shoulder and upper arm soreness

[43086]

Has anyone tried a muscle rub gel. that seems to help with sore stiff shoulders and muscle pain.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Have you got PMR or GCA? If you are on prednisolone for that you need to be careful with topical gels containing any NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). Mixing pred and NSAIDs is not a good idea as they both can cause stomach irritation and bleeding and together the risk is higher. It also applies for topical NSAIDs.

If you have PMR and are on pred then you maybe need a slightly higher dose - or to avoid the activities that make your arms and shoulders sore. I still can't carry anything heavy or wash/sweep floors without getting sore arms!

[leeman49 in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for the information. Used the ibuprofen gel a couple of time for the stiff neck between time of Pred. Didn't realise that will interact with Pred. Now I found a new way to shift the stiffness is by using fists gently tapping the sore area 10-20 times and it miracly loosen the soreness. I am a new PMR sufferer and a lot more to learn and observe. Many thanks

LM

[piglette]

I find one of those wheat things you put in the microwave is great for easing shoulders. Also a hot shower or a relaxing dip in a jacuzzi or hot tub.

[tina-shelley]

Yes, any of the gels that contain ibuprofen are a no no just like the tablets. They are absorbed through the skin into the blood stream And do not mix well with our preds.

[jinasc]

TENS machine I found very helpful.

[allotment-lover]

Crumbs, I am a bit concerned reading this as my GP has prescribed me extra strength Ibuprofen gel for other aches. I haven't found it very effective and hardly use it - just as well! I hadn't realised even things applied to your skin could irritate your stomach. Thank for the info.

[paddyfields in reply to allotment-lover]

Same here. Does the pred.and ibuprofen actually clash or is it the combined effect of meds. both of which can irritate the stomach

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to paddyfields]

The combined effect. They irritate the stomach directly when you swallow the tablets but many experts also think that it the blood level can contribute too, especially in the case of pred. They both "thin" the blood so if there is any risk the bleeding is increased.

Horror story coming up: one lady was told by her GP to take ibuprofen tablets for her PMR symptoms. After only 3 (three) doses she had to be rushed to A&E with a coffee grounds gastric bleed - nasty and very risky for her and unpleasant for the staff.

It has now been admitted that paracetamol can also increase the risk of gastric bleeds.

The use of meloxicam is risky alongside pred too though I know rheumies do use it - it says it is LESS gastro-irritant. LESS is NOT the same as NOT gastro-irritant.

[paddyfields in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for the info. There's no danger of me taking an ibuprofen pill as I can not tolerate even one without gettng stomach pains. The ibuprofen gel actually gives what the equivalent oral dose would be. Having said that the "dose", i.e. X cms, for the gel is as long as a piece of string since it entirely depends on how hard you squeeze and how you move it as to how much product you are getting on to the skin.

[1Purplecrow]

My chiro recommended a product called Biofreeze.

It contains Arnica, and menthol. Feels good, works! and It has no NSAIDS, ibuprofen or aspirin. Order online.

[Tski]

I took the 800 mg NSAIDs and was also concerned mixing it with pred. My Rheumy put me on Meloxicam instead which he said is in the nsaid family. I have PMR and also osteoarthritis.

[PMRandRA]

Do any sufferers take Statins? I had to come off mine because it exacerbated the pain of PMR et al especially in upper arm, and across the shoulders. I am now on Fibrazate which is similar but older and it doesn't cause the hideous pain of Statins and keeps my cholesterol and especially my triglyceride levels down.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to PMRandRA]

I took a statin for 10 days - not even every day - after I was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation and also found to have a high-ish cholesterol (pred induced). I was fine when I left hospital, on crutches but able to walk fairly well. In a week I was struggling to walk 50m if there was a slope to go up and felt like death warmed up and breathless. I unilaterally decided to ditch the statin and then reported it to the pain specialist I was seeing (an anaesthetist by trade) - she thought it was a fair decision and later the cardiologist was fine about it (a/f isn't a cardiac event it seems). It took me 9 months to get back to anything like I had been pre-statin. Never again. I cut carbs - lost weight and my cholesterol is down to normal range - would be lower if I didn't have such a high HDL).

[PMRandRA in reply to PMRpro]

I've had a MI and triple bypass as a result, but refuse statins. It's enough pain without them innit! My docs jump up and down a bit, but I said if it's my time then it's my time. It's my HDL which is high too. Maybe it's normal for it to be higher. Do they really know?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to PMRandRA]

I suppose it depends what you mean by normal - if it is desirable, what it should be, then probably yes. If it is what is usually found - more likely not. I put my high HDL down to the daily red wine (I live in Italy) - I wonder if that has anything to do with the French conundrum?

The way I felt after a few days of Lipitor/atorvastatin I wouldn't have WANTED to live for much longer. The thought of getting up a few steps was terrifying! And I felt ill, not just in pain. I had pain with untreated PMR - but that was nothing on statin-bleugh.

[PMRandRA in reply to PMRpro]

Speaking of wine... it is Cherry season again and cherries are really good for rheumatic disorders and take away the inflammation in a couple of days. Including Gout. In the non cherry season. I drink Cherry Good as much as possible. It's expensive though, as are cherries. They should be available on prescription.

What has this to do with wine? Errrrm... nothing...