Prednisolone Success but now have Leg Pain
Posted , 11 users are following.
Hi all, I am so glad that I have found this forum!
So firstly, let me introduce myself.
I am a (young looking) 60 year old woman who up untill recently had been leading a very fit and healthy lifestye.
I had been experiencing the odd niggling aches and pains in my muscles and joints for over 18 months, but did not think too much of it as I just thought it was the 'getting older' process that happens to everyone. But in September of last year the pain and stiffness got alot worse and seemed to attack my entire body with vengeance. The pain became unbearable and very debhilitating. I was sometimes so bad I could hardly move at all, and I felt that I had aged 20 years in a matter of weeks.
I eventually got my diagnosis of PMR early in November, having baffled doctors and physios' throughout the month of October with what on earth could be wrong with me.
Once diagnosed, my doctor imediately proscribed a daily 20mg dose of Prednisolone.
Within 24hrs of my first dose my pain went away completely and I felt on top of the world and more my normal self, I felt better than I had felt for years. This drug was a miracle!
After two weeks of being blissfully pain free and feeling remarkably well, my doctor dropped my dose to 15mg. I was still ok, fit and well apart from a slight niggling stiffness in one of my arms and in my neck on waking in the morning. These pains subsided after about half an hour, so I wasn't too bothered.
I told my doctor this and he said that was fine. I had my life back, and as a bonus I seemed to feel great on the steroids, with no side effects at all.
After two more weeks the doctor dropped my dose to 10mg a day (my present dosage) as it seemed I was doing so well.
However all has not been that good over the Christmas and new year period. Just before Christmas I developed pain and stiffness in my back which lasted for just a couple of days. It then went away so I wasn't that concerned, as I knew even on the steroid treatment I was to expect the odd ache and pain.
But sadly things have deteriated further, as for the past two weeks on getting out of bed n the morning I have the most excruciating pain shooting down one of my legs starting in the knee joint and stretching up to the buttock. The pain is so bad I can't put my weight on my leg at all for at least five to ten minutes. As I slowly and painfully get moving, the pain does subside and eventually it almost goes away completely during the day.
However, in periods of inactivity it comes back again, and the whole procedure starts up again, especially in the evenings.
It seems I have to be active and on my feet at all times to keep this pain away, which is not a bad thing I know. But this of course is not always possible.
I have not upped my Prednisolone doseage again so far, as I am waiting for my next doctors appointment to see what he suggests. I am now wondering if the pain is not actually PMR, and could be a side affect of the Prednisolone, as the type of pain I have is slightly different to what I was experiencing before.
Question is, should I wait for my doctors advice, or should I up my dose right now myself?
The pain is really excrutiating and hard to take, even for five to ten minutes. But I don't really want to mess with my doses.
Comments fellow PMR sufferers would be appreciated.
0 likes, 54 replies
EileenH
Posted
BettyE
Posted
[quote:6061122af9]I will be 3 years older than I was three years ago in April and guess what I am still using the bottles of some very good brandy that I was given for my birthday.
[/quote:6061122af9]
How many bottles? Which birthday? ( Just joking! )
We know someone who used to work in the local maltings and the staff were able to \"import\" a cask or three of Highland Park which was then divided among friends which is where I got my taste for scotch. Sadly now retired so have to buy at the best price I can find and mostly settle for Famous Grouse ( or have a birthday or two ).
Re leg pain I find that a trolley or even a wheelbarrow is a big help. Have just ordered one of the kind that has a seat ( holds 17.5 stone! ). Has anyone tried one?
MrsO-UK_Surrey
Posted
Re your last sentence/question:
Which one, the trolley or the wheelbarrow?!!!!!!!
Oh, I'm so sorry, Betty, I just couldn't resist it - must grow up and act my age! :lol:
MrsO
BettyE
Posted
[/quote:188dcde582]
No we don't want to do that; bad enough our bodies act their age on too many occasions. Remember thet laughter is the best medicine.
mrs_k
Posted
On April 24th I will be three years into 'Overdraft time' - the bottles came in at 1 for every two years.
Can't wait for the 10 year 'overdraft' celebration.
Had a good few laughs today and then I came on here and giggled my way through this thread.
Green_Granny
Posted
Overdraft time tho' not great is a lot better then the other expression I heard - past your sell by date :o
Praps we should have a competition to come up with the best, more positive way of talking about reaching \"years of discretion\"!
Green granny
Lizzie_Ellen
Posted
Lizzie Ellen
PS: I know I'm being dim, but at what age do you start totting up an overdraft?
Guest
Posted
the body will NOT do the things we want \" HIM\" to....But the mind has learned by then, to assess what life has meant....and I am now going to do, what a LADY should'nt do...Give a pieace of my old mind, to each and everyone, that dares in my way to stand, and then sit back to enjoy the FUN !!!!!!.....
PS :oops: Atrocious poetry....but the meaning is there...... :roll: :P !!!!!!!
Granny Moss
mrs_k
Posted
Three score years and ten. And I also wear purple, have not got a red hat yet, but I cannot make up for the sobriety of my youth!!!!!!
Warning
When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick flowers in other people's gardens
And learn to spit.
You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat
And eat three pounds of sausages at a go
Or only bread and pickle for a week
And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes.
But now we must have clothes that keep us dry
And pay our rent and not swear in the street
And set a good example for the children.
We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.
But maybe I ought to practice a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.
Jenny Joseph
Guest
Posted
Granny Moss.
Lizzie_Ellen
Posted
Lizzie
Green_Granny
Posted
Maybe I should start being purple granny instead of
Green granny.
Lizzie_Ellen
Posted
EileenH
Posted
EileenH
Dublin,_Ireland
Posted
At one point in my training(probably after a bottleor 3 of the afore-mentioned blue nun), I misguidely thought it would be a good idea to dye my HAIR purple....not a good look on a pale faced student nurse, and rather alarming for my elderly patients :lol: .....Matron was less than impressed and insisted that unless I wished to be suspended without pay, I should revert to being a brunette :cry:
needless to say...I re-dyed the hair....otherwise I would not have been able to afford any more cheap wine and happily my tastes have now matured even if I haven't:wink:
Peoples reactions were fun while it lasted though...and purple is still my favourite colour and I intend to age disgracefully (if my kids allow me to)
Keep young at heart is my motto, despite what the body might say.
best wishes to all, Pauline.