Is Sciatica(possible) affecting my PMR

12 weeks ago I thought I was having a flare so I increased the Pred to 15 from13.Did not make any diff.Searching symptoms came up with Sciatica. Dr /Xray showed slight wear and tear lower spine, Dr did not comment after taking Bloods, all ok. Advised increase in 'paracetamol'. the Sciatica? is almost as bad as the 'PMR' when 1st but reasonable with Pred. now could ,but do not ,lie in bed, but have to take it easy until noon when pain eases - 'paracetamol' build up-taking affect?. Dr arranged Physio but find it not poss. to do much of the daily exercises.(4 appts now).Pain /much fatigue. Went swimming my usual exercise early morn feel good in the water/take it easy,300mtrs but had a 1hour session in the evening

with diving pals ,only ginger beer and bed at 10.30.The next day REALLY FELT IT! Most days buttocks/lower legs pain.

Coming back down to 13 pred. in 8wk sessions. Dr has talked to me about an injection for the current pain/Sciatica. Also an infusion of the ACID but had to go miles for it, did not want anymore side effects and Dr said it was for the long time ,not immediate .As PMR can be affected by over doing and stress, can the Sciatica be doing similar. Has any fellow sufferers had similar. would be grateful for comments Wish you all well ,John ,age 80.

[polkadotcom]

As far as I'm concerned sciatica alone would be enough to put me back in the arms of the physios/doctors - I've had it a few times and I couldn't function at all, let alone go swimming. Not at all sure how it would mix with steroids and PMR as all my problems with it were before PMR, but I suspect I'd be screaming for mercy or morphine. Probably both. Paracetamol would have been useless to me. Mine was mostly due to overstretching (I was a dancer) but a couple of times it just crept up on me.

It could be worth while asking for a check/x-ray/physio/help for your lower back? And quite possibly a steroid injection would work, too. It might just be a nerve being pinched or an underlying tension in that area. If that's no help then one of the complementary therapies may help, e.g. acupuncture or Bowen therapy. I'm a Bowen fan, although I did find acupuncture useful.

Oh, and I find ginger wine much better than ginger beer!

[Ida-June128 in reply to polkadotcom]

I find the ginger wine is best well when mixed with whisky! Bring back he Whisky Mac.

[Hidden in reply to polkadotcom]

Some kind person has just given me a bottle of ginger wine! but the Sciatica like pains have accelerated and developed into something more severe, Dr has put me on Co-dydramol 2x4 daily, extreme pains from the Buttocks ,down the legs, crippling and use of stick now and the physio called in the Senior Physio, who ticked all the boxes and now they are looking at Spinal Stenosis with all Urgency-Scans, bloods, consultants .Sometimes the Co-dydramol is not enough. What the rules in taking say Ibuprofen? or other? - I am taking Lansoprazole and yogurt with breakfast- oats and or similar and off acid acid food.

My Pred is 13 going 12-8wk plan at the moment

Happy Christmas to all said with much Sincerity

John

[Hidden in reply to polkadotcom]

Some kind person has just given me a bottle of ginger wine! but the Sciatica like pains have accelerated and developed into something more severe, Dr has put me on Co-dydramol 2x4 daily, extreme pains from the Buttocks ,down the legs, crippling and use of stick now and the physio called in the Senior Physio, who ticked all the boxes and now they are looking at Spinal Stenosis with all Urgency-Scans, bloods, consultants .Sometimes the Co-dydramol is not enough. What the rules in taking say Ibuprofen? or other? - I am taking Lansoprazole and yogurt with breakfast- oats and or similar and off acid acid food.

My Pred is 13 going 12-8wk plan at the moment

Happy Christmas to all said with much Sincerity

John

[piglette]

scubadiver, I have been suffering from sciatica for a few weeks too, as you say it is almost as bad as PMR pain, sometimes it is so bad it makes me pant. It may be due to a slipped disc I had about thirty five years ago. The GP said take paracetamol, which are worse than useless. I feel fluey and fatigued so the sciatica may be causing the PMR to grumble. I went swimming which was fine, about 500m, but then over the next couple of days I just seized up. I decided to increase the pred by 2mg which does seem to have improved things. My GP said it will go away after a few weeks, I hope she is right.

[jimcarlow75 in reply to piglette]

Having suffered sciatica I think it is a much more severe disabling pain than PMR. Different altogether. But at least you know it won't hang around like PMR does, fir years.

[piglette in reply to jimcarlow75]

It does take your breath away I must admit.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Like polkadotcom my way of dealing with sciatica is Bowen therapy.

There are a couple of conditions that are often found alongside PMR: myofascial pain syndrome and piriformis syndrome. Both can result in spasmed back muscles which can pinch the sciatic nerve. One way of dealing with both of them is local cortisone injections but that requires the cooperation of a doctor - I have two wonderful ones but they are rare birds - and positively non-existent in the UK! Paracetamol has been shown to be no better than placebo - unfortunately its side effects are NOT equal to placebo!

Bowen therapy, a very gentle complementary therapy is, on the other hand, available for a reasonable (I think) charge and has no side effects. It can provide relief from sciatic pain in many cases but is also very relaxing and uplifting. A lot of people on the forums have found it helpful. I can only recommend trying it. If it will help it will have made a difference within 3 sessions- you may need more for lasting results but if 3 sessions have done nothing you need not waste any more money.

[Adnamaxx in reply to PMRpro]

Hi piglette just completed my 3 bowen therapy sessions today. After first I felt amazing. After 2nd I had bad news re my husband, was upset at work and my usual strict resolve with diet was broken with choc olate gooey cake so any of these caused me bad shoulder pain. Will see how I feel tomorrow but my question is how often do you go? Loved the relaxation of it and she says there is more work to do... I really want to believe it's helping me. How often would you recommend?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Adnamaxx]

I think piglette is one of the people Bowen didn't help - (hit me now if I'm wrong piglette!).

I had my 3 sessions and tacked on more if I felt I needed it. I used to repeat my sessions every 6 months or so. Most therapists like to do the first 3 close-ish together and then have bigger spaces to the next if you/they feel you need more. I love the relaxation of it too - I'd go for that alone to be honest! It is about the same price as a spa session after all.

Sorry to hear you have had bad news - hope things are OK.

If you had shoulder pain after pigging on chocolate gooey cake - how is your gall bladder?????????

[Adnamaxx in reply to PMRpro]

Sorry PMR PRO it was you I meant. Thanks for advice will think about another session but she gave me the impression she wanted me to keep going very close together and I'm not sure I want to do that. Shoulder is hurting this evening after lots of work on it. Not sure if that good or bad sign. Gosh never thought of my gall bladder...just find if I don't eat right I feel sluggish and achy I work with lots of youngsters who tend to eat rubbish constantly and just occasionally temptation is too much especially when feeling a bit low. Husband going for more surgery in the morning to have a look at his wound from bowel op 6 weeks ago which is still infected. It's got to be cleared up before his liver op on 14th December. ...was thinking of lowering pred but going to leave it for a while until we over all this.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Adnamaxx]

No - no dropping if you are under stress - it really isn't worth it.

Only you can know about the Bowen - if it is helping in any way then come to an agreement with her. She shouldn't (I think anyway) try to force you to go more than you can cope with.

Lots of people with PMR find they notice a difference when they eat rubbish (aka too many carbs?????) Sugar/refined carbs are very inflammatory!

[Judigardener]

Hello John

I've had some of this. I had awful sciatica during the summer and wondered if it was because I wore sandals some of the time and not my orthotics which I really need but don't fit sandals. So one thing might be to get your feet checked out. Your hip bone connected to your thigh bone and all that jazz. If your feet aren't ok then your back can be out of alignment.

Yes if I do any amount of exercise I pay for it a day later. I'm often very fatigued and in lousy pain.

I too get really painful lower legs, buttocks and pretty achey all over.

I'm starting into the beginning of year 3 of this.

Tinnitus in right ear raging.

One thing that seemed to help a little bit was an increase in my thyroxine. I have an under active thyroid.

I take over the counter pain killers a lot of the time. I'm on 10mg of Pred. Reducing 0.5mg per fortnight.

Do hope you feel a bit better soon. Judi.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Judigardener]

"I take over the counter pain killers a lot of the time" - not ibuprofen and co I hope? NSAIDs are not recommended with pred since it increases the risk of gastric problems.

[Judigardener]

Hi

I mix things up. Some paracetamol and some time later some Ibuprofen. I talked this over with the consultant. He thought that with 2 Omeprazole every day first thing and taking any Ibuprofen I do take in the middle of a meal I should be Ok.

I have fibro as well as PMR -- I did not want to take Gabapentin or Amitriptyline. I didn't have many options left. I am sparing with what I take and when I take it but sometimes needs must -- or I can't function.

I have disabled grandchild and a daughter that need help. I don't have the chance very often to just conk out and go to bed. I have to keep going. That's how it is.

[Adnamaxx]

Juli gardener have you tried Birkenstocks instead of sandals?

[Judigardener]

Hello. Yes I have tried them, but I have awkward feet and have to have custom made things. I'd love to be able to wear Birkenstocks. Thanks for the suggestion tho'.

[PMRandRA]

Hello John. Yes, Sciatica on my right side. I had x rays and they also found lower back wear and tear, but also extreme Osteo arthritis in right hip. Physio no help because they make you exercise, probably one of the worst things for PMR which I also have. Doc said Sciatica would wane by itself in about 8 weeks, which it has, but has left me unable to walk. It probably won't happen to yo, and I wish you well,