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PMR & Foot Issues

Posted , 6 users are following.

karren61208
karren61208

Just prior to taking prednisone my heel (underside and center of heel) starting hurting me. Before that at night both heels would feel uncomfortably tender. 

The myofacial therapist I have seen said maybe my arch was falling relative to the first problem and probably I should make sure not to tuck the sheet and blankets under the mattress to avoid putting pressure on my feet. She said  maybe I needed an arthopedic insert for my shoe and go see a podiatrist which I haven't done.

However, the problem has diminished as I continue to take the prednisone.

Has anyone else had these kinds of foot tenderness issues? 

0 likes, 14 replies

14 Replies

  • EileenH
    EileenH karren61208

    Posted

    My feet hurt dreadfully in the early days of PMR - after about 6 months of pred it had resolved. I'd seen podiatrists and had a couple of pairs of inserts. Mercifully I hadn't had to pay for them (thank you NHS) because they did nothing and would only fit inside trainers (which I detest). A pair of good solid walking shoes helped enormously. 
    • karren61208
      karren61208 EileenH

      Posted

      OK, Eileen, this is what I was thinking that I should just wait and see what happens. Thanks!
  • Susanne_M_UK
    Susanne_M_UK karren61208

    Posted

    I have recently developed plantar fasciitis, an inflammation of the ligament that runs from the heel to the toes (under the foot). I believe it was caused by me starting to walk more, and in sandals during the hot weather.

    It's probably not what you have, as the pain is intense, especially in the morning before the ligament has stretched again after a night's sleep. I have started wearing special insoles, apart from doing foot exercises.

    • karren61208
      karren61208 Susanne_M_UK

      Posted

      plantar fasciitis was suggested to me and maybe this is the onset but now I'm not having the same pain in the heel. Just a twinge occaionally.
  • LisaCACO
    LisaCACO karren61208

    Posted

    yes! I have what the doc called posterior tibial dysfunction, or flat foot, all due to this stupid drug. it has really done a number on the muscles in my body. it started with my right foot and my left foot is now showing symptoms, even though I have the correct shoes, etc.  such a mess...
    • LisaCACO
      LisaCACO karren61208

      Posted

      according to my doc I don't have pmr. I'm just diagnosed with GCA. Of course, she could be wrong, but I don't have any of the "classic symptoms of PMR".
    • LisaCACO
      LisaCACO

      Posted

      of course I probably should have stated that when answering a post entitled "PMR and foot issues", lol! But anyway, I think it's the pred and so did my GP and ortho.
    • EileenH
      EileenH LisaCACO

      Posted

      The line dividing GCA and PMR is very blurred - both GCA and PMR can appear on their own in terms of presentation and there is some evidence it is just a version of GCA that is restricted to much smaller arteries. There is not yet any real test or imaging that can show what it is affecting so it might start in one area and then progress to involve another. PMR is a SYMPTOM of some underlying disorder - and that can also be GCA. You may have been treated with pred before the GCA reached the tiny arteries to cause the muscle symptoms.

      Pred gets blamed for a lot of things - all I know is that I had these sort of symptoms due to PMR. It definitely wasn't due to pred because I'd never taken it and pred eventually relieved them.

    • kathy67492
      kathy67492 LisaCACO

      Posted

      I have had PMR for about 16 months. About 6 months or more ago I developed "navicular syndrome" in my left foot (arch was falling..navicular bone stuck out). My podiatrist does not think it is the prednisone. I think it is the PMR and the prednisone. Kinesiology tape (KT Tape), like you saw on the olypic athletes, has been a life-saver. I wear athletic shoes most of the time and bought great i serts on-line for all my shoes. Dont know if you are allowed to say the brand name...?...Superfeet?
  • dan38655
    dan38655 karren61208

    Posted

    For me, the foot problems and soreness under my feet came at about the 6-month point,in the middle of my Prednisone taper period going from 15mg to my current 5mg (holding at 5mg now).

    The foot problems lasted just a few months and have cleared completely (and after I stopped using my narrower athletic shoes).  I am now able to mow the lawn vigorously over rough, hilly ground without any foot discomfort at all.

    • dan38655
      dan38655 karren61208

      Posted

      Yes, it's what might make one thing that an infection were perhaps making the rounds.

      At 15 months in my pmr episode, my ribcage got into the act, making it painful to sneeze or even to clear my throat with any vigor at all.  I still am afflicted 3 months later, but the intensity of the chest pain is down about 40% or so as I continue holding at 5mg.

      There was also some pain in the knees that I only remember feeling when trying to move either of my legs sideways while in bed. That started at around the 5 month mark and lasted 2-3 months.

      There were also several instances of sharp pain at the back of my neck near the base of my skull, and these occurrences all fell within a 2-month period around the 1-year mark.

    • karren61208
      karren61208 dan38655

      Posted

      Thanks, Dan, for the additional details. While I do not want to experience what you have been through, I find it is so much better to know the range of what can happen so that if it happens to me, I can understand what's going on.
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