One Year Progress and Exersise.

[birdwatcher]

Greetings to you All,

I haven’t made any contributions to the forum for a long time so thaought as I am approaching my year anniversary it might be good to reflect a little on my PMR progress. I hope it may offer some interest or even encouragement.

I was diagnosed with PMR at the beginning of May 2016, but I think my symptoms began in about early March 2016. I felt progressively stiff in my upper arms legd and hips, with pain in my shoulders. As the weeks passed, by the end of April I was experiencing quite severe pain. As the pain reached intolerable levels in early May I managed to get an appointment with a rheumatologist.

He diagnosed me as having PMR, gave me an injection in my right shoulder for which scans had indicated, ware Bursitus, and put me on 10 mg a day Predmisolone. The comparative low dose was the result of an abdominal bleed, that they thought had been triggered by my taking SMALL doses of Ibruprofen. I think other than that he would have put me on maybe 15 or 20 mg Pred.

Any way, within a day all my pain and stifness had gone.

By August 2016 apart from a bit of pain in my right shoulder ( for which he gave me another injection, which cleared that up) I was almost symtom free. I say almost, the only thing was a bit of fatigue the day after a run, but then I would always listen to my body and rest. Fortunately I am retired and don’t have to work, so if I feel like having a rest, I’ll just go and have alie down for an hour.

My Boold tests showed continued good results, including my inflamation levels.

Since last Aug- Sept I have been carrying out all my normal domestic activities, and have been back to doing moderate exercise without any significant problems. Not back to where I was before the PMR, in terms of speed and distance, but definately regaining fitness.

I have been following PMR-PRO’S slowly slowly reduction method, and am just going to be starting on 6 mg in March.

I have just had a review with my Doctor, and had blood tests to see how things are looking 6 months since the last lot of tests. I hope to get the results by end of this week beginning of next. My Doctor seems to think I have had a relatively less severe level of this condition. I know some unfortunate people really have a bad time with this and I do really feel for them.

This is my big news. I am seriously considering signing up for the Milton Keynes Half Marathon.

Let me say right off I’m not recommending this for anybody else. This certainly isn’t an Ego thing. First off, I’m going to wait to get a green light from the Doctor. If he advises against it, I won’t do it. If on the other hand he thinks I should be ok, then I will sign up.

I’ve already started training, I’ve increased my distance from 3 to 4 to 5, and will be doing 6 miles on Sun (all being well ) If at any point my body breaks down

( metaphorically ) or I start having flare symptoms, again, I will stop. The training is going to be all important. A slow gradual increase in distance, and a hope that I do’t get any injuries.

I’ll keep you informed of my progress or otherwise. I promise you all, I am going to be listening to my body!

Bye the way if anybody has done anything similar I would love to hear about your experience.

My Very best regards and Prayers to you All.

R.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

There was a guy on this forum writing under the name of Skinnyjonny who got back to distance running after PMR. I don't know if he still looks in at all but he is also an active member of the northeast charity under the name of John Robson, You can read an outline here:

pmr-gca-northeast.org.uk/ou...

and here:

pmr-gca-northeast.org.uk/st...

[markbenjamin57 in reply to PMRpro]

I asked my rheumatologist if I would be able to play the Double Bass (i.e. musical instrument) when I recover from PMR. She said: 'yes, of course!' I replied: 'That's strange, I never played one before'...

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to markbenjamin57]

Boom, boom, tish!!!

[markbenjamin57 in reply to DorsetLady]

The old gags are the best!

[markbenjamin57]

Greetings to you too, birdwatcher (Ron)

Great to read your post, and thanks for sharing your story with all here - especially 'newbies' to PMR.

As you say, the initial journey is quite familiar for many of us 'veterans': an initial, sudden and scary onset of crippling pain and stiffness, an appointment with a rheumatologist (eventually!), a firm diagnosis (hopefully), and then on to the 'magic' preds to relieve the symptoms. Hoorah!

You've done really well, and from what you say you might have a bit less of an aggressive form of PMR than some? It's great to know that you can still do your running - albeit with a bit more caution. But then again, we're all getting older in the meantime!

Reading between the lines, I think your main message here is 'Don't give up despite the inevitable setbacks - try to stay positive in your outlook and belief in yourself'?

I agree - doing or hoping / planning to do at least some of what we did pre PMR is a great incentive to look forwards, not backwards. Hope and faith can be great motivators, even if un-provable clinically...

I can't match your running achievements, but at least I can do 100 push-ups each morning - 50 with the left eye, 50 with the right ;-).

Thanks again, look forward to more from you.

MB

[SheffieldJane]

Good 4 you, let us know how you go. Well done managing this thing!

[Therealsue]

Birdwatcher - as a runner myself, I would say definitely enter the MK half. I'm back to running 4 or 5 miles and I'm just so pleased to be doing it. I've got a dodgy achilles tendon in my right leg which causes me grief so at the moment, I'm not doing any races, but I will if it improves.

[whitefishbay]

Very impressive. I would love to learn to run but usually it is running for the bus only.

Best of luck.

[Jackoh]

Such an encouragement to hear how you're getting on birdwatcher and Mark ......,,, what can I say!!!! You certainly made me laugh this morning!! X

[markbenjamin57 in reply to Jackoh]

Thanks Jackoh, it helps to keep the Chuckle Muscles active too!

[Jackoh in reply to markbenjamin57]

As long as it doesn't make my cheeks any bigger Mark!

[markbenjamin57 in reply to Jackoh]

[JulieR2]

Thank you for your story I have just been diagnosed and am feeling pretty scared. So to read a positive story is fab.

[markbenjamin57 in reply to JulieR2]

Hi Julie

I remember when I was first diagnosed too (2 years ago). Yes, PMR is a nasty, confusing condition and the journey through it isn't always as straightforward as birdwatcher's - but you couldn't be in better company here for the kindness, expertise and moral support given by some wonderful people who've been there and got the T shirt.

And... we have a lot of fun and smiles here in between the more serious stuff

MB