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PMR and Tendonitis

Posted , 5 users are following.

Nefret
Nefret

Good Afternoon to all you PMR-ers out there.

As some of you will know I am a long standing Polywotsit and a fairly new Giant Thingy. According to the records I have had PMR now for 11+ years (I think that makes it chronic) and next month will be the 9th anniversary of my original diagnosis. GCA was confirmed a year ago.

I have been on the bottle - er, I mean the Pred, for that time in varying dosages.

During the summer months I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia also and with severe tendonitis. The Fibro is being dealt with sufficiently well at the moment as I was prescribed a low dose of Amytriptyline to take at night. Just for the record I would like to say that this also seems to have helped the CGA possibly by relaxing the scalp muscles? Whatever, the neck and scalp pain I get has been considerably reduced since I started taking it in July.

According to the podiatrist I saw the tendonitis at least is secondary to the PMR.

A quick insert here to say that I have also been taking Methotrexate for a year now; due to long term side effects from the Pred it was agreed last year that I needed to stop taking it as soon as possible. (The saga of that journey is written elsewhere, but my ups and downs were nothing to do with PMR). The MTX has worked wonders, I am currently on 3.5 Pred and have just started a very slow reduction to 2.5. Incidentally, we know that I have another arthritic condition (I am showing varied symptoms) which has been labelled Polyarthritis for want of a better term. The MTX is obviously helping with this as it has not really worsened since diagnosis a year ago. (Ooh, does that make me a double Polywotsit?)

However, as regards the tendonitis, I have reached the end of my tether and would like to know if anyone has any ideas or has seen anything which might help. Painkillers obviously do help a lot generally , but I have one specific bother. The tendon most affected and inflamed is the Achilles tendon and it is very swollen and painful at the point of insertion at the back of my heels - yes, it's the same both feet.

All the shoes and boots I have tried have a stiff lining, seaming or other packing at the back of the heel. I have got a pair of very cheap boots which are soft, but they are also very flat, something I have been told NOT to wear (I did this morning. If I hadn't got out of the flat for an hour I would be sitting here rocking and dribbling).

So, has anyone got, seen or come across anyone else who has a pair of shoes with soft backs AND with at least a small heel? Or a pair of shoes where the back edge is higher than the point of insertion of the Achilles tendon?

Sorry to have taken so long to get to the point, but there are a couple of things in there which some of you might like to comment on!

Best wishes to all

Nefret

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  • Nefret
    Nefret

    Posted

    Not being one to wait for the No.7 bus unless there's good reason to, I have looked at Achilles straps and have ordered one - I think it may help my right foot. I have also made some enquiries about ultrasound and I think I may be able to arrange a 'trial' session for next week.

    I've looked at the various shoes on offer. I had heard of Fitflops previously, MBT's were new to me. I am very dubious about either for me, as my lower back muscles are still affected at times and my knees aren't the greatest either!

    Going out tomorrow, weather permitting, to try and find a specialist shoe shop in town, been told it's rather hidden away. Will go hunting and will see what I can find there.

    Cheers to you all

    Nefret

  • EileenH
    EileenH

    Posted

    The girl who sold us my daughter's fitflop boots said she had dodgy knees and was unable to wear \"normal\" shoes (I assume what teens/20s call normal :lol: ) but after getting her fitflops and getting used to them she can now wear nice shoes for a few hours at a time. Just reporting for consideration! That shop (in Whitby) had summer version on sale - that might be worth trying I suppose. I wish I'd tried them now but it was disgusting weather at the time, sandals just didn't seem RIGHT!!

    EileenH

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