in pain

[kingharold11]

I have had sciatica for three weeks and various different painkillers. I have been trying to reduce the steroids 6-5 this week because my rheumy insists the PMR has gone into remission but this morning I have developed painful hips and thighs. Yesterday I saw my GP re painkillers because the ones I have been on for the last week (for sciatica) didn't seem to be lasting long enough (I am back in pain before the time comes round to take the nest dose he has now put me on analgesic patches. I put one in position last night according to the instructions it will probably take till this evening to work. Meanwhile I am left with paracetamol. My question is am I having a flare and therefore should I increase steroids Wendy

[Celtic PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Wendy, I have a slipped vertebra at the base of my spine and as a result have experienced a few severe and long-lasting bouts of sciatica, so I really do sympathise. The only real advice I can offer is that if you don't already wear a support girdle of any sort then do try one - it helps me every time my back goes into spasm or sciatica rears its ugly head, often caused by simply going over on an ankle.

I remember well how confusing it can be when suffering from both sciatica and PMR, and not quite knowing which pain is which.

Certainly, as far as your steroids are concerned, never be afraid to increase them by a few mgs if your PMR symptoms return and stay around for a week or so - to postpone doing so could lead to you needing to go even higher or, worse still, back to square one. I do hope you have some relief in your pain soon.

[kingharold11 in reply to Celtic]

thanks for your reply the trouble is I don't know whether the pain I have is pmr related or purely sciatica.The doctors have examined my spine so unless I have scans or xrays I don't know what I have got.

[Celtic PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to kingharold11]

Wendy, if it were me, like Polkadot, I would increase the steroids for a few days and see if you feel better - you should then have an answer one way or the other. Good luck.

[Celtic PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to kingharold11]

Wendy, if it were me, like Polkadot, I would increase the steroids for a few days and see if you feel better - you should then have an answer one way or the other. Good luck.

[polkadotcom]

With all due respect to your Rhuemy, I simply don't understand how s/he can be so confident that you are in remission when it appears that you aren't. If it were me, I'd bump up the Pred for a few days and see if that brings any relief. If it doesn't your Rheumy can have my apologies. If it does then that will surely prove the point?