Dot.York

[CT-5012]

Hi I was diagnosed with pmr in February 2015 and so far pain free reducing pred ok but over did things last week and GP thinks I have sacro-iliac strain. Any one else had this problem and what helped?

[piglette]

I had SI problems and went to a physio.

[CT-5012 in reply to piglette]

Many thanks, am trying acupuncture had first session yesterday and found it a little easier to get out of bed this morning. Did physio help? Will try that if acupuncture doesn't help after a few sessions.

Many thanks and all good wishes.

[piglette in reply to CT-5012]

I tried acupuncture and it had no effect on me. Also none of the pain killers really worked. Physio was the only thing that did work in the end.

[Marcy47]

I had this a few weeks ago. Went to a Chiropractor who did some manipulation and sorted it out quickly.

[Rugger]

I have had this over the years and find an osteopath helps.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I have sacroiliac problems - due to myofascial pain syndrome and spasmed muscles. Sort that out and I'm fine most of the time. It isn't directly the PMR but it is very often found alongside it - caused by the same inflammatory substances only they are localised in trigger points rather than systemic as in PMR.

Currently I'm just finishing a course of 10 sessions with the local hospital physio department for massage and manual mobilisation of the muscles affected. Doubt you would get it in the UK on the NHS though. I found my osteopath and my Bowen therapist kept me upright during the 5 years PMR pre pred - it did improve once i was on pred but eventually a whiplash accident caused it to become really bad. It was here and was managed very well by the pain clinic - again, unlikely to be found in the UK I'm afraid.

[PMRandRA]

we have physio, but it is hands on exercise physio, useless. We also have pain clinics, have been referred twice but no response from them. Might as well not have one then!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to PMRandRA]

I know - I have no desire to come back to the UK and lose my superb medical care here! Even though I have a small co-pay it is far cheaper than a private physio or massage bill! Plenty of good ones of those here too.

[CT-5012]

Many thanks everyone. Am taking codeine phosphate 30mg four times daily which is not helping much. Should have appointment sometime this month with rheumy hopefully. I say hopefully because it should have been last month but got a letter saying rh clinic is very busy etc. Will talk to my acupuncturist about Bowen as they work from the same clinic. Good to know I'm not alone with this and thanks again for all the help.

Best wishes to you all.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to CT-5012]

If it isn't helping much I'd reduce my intake - or you will end up needing a good dose of senna at best and struggling with getting off at worst. Codeine is a moderately strong opiod drug - with the potential for addiction. That means you may need increasing doses to get the same result - and struggle to stop taking it. Just a warning.

[piglette in reply to CT-5012]

I found codeine did not help much. It did help me sleep a bit better though and dull the sciatic pain. Thank goodness the physio sorted it out.

[CT-5012]

Thanks for your reply. No gut problems as I have had IBS on and off for some years. Tried taking half dose at lunch time and level of pain not much different, see what the rest of the day brings. There has been a lot of discussion in the press recently about opioid addiction so am very aware of the problem and will be very careful, thanks for the reminder it never does any harm especially to those of us with a pmr/pred head.

All good wishes.