PMR & Stress

[Zellamze]

Can anyone tell me, sounds silly because I think the answer is yes. Does stress effect PMR? Every time I get upset or stressed my hips, groin and shoulders really hurt and it takes two days or so to calm down. A bit of a flare up? Also I get very exhausted. Does anyone els get this and is this it now until the PMR goes away? 🙈

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Short answer - yes, and yes! Unfortunately PMR loves a bit of stress! Which is why we say try and avoid - if possible. But that not really realistic, because life is stressful, so you have to do a bit of planning, if you can.

If you know that you are going to be under stress in advance, say a long journey, or a difficult meeting etc then try and rest up prior to that, and be prepared to take an extra mg or so if need be - but don't do that too regularly. You need to learn to manage stress better than the average person! Not always easy.

[Zellamze in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you. That's a good idea. My sister has a few problems and I'm trying to help her but I live in Cheshire and she in Bristol. I'm so stressed as she needs me and I can't really help her here. I'm in pain now and feel stiff and sore. I'm waiting for a call from her and it's been two hours? 🙈

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Just answered your other post!

Yes, stress and PMR/GCA make poor bedfellows and some people seem to have developed PMR after stress was the final straw that upset their immune system.

However much you may want to help others you have to try to put yourself first now - it sounds selfish but if you make yourself worse you will be no use to anyone.

[Zellamze in reply to PMRpro]

Yes you're right. Thanks.

[Determineddebbie]

A massive yes to stress and flare ups !! Emotional roller coaster with no choice of even getting on the ride !!!

[Megams]

As all others have said - yes, yes, yes. And it takes a long time to actually learn, if at all, to deal to even the slightest stressors in life whilst still in the grips of a steroid journey, simply because that is what steroids do to you, over and above doing their job in bringing the inflammation under control.

I have basically gone into living a very quiet restful life where nature, meditation, music, reading plus other gentle pastimes bring more meaning whilst I try and heal 18+ months into PMR. I am no further ahead with other complications which have manifested along the way, but I still choose to take life in the very slow lane and count my blessings along with lots of deep breaths in between.

Go gently

[Rusty8]

Thanks fir comments perhaps that was my problem I phoned daughter to say I was feeling a lot better and the next day I read something to do with my problems ie recurrent water infections went into over drive and done a lot of unecessary work because I was worried about what I had read so was stressed out over it

I will stop and think next time

[PiersC]

I am five weeks into an eight week self-help mediation course (Mindfulness: A practical guide to finding peace in a frantic world by Mark Williams and Danny Penman) and I am finding it actually is working. I am in the military (luckily sailing a desk now) and there is a fair amount of stress and 'grrr' involved, so if MBCT can help with that - all to the good. I suspect there are hundreds of self help versions out there and you can also do courses at the local community colleges (here in Oz and I am sure elsewhere in this big PMR-world). Good luck with it all, don;t forget, we have an illness that does have a light at the end of the tunnel, dim, but out there somewhere.....