When to blame PMR ?
Posted , 12 users are following.
I have difficulty in recognising new aches and pains as PMR related or having some other cause. I have developed over the past few weeks an exceptionally sore back. It started low down my back, almost in my waist, and now has moved to my upper right area. It doesn't respond to Paracetamol but after my morning 6mg Pred dose it does fade to dull. Then it returns with a vengeance in late afternoon and is there until sometime after my Pred and I have moved into the day.
My back rarely gives trouble (although it was one of my symptoms in the months before diagnosis in 2014) and I don't know how to label the pain as one typical to all 70-year-olds, or a PMR symptom that could lead into a full blown flare.
I've been on a roller coaster ride with Pred over the past three-plus years and am thrilled to have reached my current dose. The thought of increasing it and dealing with the resultant increase in the hideous side effects (extreme sweats, hair loss, memory fog, fatigue...) is more than depressing.
Is that what I have to do or can I doggedly continue with my 6mg and hope that this pain will go away? Or could that lead to a flare? Does PMR get the blame when actually there is another reason for many otherwise unexplained pains?
I don't have access to a rheumatologist, or indeed to anyone with professional medical knowledge of PMR, so I have bumbled along on this journey largely on my own and with the input of this forum. I look forward to members' advice.
0 likes, 22 replies
barbara73592 heather39822
Posted
Really understand how you all feel. I was diagnosed in March 2016 and started on 30mg prednisolone. It's been a long battle to now with all the awful side effects already mentioned. I was quite pleased with myself having managed to reduce to 8.5 mg and although still had aches and pains nothing like when first diagnosed. I reduced very gradually on the dsns method and it was working well until 3 days ago when I started to go downhill but thought it was old age (71) aches. Today,Inam in no doubt that a flare has started,and I am about to go on holiday in a week! So,my problem now is what dose should I increase to. The last dose I was really good at was 10mg but that might not be enough?
EileenH barbara73592
Posted
Take what you need - until after the holiday. If you were good at 10mg and have not been as good since you have overshot the mark FOR NOW. It doesn't mean you won't get lower - just not yet.
barbara73592 EileenH
Posted
shelley45866 heather39822
Posted
Low Dose Naltrexone has made a significant difference in my life for all of the pains that are "non-PMR" pains as well as for the PMR. It has virtually no side effects and is cheap. If you Google it, be sure to include the words "Low Dose".
jean39702 heather39822
Posted
Hi Heather. I've been "bumbling" along for a little over three years as well and am now at 10.5 mg from an original starting dose of 40 mg. Lower back pain similar to what you describe has haunted me for much of my adult life. Originally, the pain was from a minor back injury, however, now age (I'm 69) has lead to spinal compression. I also attribute the pain to myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) on occasion, as described by Eileen below.
If I do regular back stretching and strengthening exercises the frequency of back issues is far less than when I'm too lazy and miss a few days. I also need to do them to stop excruciating hip pain, which I also attribute to MPS. All of the exercises I do are very easy and done while lying on the bed. I can't get down on the floor, nor get back up again without significant agony with my legs.
I also have a collection of exercises to do in the pool.
You can search out back stretching and strengthening exercises on the internet. There are plenty of land based and water based exercises to choose from.
Hope you feel better soon.