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PMR and pain killers

Posted , 6 users are following.

constance.de
constance.de

Am I unusual or do pain killers sometimes help with PMR?  I know the experts say they don't, but they seem to help me!  I am on 6mgs, with the usual arm/shoulder/wrist pains (legs and hips much better).  I have started taking co-codamol, one in the morning and one in the evening and they HELP.  I suppose some of the pain could be wear and tear (I am 75).  How do others fare?

1 like, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • audrey25251
    audrey25251 constance.de

    Posted

    I have to confess that when the pain has been unbearable and the prednisolone have not yet kicked in I have on occasions taken diclofenac and they have helped enormously. I am 79 with both PMR and GCA and with the help of this forum have decided to take whatever dosage and painkillers are necessary for as comfortable life as possible, provided I approach it in a sensible way.
  • EileenH
    EileenH constance.de

    Posted

    In some of the medical literature it suggests that painkillers can be used in mild PMR. I had "mild" PMR for 5 years and I took the occasional ibuprufen when the pain was too bad to put up with for long and it took the edge off. But when it hit full on nothing I could take made any real difference - although that may have been that extra bad minus a bit was still intolerable I suppose. The GP handed me a prescription for Voltaren. As suppositories. Yeah, right...

    Most people find it doesn't help the PMR related stiffness at all doesn't do much for sore sore muscles. There are often other things going on alongside it - maybe the pain killers do something there. It is possible that using painkillers regularly, taking the full dose every day might help - but ibuprofen should not be used like that and one lady developed liver problems using paracetamol like that on the instructions of her GP. Which induced panic on his part! 

    Like a lot of other people, I can't take co-codamol, the codeine just doesn't suit me. I have enough going on without getting constipated!  Do be careful using it long term, even at lower doses and don't take anything else containing paracetamol.

    You might find this interesting and helpful:

    https://patient.info/medicine/co-codamol-for-pain-relief

    • constance.de
      constance.de EileenH

      Posted

      Great.  I feel "mild"  PMR is how I feel at the moment - I'm definitely getting there - long may it last!!
  • Sheilamac_Fife
    Sheilamac_Fife constance.de

    Posted

    Hi Constance

    I am puzzled. I am at an earlier stage than you. Started 15mg Pred in July and have reduced to 12mg last month. Tried to get to 11mg but some pain crept back in hip and beck became crunchy stiff again, so am staying at 12mg for this month. No pain. This sort of pattern is my plan. Trying to let the Prednisilone enable me to be painfree. Then I see yourself and others still suffering pain and reducing much lower than me and accepting it. Do I have this to come? Have I misunderstood? I do know that we are all different and this condition varies from person to person but I thought the point of Prednisilone was to reduce the inflammation and thus the pain.

    Sheila

    • constance.de
      constance.de Sheilamac_Fife

      Posted

      Sorrry to disappoint you, but pain can continue over a long period of time.  I have had 3 1/2 years of it!  Others have had more, many, many, have had less.  Let us hope you are one of the lucky ones.

      Keep reading this site - it will help tremendously.  I was at my wits end when I found the site just over 3 months ago and I don't know what I would do without it now.  There is always somemone to listen/advise, even to just chat to.

       

    • EileenH
      EileenH Sheilamac_Fife

      Posted

      Some people are never pain-free even at higher doses of pred - personally I think it may be because some of the things that are blamed on PMR are associated with but not caused by the PMR and they vary more from person to person. Some things will respond better to treatments such as cortisone injections, manual procedures by physiotherapists or even Bowen therapy. If you have had PMR symptoms for long then there may be other back problems due to muscle spasm from walking incorrectly for example. 

      It depends on how much inflammation there is to start with, how active the autoimmune part of the PMR is and how active you expect to be. All those will affect the amount of pred you need, never mind the fact that we all respond differntly to a given dose. I did fine down to 10mg - if I tried to get further, back came the pain. I have been lucky in having a doctor who is less bothered about the dose than the freedom from pain but others are not so lucky. By using a VERY slow reduction plan I finally managed to get to 4mg, at 3 pain returned.

      Yes, the idea is to use pred as your "pain killer" by keeping the inflammation at a minimum but there are people who are no less in pain at, say,15mg than they are at 6mg. Being at 6mg is associated with far fewer side effects so is preferable. Some just have to accept it - some are very lucky.

    • Sheilamac_Fife
      Sheilamac_Fife EileenH

      Posted

      Thank you Eileen. I will persist with my mind set and hope for the best. Am scared of letting the pain creep out and ending up with a nasty flare! I am in the fortunate position of not having any interference from GP (who didn't understand PMR) nor from Rheumatogist, who diagnosed me, gave me a stupid reduction plan told me steroids or no, I would be better in 2 - 2 & half years and didn't want to see me again.... You then told me different!..... I now get all my information and support from this site. Also fortunately, I don't have any other medical conditions of any importance so I am listening to my body and all of you. Thank you!

      Sheila

    • EileenH
      EileenH Sheilamac_Fife

      Posted

      I hope your GP is willing to do occasional checks: BP, blood tests including blood sugar, electrolytes, vit D (if you are lucky) and blood count. You are on calcium and vit D supplements I trust?

      Dear lord - even if 2+ years were correct, the thought of that long without any help makes me cringe, having done it...

    • Sheilamac_Fife
      Sheilamac_Fife EileenH

      Posted

      I am on Calcichew and Alendronic Acid because I had a bone scan which showed some bone thinning. I had hoped to do without it. They won't do another scan for at least 3 years. No routine blood tests, never had Vit D tested. Will maybe ask next time I go.

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