very well be the answer as to the pain I experience when I touch my ribs, as historically although when I was suffering extreme pain from the PMRwhen I actually touched the area of the pain, that did not result in additional pain from the physical touch whereas when my ribs hurt, it is the opposite way round. I actually do not feel any pain until I actually touch my rib cage.
a further 2 questions for you Eileen, why is it when my PMR pain returns through this flare up does my stomach sore become painful (please see my stomach diagnosis in my thread above)
and, have you read any medical journals etc, that indicate that if the original PMR symptoms are left for a long time untreated, the flare gets worse over time, and that it will once treatment begins take longer to get under control, as there's more inflammation to die down?
any ideas? But this is my second day at the uped dosage of 10 mgs and I'm definitely feeling a lot better than I did on Sunday so I'm now off to the hairdressers for some big time pampering. Christina
EileenH tina-uk_cwall
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I haven't read anyting about delayed diagnosis making it more difficult to control the inflammation, no. But what I can say is that I had had PMR for over 5 years before being given my first dose of pred - and it worked in 6 hours. I was allowed a rapid taper over 6 weeks, 2 weeks each of 15, 10 and 5mg. Within 30 hours of the last tablet I was in bed in worse pain that at the start - although it is possible it just felt like that after 6 weeks pretty much pain-free. That first time I was still great at 10mg, OK at 5mg but after it all flared up again I never got things as well under control as that first time, needing 10mg. Three years ago I was switched to a different corticosteroid as prednisolone is not available here, just methyl prednisolone (Medrol). For some reason that didn't work well for me - and I had to increase the dose to get the same effect. In the end I was on 20mg and in a lot of pain. I had a bad episode of MPS as well so it is difficult to know which pain was which but I was terribly stiff. I had cortisone injections etc and then, on being switched to another form of prednisone I immediately was able to reduce - very very slowly but steadily and for the first time in 4 years got below 10mg. The MPS was still there - but since that has been fully sorted out, finally by removing a tooth afffecting my bite, I've got to 4mg. It IS known that if you allow too many flares it can be more difficult to get subsequent flares under control - more so than if it is a long time before the illness is diagnosed or treated.
There are multiple possible causes of this pain and they become merged and muddied. A good dentist will check your bite - you will be asked to bite onto a piece of paper that leaves marks on your opposing teeth. Any teeth standing proud of the others can cause trouble - far more than you would dream, believe me!
Over time you adopt a posture that hurts least - possibly one leg is shorter than the other, possibly your pelvis isn't straight, all sorts of things. Eventually your body just rebells and can't cope any more. A good physio or osteopath can check that and often do something about it.
However - for the moment, stick at 10mg if that is enough to make you feel well. It was well over 4 years before I managed to get to below 10mg and remain reasonably pain-free. If the underlying autoimmune problem is active you need enough pred. I don't have diabetes, high cholesterol, have lost 17kg since the Medrol was stopped, no osteoporosis. Being at 10mg isn't necessarily half as bad as they'd have you believe.
tina-uk_cwall EileenH
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thanks for all your help. Christina
EileenH tina-uk_cwall
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That is what tends to happen whenever a reduction is forced.
On another forum recently a doctor who used to tell patients they MUST reduce their pred dose now has PMR herself. Now she understands what we face. And is asking whether there is so very much advantage in forcing your patient to go to 8 rather than 9mg if that then puts them at risk of a flare.
My point exactly.