The pain is back
Posted , 5 users are following.
I am a bit confused now as to what I have been feeling is PMR pain or not. Recently I had what I thought was a flare up with dreadful pain in my right shoulder area. I went up from 4mg to 15mg and then on up to 20mg before the pain went. Had a blood test on Thursday and the PCR and ESR were both 2, which is really low for me. Last time it was 13 and 5. Now however I am on 5mg one above where I was, and I have no stiffness or pain anywhere except for the shoulder area, which is back with an excruciating pain. I am currently rubbing in Deep Heat and taking pain killers to sleep. Now I know I can get rid of this pain by going up again, but is it caused by PMR or something else is what I am wondering? I have not injured myself in any way at all. Does Pred get rid of pain whether it is PMR related or not. I don't want to just mask it by going up again. The pain starts around the collarbone, and in the soft tissue either side, and then up my neck as far as my ear. Also hurts a bit in the shoulder itself. Not sure what to do.
0 likes, 3 replies
BettyE rosemary83494
Posted
I'm open to correction but, yes, I believe that Pred. does act on other pain than PMR. I'm pretty sure, though, that it doesn't work the other way round.
When I kept getting recurrence of pain as I was reducing my doctor asked me on one occasion to try not increasing the Pred. but to take paracetamol and see if that helped. It didn't and I think that was regarded as confirmation that the pain was indeed a flare.
EileenH rosemary83494
Posted
It could well be a shoulder injury or bursitis - an increase in pred would ease a lot of the pain from some injuries and should help bursitis, it can be part of PMR. Pred will work on any pain due to inflammation - whatever the disorder.
From what you say I'd suspect the pain is not directly due to PMR, as much as anything else because it is very unilateral isn't it? Bursitis is the most likely but rotator cuff injury is also treated with steroids, although usually as injections, Impingement problems are also sometimes treated with pred.
I think you need to get the shoulder examined - the best way to diagnose is a physical exam and imaging. Don't really think there is any way round it and if you leave it it may get far worse and you might even develop a fully-blown frozen shoulder.
Anhaga rosemary83494
Posted
I've had similar shoulder pain in my pred taper journey. It always has responded well to physiotherapy (I have a miracle physiotherapist, I wish everyone did) and I never needed to increase pred to deal with it.
My theory is when these conditions arise during treatment for PMR it's best to try other methods before increasing pred. My highest dose of pred at beginning (15 mg) dealt with all my aches and pains, including those which were definitely related to osteoarthritis and also to what I've since learned are common add-ons to PMR, but don't need pred to deal with, like costochondritis, sciatica, etc.
I think when the disabilities caused by the original PMR arise, then that is likely to be a true flare. At least this is what I've found. Of course, "We're all different", and what has worked for me may not work for you. But it might, and could save you another spell of increased pred dose. Best wishes!