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Today was a bad day for pain

Posted , 6 users are following.

Bert5560
Bert5560

I don't think I've mentioned I babysit my grandson on Wednesday and then go to work on Thursdays. Thursday always seems to be a more painful day, I assume from chasing him around and trying to pick him up with a definite rotator cuff tear on the right side. Although I've been having pain on the left as well ,as I've mentioned earlier in my posts.Today I had excruciating pain on the left side with a lot of snapping sounds I still have pain at the top of my thighs/ thighs/ and definitely behind both knees after sitting for a prolonged period, find it hard to bend down to pick something up etc....can some of you describe the way your pain feels? How many of you had normal esr but still have PMR? I also took a it more of my leftover prednisone after work and actually feel a bit better.I had been taking melodic am prescribed by my PCP before the blood work? Does anyone know if that could alter esr? 😰

3 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • bronwyn97278
    bronwyn97278 Bert5560

    Posted

    Hi Bert;  I don't know a lot re PMR, (am not a sufferer of same), but if had taken some assistor (the pred), it probably had some affect on the inflammation.  However, from what you say re "looking after your grandson, and then trying to work",  yes, you are going to be unwell /suffer. I can relate how you "want to be there", but I will let you know that I tried the same about 7 years ago....My daughter had asked me if I could do same as her son had "bled out at delivery, and arrested", so she wanted me (as an ex-RN), to look after him when she returned to work....it nearly was the end for me.....and when My Rhuemy found out, she was Adamant that I didn't..her words "Bron, I'm am concerned that you could drop him.  You are not capable of looking after a young child/baby, for their sake and your's "....perhaps you may want to pass this onto your grandson's parent?  I know it is Hard, for both you and them, but I rationalized it in my head by telling myself, "that I found a good in-house babysitter/nanny, and had to pay for same, when I worked, so my daughter will have to do the same", and it worked...she found an excellent young mother, who wanted to work, but be with her young child too.....and it worked out perfectly.    Just something to think on..............Bron
  • EileenH
    EileenH Bert5560

    Posted

    Not a lot to add to what Bron has said - if you have PMR (or whatever it is) looking after a small child is a risk for both of you.

    As to "normal bloods" about 1 in 5 patients with PMR or GCA have normal range ESR and CRP. I have never had an ESR above 7, normal is 4. And if a moderate dose of pred (15mg or less) makes a big difference - then your rheumy has to consider PMR as an answer. Certainly what you describe rings bells with me.

    If you mean meloxicam - it is an NSAID and NSAIDs are non-steroidal anti-inflammatories - so should reduce the ESR, though by how much I have no idea.

    • Bert5560
      Bert5560 EileenH

      Posted

      Eileen,

      Sorry, I meant Meloxicam. What tests did your MD run on you to determine it wasn't something else? I asked my Rheumatologist if Meloxicam could skew the results of the blood tests, he said he didn't think it would. Because it's an anti-inflammatory I also believe it could mess with the results.

      I have an appointment coming up with another Rheumatologist in a couple weeks, hopefully I will get some answers.

       

    • bronwyn97278
      bronwyn97278 Bert5560

      Posted

      Hi Bert;   anti-inflammatories usually only take away mild pain, and are used in things like Osteoarthrites,/ inflammed joints due to Ross River etc....they do not act the same way as Prednisone etc....some examples of ant-imfflammatories are voltaren (the strongest)...brufen (commonly known as Naproxin/Naprosan/Ibobrufen....which can bought over counter).....I think it is best you await your blood results before "worrying too much"...but if pain gets  too much....keep taking some of the ant-inflammatories listed above, and some panadol....even try the Osteopanadol, which is a bit stronger that the panadol you buy from the supermarket....even some panadeine (bought from a chemist....has panadol and a little codeine)  ??     Not sure if this what you are wanting??     Bron
    • EileenH
      EileenH Bert5560

      Posted

      I can't remember all of what was done but the start is with the usual blood tests - full blood count and so on to rule out the more obvious things. Vit D deficiency can also mimic PMR symptoms so should be checked. Then the rheumatologist should be looking for the various sorts of inflammatory arthritis

      This is a professional link on this site which lists the differential diagnoses and some of the tests. I would say there are a few flaws in their PMR assessment but the diagnosis bit is OK! 

      https://patient.info/doctor/polymyalgia-rheumatica-pro

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