Should I increase my side of Pred or not?
Posted , 6 users are following.
Two weeks ago I had a fall badly bruising the very base of my spine. It aches constantly, partly relieved by paracetamol and heat patches. It is also uncomfortable when climbing stairs/steps and even walking. My question is this: Would increasing my dose of Prednisolone help? I've had PMR for a year and am currently on 5mg, due to reduce to 4mg by the really slow method in a week's time. OR is there another pain killer I could take other than paracetamol? Feeling miserable!
0 likes, 12 replies
EileenH fran2498
Posted
No, pred is unlikely to help. Pred is an antiinflammatory drug, what you are suffering from at present is almost certainly bruising. I assume you have seen your doctor? You have probably either bruised or even damaged the tail bone, the coccyx. It will take time to heal and it can take some time. As my daughter found a couple of years ago! Have you tried icing? And your GP may prescribe something that is OK with pred and a bit stronger than paracetamol.
I wouldn't reduce your pred dose at present yet though - trauma of any sort is a stress on your body and stress and PMR never lie well together! You are on a very low dose - and in fact, this is the point at which your body must start producing its own corticosteroid, cortisol, again. Hanging around at 5mg for a few months is recommended by one top PMR expert in the south of England.
fran2498 EileenH
Posted
Thank you Eileen , that's what I thought. Yes I did see my GP when it first happened. All he recommended was Cocodimol which I can't take because it makes me feel sick. I guess I'll just have to be patient and let nature take it's course.
EileenH fran2498
Posted
Using a doughnut cushion helps relieve pressure when sitting - and that helps overall. Did TELL him cocodamol makes you feel sick? If he doesn't know...
jean39702 fran2498
Posted
I know how yu feel Fran. I had a major back and tailbone trauma several months back. Had X-Rays to make sure no bones were broken. It took ages for the bruising/damage to my tailbone to settle down. I had to buy a coccyx pillow to be able to sit comfortably.
I was afraid the stress of dealing with the injury would cause a flare of PMR symptoms, but that didn't happen.
fran2498 jean39702
Posted
Thank you for your reply Jean. What did you take for the pain? I was afraid like you that the stress of the fall might cause a PMR flair but so far so good. What is worrying me is that I 'm due to go on a touring holiday in 4 weeks time which includes a fair amount of walking and getting on and off trains with a heavy suitcase. Just hope it's a lot better by then!
jean39702 fran2498
Posted
I used 8 hour Tylenol (acetaminophen). It gradually got better over 4 to 6 weeks. The tailbone pillow really helped by keeping the presseure off. I didn't go with the circle dougnut run. I choose the wedge shape with the cutout in the centre back. It was great!
fran2498 jean39702
Posted
jean39702 fran2498
Posted
EileenH fran2498
Posted
You have PMR and are hoping to lug a heavy suitcase on the train and walk a lot?
fran2498 EileenH
Posted
Yes, I did wonder if perhaps I would be taking on too much as I do get very tired still, however the excursions are not compulsory so if I find I can't cope I'll just have to stay in the hotel. It certainly wont be worse, hopefully, than when I was in Rome last year pre diagnosis and when the PMR really took hold. I was in a lot of pain but managed somehow! How do you cope Eileen ? because from reading many of your posts it seems that you do a fair bit or travelling!
?
Anhaga fran2498
Posted
EileenH fran2498
Posted
When I fly with real airlines (i.e. not Ryan Air) I now ask for airport assistance - so at least I get to the other end in a reasonable state! I regard trains as an invention of the devil to be honest! Buses aren't a lot better (horrible steps into them) and the seats can be uncomfortable. Though I do intend to start using them here from August if they haven't moved the goalposts for the Mobicard again, but trains are level access so that is no steps.
Had I known what our tour in China involved I wouldn't have booked it - as it was it was fine and I always managed to find a seat near the bus if the proposed trek really looked too much. I was surprised how much I managed with no problems to be honest. The Great Wall was the hardest - there was a traffic jam and it was chilly and damp but we had to walk over 1/2 mile up a slope before we even got to the Tourist Centre and then walking on the Wall was slippery and STEEP!! But I did go onto the Wall and looked at what everyone else was walking. It all looks much the same... I couldn't stay in the hotel - the bus left in the morning and usually ended up somewhere else. But I never had to haul my own suitcase! I always know when I have had to do that so avoid it like the plague.
Some nights I just fell into bed as soon as we got to the hotel - but the main meal was always a late lunch and one thing that is a bit lacking in China is a decent bar so I didn't miss that! On a bus tour there is plenty of sitting to rest between short bursts of walking.
I've had PMR a long time - I know exactly what I can or can't do and by now it is actually I can do more than I can't do really.