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Pain in shoulder

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megangrammy
megangrammy

Hi

Diagnosed with PMR 1 1/2 years ago down to 1 mg prednisone. Trying to get off but having trouble with fatigue. Recently got severe pain in only one shoulder nowhere else. The pain is severe like before when I was diagnosed. Wondering if this is the pmr or have slept weirdly or injured myself. Anyone else ever gotten pain in just one area? 

0 likes, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • rusty49
    rusty49 megangrammy

    Posted

    I was diagnosed with PMR in mid-2016.  Yes, i too experienced severe pain in only one spot.  But then my symptoms began to move/rotate.  What first began in rt shoulder later moved to the other.  Then I developed pain in my right hip.  This to shifted to the other.  Then I developed planar fasciitis in that foot and subsequently settled in that ankle.  This all happened over the space of a year as the pain would come and go as it shifted locations.  And yes, fatigue can be overwhelming.  Rather than fight it, I learned to surrender and rest as needed.  This can be difficult if working, and may require adjustments.  The good news is most of my symptoms have subsided with a few flareups.  Changes in diet and exercise/stretching help keep inflammation under control.  I've been off daily dose of steroids for over a year and only take a low-dose with major flareups.  Be patient, rest, exercise, and avoid inflammation causing foods/drinks. 

    • Michdonn
      Michdonn rusty49

      Posted

      I agree with Rusty49, try to stay active, it is not easy, exercise a little each day, listen to your body, if you walk and the next day your legs are tired, you have over done it, it the same for any part of your body. Diet I am a firm believer in an anti-inflammatory diet, avoid all foods and treats that cause inflammation. That a lot of information on the internet. What is the correct diet for you is probably different than mine. I have had PMR for almost 2 years, currently on 9 mg tapering to 8, working 5-7 days a week as a ski instructor. You can do it, think positive and try to smile, I have a smile on my face ☺️ GOOD LUCK!
    • megangrammy
      megangrammy Michdonn

      Posted

      Michdonn and Rusty

      Thank you for your info. I do work full time I own a florist shop and do Pilates 3-4-5 Times a week. Right now I am skiing in Idaho so the Pmr has not stopped me from being active. It was just strange that this pain in my right shoulder came on overnight about a week ago. It is only super painful to reach straight up. I thought I might have strained it in Pilates but it reminds me of the pain I had all over my body when I was first diagnosed with Pmr. I am down to 1mg of prednisone so do I wait it out or take a higher dose to see if pain leaves. If I do go higher then do I have to start the taper all over? The pain gets me most at night. Difficult to sleep and can’t sleep on my right side. My diet is very healthy because my husband is diabetic. 

    • Anhaga
      Anhaga megangrammy

      Posted

      If you increase for up to a week you do not have to do a slow taper, although it might be wise to step down in a few short stages rather than dropping back to your former dose overnight.  If it is PMR you will want to stay at an increase over your current dose anyway, and a taper will help you find the right level.  But as I said, I have a similar situation and my physiotherapist, whom I will see next week, and I think it's probably muscular rather than PMR, especially as my definite PMR symptoms are well controlled or completely absent.

      The recommendation is to increase your PMR dose by 5 mg to see if it helps.  This should deal with most PMR flares.  I had to do that last year, but the pain I had then wasn't like the arm/shoulder issue I have now.  What I did, and it worked for me, others will have done things different ways, was to go 5 mg over my last good dose stay there for about six days, then drop down again by 1 mg at time, two or three days at each level, for about 2 or 3 steps.  After that I returned to the dead slow taper plan as I didn't think my old dose was the best for me any more.  Still working my way slowly down!  The arm has bothered me for much of the winter, and tapering has not made it worse.

    • Anhaga
      Anhaga

      Posted

      Last night in my sleep I flung my left arm over my head and woke myself up with a scream of pain!  When I had PMR before treatment I wouldn't have been able to fling my arm up like that!

    • ClaireJG
      ClaireJG Anhaga

      Posted

      Gosh, that exact same thing happened to me last night! Arm flung up, and ouch!!!!!! I can't sleep on my right shoulder, and if I sleep on my left side, my right shoulder and the muscles around the shoulder and down the arm continue to ache. I end up sleeping on my back, which I don't really like.

    • Anhaga
      Anhaga ClaireJG

      Posted

      Going to see my magic physiotherapist next week.  She will be able to figure out which muscle is involved and we can target it with the right therapy.  Thought it was a bit better until putting on my dressing gown this morning and forgot to favour the arm.  Ouch.  
  • Anhaga
    Anhaga megangrammy

    Posted

    I've had excruciating stabs of pain in my shoulder which I attribute to pred-weakened muscles.  The pain is not like PMR pain.  

  • EileenH
    EileenH megangrammy

    Posted

    Some people find that PMR starts initially or recurs by starting in one place - often one shoulder. They are then told it is "frozen shoulder" or the like Only later do symptoms appear on both sides.

    At 1mg you are probably experiencing fatigue that is due to your adrenal function not kicking back in as it should be.

    Problems in the shoulders with reaching up may be due to impingement or rotator cuff damage.It needs to be investigated.

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