Trouble Walking on Left Leg
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I mentioned this problem a few months ago but it is becoming an even more serious issue. I've been on Pred for PMR for over 2 years and over the last 6 months an issue has emerged with my left leg. During that time stiffness in the left inner thigh and buttocks has progressed now to where I have discomfort most of the time just walking on it. I get a sense of strain in the inner thigh and sometimes on the outer thigh, often with some pain with most steps I take. I'd almost use the word 'unstable' to describe the condition. A recent x-ray showed the left hip to be normal. I'm now finding it difficult just going from room to room. My doctor says Pred weakens muscles and possibly this is the case. I wonder if doing light daily stretches has strained or torn a muscle or if this just another problem resulting from being on Pred. I'd welcome any thoughts you have or experiences like this. Is my rheumatologist the best person to determine what is the cause and if anything can be done to treat it? Is there another specialist better trained in this area that I should speak to?
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gillian_25383 leonard12916
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Silver49 gillian_25383
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constance.de leonard12916
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leonard12916 constance.de
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constance.de leonard12916
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constance.de
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EileenH leonard12916
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If Bowen had some effect then I'd say try more if you can afford it because there was some sign it was working. Alternatively - is there any chance of a really good massage therapist, preferably one who works on myofascial pain syndrome? Someone in another discussion on another forum said she'd not got much help from Bowen but was able to find someone who was an osteopath I think but worked specifically on the MPS trigger points. They manifest as hard knots in muscles, in pairs, on either side of the spine in the shoulders, about rib level and in the low back. They can irritate/trap nerves and lead to referred pain - in the low back with effect that mimic sciatica. But sciatic can also cause weakness in the affected leg - and what you describe would also fit with my experiences of trochanteric bursitis. When that gets really bad it is very painful but it can also be low grade and make you feel unstable. That responds well to a cortisone injection locally - but I somehow get the impression your GP isn't going to come up with that!
They all jump on the "pred makes your muscles weak" bandwagon. I'm not convinced myself. And when it comes to muscular problems, on my own personal experiences, the last person I'd believe about them is an orthopod or rheumy. I was told there was low back wear and tear that nothing could be done about and I'd have to live with it. A physio and pain clinic specialist were horrified - it was blatantly obviously musclular in origin. Which was what I had thought originally but when a doctor says so categorically you do assume they might be right don't you? Luckily the physio and pain therapist went about it the right way! Plus a bit of Bowen - which I really must get another few sessions of...
Guest leonard12916
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leonard12916 Guest
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EileenH Guest
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Mrs_CJ Guest
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i had what you describe and mine was piriformis syndrome. I didn't see my doctor but instead made a physio appt. and was pretty quickly diagnosed as she found the sore spot without much effort. She knows I have PMR so does her physio work with a lighter touch and with me giving her immediate feedback if it feels like too much. This may result in me needing an extra appt to resolve the problem but I had excellent results.
Im in Canada so I don't know how your medical system works but if it was me I would get to physio and not wait around like your doctor advised. My physio lady says its best to get it worked on sooner rather than later - easier to treat and less strain on the surrounding areas.
leonard12916 Mrs_CJ
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leonard12916 Mrs_CJ
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EileenH leonard12916
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Piriformis starts deep in the buttock, where you sit. It is nicknamed rich man syndrome - from sitting on a wallet stuffed with notes and kept in the back pocket ...
Mrs_CJ leonard12916
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I don't know if a massage therapist can treat this as I didn't try that. My physio lady used her fingers to really work in that specific area. It took several appointments for the piriformis pain to fully recede. Nothing she did affected my PMR as she didn't do anything with enough pressure to cause me pain during her work.
I got piriformis 2 times and for me it is caused by having my lower body in a certain position too long. The first time I was scrubbing floors and the second time I was weeding the garden - being careful to not overdo because of my PMR but not realizing that my lower body couldn't stay in one position for an extended length of time.
My my doctor is not knowledgeable about PMR so that is why I say to just go to your physio person and see if they can diagnose you. We have enough aches without adding something else!
Mrs_CJ leonard12916
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lucy82013 EileenH
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This is what happened and is still happening to me. However what it the cauuse and why does it happen?
What is the mechanism behind this condition of piriformis. This is how this myalgia started with me. It felt/feels as though I am sitting on rocks , both knees, ankles throb and feel as if I have ropes tieed arond ankles as they are so stiff and tight. I have the signs and symptoms of plantar faciitis as well.
What is the treatment for piriformis?
Wouldn't deep fascio massage aggravate the inflammation in the muscles?
Is it best to use heat pads/packs or ice packs?
What meds can be used t treat this? Do any foodstuffs or meds make it worse/better?
Lucy
EileenH lucy82013
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Deep fasio massage will almost certainly make you feel worse before you feel better - because it will release cytokines from what are called trigger points in the larger muscle groups - a massage therapist would feel them as hard knots of muscle fibres and they are spots of concentrated cytokines, inflammatory substances, the same as are shed every morning in the body when you have PMR and cause the inflammation that leads to the pain and stiffness. Massage releases them into the circulation - so yes, you would feel worse in the short term. But in the longer term it won't increase the inflammation in the muscles - the pred dose you take will manage that. If you expect that and can cope with it then massage would help. Another option is to get a doctor to give steroid injections into or around these trigger points - that means finding one who understands the problem, not an easy task. Quite a few people have found Bowen therapy will help with this process, it doesn't work for everyone and doesn't cure the PMR, nothing can do that - it can just help with what I call these "add-ons". I've had the benefit of all of them - I like all of the options and have had the luck to have them available to me at various times. You have to find what works best for you - and what is realistic. If you can't find a doctor who'll give injections you can't have them. The others are complementary therapies so you can find a therapist and pay for them without a referral.
EileenH
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