Weak Legs
Posted , 9 users are following.
Good morning Eileen and everyone, I have a friend with a bad drop foot who has had PMR for nearly 7 years and she has been stuck on 5mg of pred for the last 3 years. She has started to suffer from weak legs when walking and after a certain distance feels her legs won't work anymore. She can't walk far anyway as she is badly lopsided and walks with a stick. She is 78. She is very stoic and nursed her husband through cancer and is still very active with church activities so is not at home feeling sorry for herself.
She is wondering if the weakness in her legs could be caused by long term use of pred and I said I would ask the forum. She is trying to get to 4.5mg using the DSNS method but so far every time she has tried, she has unfortunately and coincidentally had a fall and due to the pain of that has always had to go back to 5mg. She is nervous that long term use of pred is not doing her any good although I have told her that such a low dose should not be affecting her as such.
Does anyone else suffer like this? Is it a common side affect or something entirely different. In other respects she is fine, not overweight and looks very well.
0 likes, 14 replies
EileenH diana21296
Posted
Long term use of pred CAN lead to muscle weakness - but it can be avoided by targeted exercises and the guidelines do recommend that each patient should be advised on suitable exercises for them. I would have thought that someone with a drop foot would be a particularly needy case in that respect. Walking with a drop foot is not a natural action and isn't going to do muscles any favours.
Not wishing to appear rude - but she isn't a spring chicken any more and a deterioration in walking ability does tend to come with advancing age and the higher doses of pred in the past probably didn't help. Has she tried walking with a rollator? That allows a much more "normal" walking pattern than a walking stick and provides a seat for when you need one (it also carries your shopping!).
She should ask her GP for a referral to a physio, although, if she can afford it, a private session with a physio would probably achieve far more and far sooner!
The 5mg shouldn't be causing any problems really - she is probably stuck at 5mg as much because of poor adrenal function than anything else and it is a low dose, less corticosteoid than the body makes naturally anyway in the form of cortisol which is essential for life.
diana21296 EileenH
Posted
She has a rollator which belonged to her late husband but too heavy for her to fold and lift into the car and she does a lot of driving hither and thither not being able to walk properly. Will research to see if there are any lighter weight ones on the market. Have a good day.
EileenH diana21296
Posted
I'm sure there are lightweight ones. My SIL's aunt is tiny and very crippled with her hips - she folds hers and slings it in the boot no bother at all.
Does she try to reduce the dose? What happens when she does?
ptolemy diana21296
Posted
diana21296 ptolemy
Posted
Thanks. Unfortunately she had an op at the outset 10 years ago but it didn't work. She has a brace from the States which ties into any lace up shoes which helps to hold the foot up higher to help prevent falling. Am researching extra light small rollators which she could easily fit into the car.
Anhaga diana21296
Posted
I agree that physiotherapy should help improve such things as her lopsidedness. Pred can cause muscle weakness I've found, although I've always exercised (including physio) through PMR both diagnosed and with prednisone. Targeted exercises help, and a trained physiotherapist will be able to determine exactly which muscles need the workout at this stage. I've been below 5 mg for over two years and definitely have lost strength in that time. The problem is at our age (I'm 71) it takes longer to recover from injury, so I think the very painful back I endured last summer set me back quite far and I'm only just now starting to regain strength. Your friend's fall will not have helped any of her issues. If nothing else these ailments teach us patience.
celia14153 diana21296
Posted
EileenH celia14153
Posted
Anhaga celia14153
Posted
I don't know why it would be irreversible. I sometimes feel like I'm walking through molasses but I have no intention of living the rest of my life with that feeling. I'll just keep on doing what I can in full expectation that things will improve as I continue to taper my pred.
Don't believe everything doctors tell you (within reason, of course). Some doctors will tell you that osteopenia and osteoporosis cannot be improved only through nutrition including supplements and diet, no meds. Several people posting on the forums have proven otherwise, as demonstrated through their successive DXA scans,
Anhaga
Posted
celia14153 EileenH
Posted
celia14153 Anhaga
Posted
Kacee01 diana21296
Posted
Diana, This is so me, I was diagnosed with pmr April 19, 2010. I would not take prednisone until I became so full of inflamation, I could not get out of bed or turn over., so rheum. started me on 15 mg. of pred. Lots of side effects since that time I'v been on 2.5 mg for 4 years sometime down to 1.25 daily but I always have to go back to 2.5, I am now experiencing fatigue, weak legs, can't hardly pick them up, I'v always been very active, taking care of my yard. etc. I'm just hoping I can continue getting up and down stairs. Had test run yesterday to see how much cortisol my body is making, Tell your friend I will let you know what test results were, I want off pred. So bad! Hopefully my adrenals are working., will keep you posted, Thanks for listening.
diana21296 Kacee01
Posted