strangely funny day.

[fren]

Mum to Daughter -- on visualizing image of our pair of elderly dogs lying on damp grass yawning in sync at the crack of dawn whilst she set off on her jog--" you have just broken my dream"

"I was running accross a wet field begging the return of my mobile phone from my grand daughter (musically mad- my phone better camera) needing the police urgently. A black and white cow had crept behind my back and set off at a trot down a railway tunnel."

Wow," responded daughter, " you are not normally over anxious about appointments and you HAVE done this before."

"What???"

"It's only Cow in Tunnel syndrome, and Madame P is very good."

So began my day.

I was stunned, the orthopaedic hand surgeon knew all about PMR (or PPR as it is here) Strangely found myself discussing it in French whilst she replied in fluent English. She didn't bat an eyelid at my reluctance to have same anaesthetist as last time, sent secretary to find me the dishiest gentlest one --22 to choose from !! Meeting him next friday.

Surgery Monday 19th Feb to be there at 7am. Should be out and on my way for lunch by 10 30.

It will be great when the tingling are gone and I stop dropping things.

[May10]

Fren what is wrong with your hands. I have strange tingly hands which I have had since starting Pred April 2016. I keep dropping things and find it hard to pick things up. have had tests done which showed no nerve damage and told it should go away as I reduce steroids

[fren in reply to May10]

I have carpal tunnel syndrome, 'cow in tunnel' nerves which are being compressed as they pass through a narrow passage in the bones of the wrist. This was diagnosed in both wrists 2 years ago when I experienced tingling, numbness and burning sensations which woke me multiple times at night. I had not been diagnosed with PMR at that time. I had surgery on my right wrist in february 2016, very successfully. I left the left (if you see what I mean) as I had no problems with it and was enjoying being able to pull my pants up again... 4 weeks post surgery.

I was diagnosed with PMR in January 2017 and was on the standard path of reduction, pred down to 2mg in December when the pain came back viciously and fingers are still numb during the day.

This syndrome is strongly associated with PMR but interestingly Mme P said today that she felt that at least a little of my numbness will be neuropathy assosciated directly with PMR. She could offer me relief but not necessarily a full cure.

She didn't say that it was the prednisolone, but that numbness and tingling are frequently reported by PMR sufferers.

[May10 in reply to fren]

I wish you all the best with your operation. Carpel tunnel was mooted when I mentioned the numb tingly sensations I experienced. I had no pain but found it difficult to hold a golf club. I was given an injection in my right hand but that didn't help but have noticed it is easing as I reduce pred. I am down to 3mg from 20

[fren in reply to May10]

Thank you for your kind wishes,

It is good that your tests showed no damage to conduction. I'm no expert but I would expect that It will return to pretty near normal in time. Someone here will know.

Like you I am fed up of broken coffee mugs and in my case, dropping my stick.

You have done well to get down to 3mg but take it gently now, follow PMRpro's advice I flared at 2mg and I am sure it was because I wanted to please my GP rather than going on what I was feeling. I shall know next time.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to May10]

Lots of us have had problems with dropping things, especially in the early days of PMR. I notice my hands being less good when I'm having a flare.

[fren in reply to PMRpro]

Reminds me -- Flare, 'housemaid's knee' (steroid injection Tuesday) Right,???? bought rather snazzy walking stick with cherries on it when the pain started. Keep losing it and dropping it.

Response from daughter... "you're going to be worse than the ghost of Nan--- Where's mi stick"

Response from son in Law, (doctorate in English and Rock guitarist°) " naa It's your mother so likely to be "where's mi *****ing stick, we can all laugh at that.

Situation now under control with bits of sticky backed velcro all round the house at height of velcro on neck of stick. Place firmly and there it stays.

Can I sneak a bit onto the edge of my GP's desk?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to fren]

I have a walking stick for my arthritic knee (hopefully new one soon - knee that is!) and it seems to have a life of it’s own - wherever I place it, it decides it doesn’t like it there and wants to move! I have a snazzy fold up one which goes in my bag when I’m out- so stopping the embarrassing clunk as it throws itself to the floor in restaurants, shops etc, but at home ...urgh!

Am with my daughter at present and grandson has just had op on his knee so he’s using crutches at the moment- so we have a trio of walking aids all doing a dance around the house - not helped by an oversized dog with a very long and wagging tail which catches everything in sight!

[Hidden in reply to DorsetLady]

The thunk clunk of a stick hitting the floor and the bending to get it is when I started using a crutch. At least it hangs off my fireman when I stand still or am packing bags at supermarket.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Hidden]

Hi,

Yes mine has got a strap on it, but I still manage to get a mucking fuddle (as my late hubby would say) with that, a handbag et al to juggle. Oh what complicated lives we lead! 🤦🏻‍♀️.

[Hollyseden in reply to Hidden]

"hangs off my fireman" conjures up an amusing picture 😊

[Hidden in reply to Hollyseden]

😂😂 it's not the worst autocorrect/predictive text my phone has conjured up!!

[fren in reply to Hidden]

Whole family now trying to work out what you meant to say, or have you found a way of being prescribed a real Fireman?

Here called Pompiers, they are local volunteers, men and women, men mainly tall and solid, women fit and forceful. They not only attend fires, accidents, floods etc, (probably cows in tunnels too!!), but are first responders if you need urgent medical help, like paramedics in UK, swiftly followed by an emergency doctor from the local A&E.

They visit every house at Christmas to collect voluntary contributions for their services and invite us to the St. Barbara's day dance.

In the past I had need of their services for the OH a number of times, can't praise them enough.

Please tell me that I can have one for my stick.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to fren]

Just like here - and I'm fairly sure ours do cows in tunnels... But they aren't paramedics - ever.

[fren in reply to PMRpro]

Interesting here.

Non life threatening conditions use Ambulances from the Private Taxi companies. You choose and send for your own when the GP decides you need it and it is prescribed and cost reimbursed. Most probably all Taxi drivers have basic training. The Taxis also provide transport to and from hospital appointments again your choice and again reimbursed if prescribed. Great for hospital discharge of frail patients; The nurses tell you what time you can go, they book your choice of taxi firm et voilà.. no stress you leave on time. Any form of transport can be covered. A fellow Cardiology patient of my OH was regularly brought to Nantes from his offshore Island home by Heli-taxi.

If you need SAMU for a life threatening problem here in the sticks, the ambulance, fully equipped for emergencies, arrives from our local village fire station (4km away) accompanied by multiples of large and excited firemen, (shouts are not everyday) and everyone wants to help.

These are swiftly followed by a doctor and a nurse from our nearest A&E 10km away. Immediate life saving treatment is started in your home with experts and necessary equipment. It is very reassuring.

I think this works well, the taxis compete to give excellent service for their part, and the Pompiers are a known and greatly respected part of the community.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to fren]

The White Cross supplies ambulances and "taxi"-services and the crews are a mixture of volunteers and paid. They are trained, probably to technician standard in the UK, but there are a lot of interventions they cannot do - and there is always a doctor and driver on-call from the hospital for that so you hear 2 sirens going just a ffew metres apart. All local GPs are also expected to turn out if required. And we have 3 helicopters with doctors - which are used a lot for responses to places in the mountains where road transport is lengthy and of course for picking up damaged bodies off ski pistes. It works well - though I miss the paramedics being biased and having a daughter who is one. Nurses here don't get to do anything like as much as nurses in the UK either.

[fren in reply to PMRpro]

I have had little contact with paramedics, so enjoy the ministrations of our firemen.

I would never have worked as a Nurse here, there is no sense of a team of medical professionals and It is my one enormous criticism of the system. The Nurse is still handmaid, technician here and where they work independently i.e. in the community they have almost no contact with the GP and know little of the patients. Cardiologist (for OH) once called me Doctor when questioning medications doses and side effects. I shouted ..NO ... BRITISH NURSE. Got a grin and an acknowedgement that he knew this from experiences in England. Always got my oar in after that!!

Tried explaining once that British Midwives supervise and support normal deliveries, handing to doctors if abnormalities occur. Caused amazement.

Not always the best use of abilities and resources here, but I have heard it is starting to change.

Your area sounds brilliant, dramatic, active, dangerous and beautiful. This area is coastal marshland so the horizon is often only a field away, but the skies are enormous and stunning day and night.

I feel so lucky to be a European

ps. Back to subject. Once travelled up an Alpine Mountain in one of those ski lifts with two black and white cows on a platform suspended underneath. Onward and upwards to pastures new!!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to fren]

"I feel so lucky to be a European" - me too

[MaryA_ in reply to fren]

Yes, right by the front door!

[Hollyseden in reply to Hidden]

Yes I've used some crackers and they are often more amusing than what I actually was trying to say 😂 #technologyrules

[Carrollee in reply to Hidden]

Have never considered having a stick before but if it comes with a free fireman I can certainly see the long term benefits. 🤗 Happy Saturday everyone cc

[SheffieldJane in reply to Hidden]

Yes, I was feeling envious of your muscular helper.

[SheffieldJane in reply to DorsetLady]

😆 you paint a funny picture. Get better soon both of you!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to SheffieldJane]

The post is 4 years old SJ!

[SheffieldJane in reply to PMRpro]

Just this minute clicked that. Simpler happier days. What a sweet thread! 🌺

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to SheffieldJane]

Times HAVE changed - no longer need a walking stick..3 replacement ops - grandson in UK working - but I still haven’t got back to NZ! 😊

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to DorsetLady]

Well it was before Covid!!!!!

[SheffieldJane in reply to DorsetLady]

Yes I did wonder about how many knees you actually have. My excuse is that I had my 4 th booster this morning, fell asleep and awoke in a pre pandemic, pre Brexit, pre Russian worries, pre grandchildren emigrating, world surrounded by the same sweet people. Oh well it was nice while it lasted. 😉

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to SheffieldJane]

If only ...

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to SheffieldJane]

That’s personal question to ask a Viking goddess 🤣😂1 knee, 1 hip, 1 shoulder replaced….

[SheffieldJane in reply to DorsetLady]

Massive apologies your magnificent holiness. ( bowing).

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to SheffieldJane]

😇

[SheffieldJane]

What a rich inner life you have! What is the operation you are having?

I wish you well with it ( and the sweetest of dreams).

[fren in reply to SheffieldJane]

I am having the channel in the bones through my wrist widened to accommodate the nerves to my fingers by cutting a tendon which has become too tight. It is done under an anaesthetic block under the upper arm, hence my need for a dishy and charming anaesthetist who will sit and chat to me whilst Mme P does her bit.

So no dreams then. Got to be up and out so she can help the next one.

Thank you for your wishes, SheffieldJane, many happy memories of meeting my Mum in Sheffield Market when she came down from Leeds and I came up from Mansfield.

[GrandBearJane in reply to fren]

Staying with my daughter in Seattle, there was a lane on the freeway for cars with more than one passenger, called the 'carpool lane'. I remarked that if it went underground it would be the 'carpool tunnel'. No reaction - she'd never heard of carpal tunnel.... All the best for the op!

[fren in reply to GrandBearJane]

Yes, surprisingly little known, but very common.

If you find yourself reluctantly avoiding peeling potatoes, beating eggs, painting, in fact any repetetive wrist movements, not because they hurt at the time but because you instinctively feel that it causes you to wake in the night with severe cramp, pins and needles and burning of your hand, get it checked.

Had the right hand done almost exactly 2 years ago. Both hands found to be affected when the nerves tested but the right most severe. The surgery was fast and effective, yes somewhat awkward and uncomfortable for 4 to 6 weeks but now pain free and have full movement. Can't ask for more than that.

New tests show L inflamation is severe, but night pain stopped when I upped the Pred. Pain from inflamation so pred works.

I'm very confident Mme P will do it again for left hand, no fears, and can't wait for the 19th.

Thanks so much for good wishes, Hope you are enjoying your visit.

[SheffieldJane]

I hope it works well it sounds to be a very useful operation to have. They will have to be daydreams then about your dishy young anesthetiser. Do you mean Castle Market in Sheffield? It is now undercover in the Moor and even better. My mum lived on the Mansfield Road when she was a girl.

[fren in reply to SheffieldJane]

We used to meet in a café by the bus station, catch up on all the gossip, wander into a covered market nearby, buy things we didn't need and laugh a lot.

Must be nearly thirty years ago. Where does life go?

[SheffieldJane]

I wish you well for a successful operation.