SI joint pain

[Jontie]

Can't believe I've become such a moaning Minnie but I guess that's what pmr can do to us. It seems to constantly surprise me with new pain. For the last few days I've had severe pain in what I believe is the SI joint. It causes me to walk with a limp and makes walking and bending very difficult. Don't know how much longer I can carry on working as a self employed gardener like this. Codeine helps very little. Just wondered if anyone else has this and whether it is related to pmr. Nor sure because the pred (15mg) helps with most of the pmr symptoms but not this. It is only on one side (Thank heavens) and sometimes just goes suddenly by itself. But it's reappeared every morning for the last week. Not spoken to rheumatologist about this specifically but he said pred won't necessarily get rid of all pain. If anyone has had it, any suggestions for alleviating it would be most welcome.

[Hindags]

I can't explain it, but I too have had SI joint pain. I went to a physical therapist because it seemed as though the pain was associated with feeling weaker in general. I attributed it to Pred muscle wasting. My whole body felt like it was uncoordinated or not connected . New exercises and stretches have helped me. The pain comes and goes, from side to side but the intensity is lower.

Your work probably keeps you pretty strong and generally fit. Mine is quite sedentary. So I doubt that my situation applies, hope something applies.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I was hospitalised because of sacroiliacitis - due almost entirely to spasmed back muscles as a result of myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) which is often found alongside PMR. They are cause by the same inflammatory substances, except in PMR they are systemic and in MPS they are concentrated either in trigger points in the muscles which can be felt as hard knots of fibres which where the cytokines are. These form in pairs on either side of the spine in the shoulder muscles, about waist level and in the low back, to the side of where the baby's dimples are. You may not have all - if usually starts on one side and one area but eventually spread if it isn't managed.

Here I get massage from the physiotherapy department which works on manual mobilisation of the trigger points and stretching the fascia (the transparent skin you will have seen around muscles in joints of meat and chicken). Originally I also had local steroid injections. Prior to being diagnosed with PMR I found that my osteopath and Bowen therapists were able to keep it in check quite well - and that is something you can access without going through a GP.

My Bowen therapists in the Durham area did a lot of acute work - and one friend spent 6 weeks in bed with a similar problem while I nagged at her to try it. She could only get to the bathroom on a zimmer frame. She hobbled into the room with a walking stick and a friend on the other side - the zimmer didn't fit in the car - and after an hour walked out, forgetting the stick! It wasn't perfect, she had 3 session to get to stable and now has a session or two every few months to keep her upright. It really is worth trying if you can find a good therapist locally.

[1Purplecrow in reply to PMRpro]

after a life well lived, I have chronic low back pain, complicated by osteoarthritis and PMR.

Myofacial release massage seems to be the only treatment that loosens the constricted muscles and relieves the pain. The massuse works the muscle knots till they release, and I actually experience an endorphin rush as the trigger points loosen. Quite a nice feeling, and the pain relief lasts for a almost a week. Then time for another treatment.

It's worth a try, and it lets you get back to work without the limp.

Regards, Jerri

[Jontie]

Thank you. Sounds like I need to find a decent massage therapist. or look into Bowen therapy. I've not come across that technique before so I will give it a Google.