Hi. I am gradually reducing steroids on the slow slow method. I am now on 5mg. Started on 15mg in April 2015 for PMR. With a few ups and downs.
I have a really weak right arm! It's also painful but bearable. I am wondering if this is steroid weakness rather than a flare as its only in one arm.
Has anyone else experienced this?
Thanks
It could be steroid weakness - but I would have thought that would also be bilateral. You say it is painful - where and what sort of painful? And what do you mean by weak? Having PMR and being on pred doesn't stop you having other problems!
Hi, it's my upper arm. The weakness varies, sometimes I struggle to lift the kettle. Sometimes hurting when I'm trying to chop veg etc.
It is painful when I try to use it and sometimes lying on it in bed hurts.
I can still carry shopping bags so it seems to be positional.
Thanks for your attention.
Jenny x
Have you checked with your GP? If it is positional it could be a rotator cuff problem or the early stages of a frozen shoulder:
I also quite often have a weak right arm. Some days it hurts to lift a kettle, other days I can't carry a shopping bag? Thinking about it I think it happens when I reduce, although if I've been doing too much etc... I just lose strength.
I too have the same problem only in my right arm when chopping veg and lifting something heavy l am also on the slow reducing and on 3 mg so have learnt to stay on whatever dose l am on for another week or two touch wood l haven't experienced a flare yet l have had PM since March 2015 started on 20 mg keep well from Alice x
Hi Jenny
I log in to this site every day and have learned a lot about PMR and steroid reduction, but this is the first time I have been prompted to reply. Your problem is exactly what I have experienced, first in my right arm. I realised that the pain was there regardless of my steroid situation - I have been around the 5/6 mg mark for some time. I asked to be referred to physiotherapy, which is not a problem in my health trust - I had an appointment very quickly. The physio diagnosed muscle wastage due to steroids. With a programme of exercises, my arm became stronger and the pain disappeared within about 3 months. I was able to discharge myself, but continued the exercises at home.
However, over the summer, pain built up in my left arm, more of a problem as I am left-handed and changing gear in the car is painful. I continued the previous exercises, but the pain seemed to be different, so I asked to be re-referred to physiotherapy. It seems that the muscles holding my shoulder at the back are so weak that it has slipped out of position. The physio demonstrated this by holding it in the correct place, whereupon I could move it without pain. Consequently, i have a different set of exercises to start with and others will be added if needed. I have great faith in my physiotherapist, as she is the only one who have done anything positive for me, once I had identified a specific area of pain. However, you must do your bit by doing the exercises, even if they hurt at first
I too have had muscle wastage, particularly in the right arm. Also suffered pain and movement issues as described above and told it was tendonitis. My dr referred me for physio and it seems to be helping.
Hello Jenny - I have frequent pain in my left arm (at the wrist joint), altho' I'm right-handed - filling the kettle is one of the harder tasks of the day! I was started on 15mg in April but had to increase to 20mg after two weeks and have tapered down to 8mg at present. Also, the first Knuckle joints are frequently painful and shaking hands with anyone who has a firm grip can be excruciating! I've assumed it's due to the PMR, rather than the Pred - but could be wrong?!
It's unusual for joints to be affected by PMR, tendons yes and they may be synovitis but but it is quite rare. But PMR and late onset RA (and other things) can start apparently identically, the joint problems in RA only appearing later. Pred would help initially there too. So I would ask my doctor about it, just in case.
I'm not sure about the knuckle joints. You have tapered quite quickly but ask Pmrpro on here. A wealth of sound advice. Good luck. X
I also have muscle weakness in the right elbow area, lifting a kettle is a bit painful. Also have odd days when I get pain in left hip area, it hurts to put weight on that leg, I usually find Ibuprofen gel and rest for a day helps. Many years ago I did pull the left thigh muscle rather badly, that took a while to get better, maybe it is weakened further by pred.
Where is that slow slow method? I had the page, then could not find it again. Thc
healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...
You can use the search box at the top right for "Dead slow and nearly stop" too.
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