PMR post flu bout horrific muscle pain.

I have been wondering about this ... this week I have had one of the worst bouts of flu I can remember. In the past when I have had the usual hacking cough I usually have sore muscles around the back, chest, waist areas. Obviously pulling a muscle would not be unusual after flu and a severe cough.

However, I got PMR one year ago and at the time was in Nicaragua, Central America. I was previously a nurse - did a bit of self diagnosis - and realised I had PMR. I contacted your website and all replies seemed certain I had classic PMR symptoms and advised not trying to get back to the UK without first seeking help. Which I did by my husband going to the Farmacia in desperation and buy in 20 mg dose of pred over the counter. A miracle. The rest is history.

I have been doing so well and have recently managed to get down to 3 mg. After the flu this week I find my muscles feel as if they have been ripped to shreds due to my coughing and have been in so much pain as i needed to cough i was shouting due to the severity.

Finally, my question is are pulled muscles in the affected PMR regions worse than for someone with PMR? Or indeed chest infections? I also wondered if I have done so well (up to now) because I put myself on Pred after around 6 weeks instead of the obligatory .. Drs don't have a clue situation?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

The flu itself can cause a flare - and if your adrenal function is still compromised then you may need a bit extra pred to get through it. Try 5mg maybe and see it it helps.

[yogabonnie in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks to that ... I had tried to taper..now with this terrible cough/cold I canned that idea and back to where I was. Still an achy shoulder blade..but nothing I can't deal with. I definitely think things hit us harder with the PMR. LOTS of WATER . drink lots and lots and lots of water!!! I also made a doc appt just in case it needs antibiotics... don't want pneumonia!!

[Hidden in reply to yogabonnie]

Thanks for that yogabonnie. Going to have to take PMRpro advice and maybe increase just till I get over this lot. I didn't get the flu jab but i defo will next year. Big mistake

[BonnyQuine in reply to Hidden]

I had the flu jab, but still have some sort of flu-like infection. Might be just a bad cold, but did have a raised temp w the sore throat, first couple of days. 12 days now. Terrible chest irritation and cough . . . . Somebody said you can still have flu after jab, but it shouldn't last so long or be so severe . . Hmmm

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to BonnyQuine]

You are protected from SOME varieties of flu - not all. The jab probably protects from about half of the viruses around in any given year. Every little helps!!!!

[Sandy1947 in reply to yogabonnie]

Yogabonne

You mean I won’t see you in the Super Bowl die to shoulder injury?

[yogabonnie in reply to Sandy1947]

I know. BENCHED! I am so enjoying (meanly) the fact that it is FREEZING FREEZING here and snowy and people paying $4000 a ticket (WTF?) are PRETENDING to be happy that they are in this cold city when they could be basking in the sun somewhere!!! I am FURIOUS that LesterHolt of NBC nightly news called Minnesota a "hotbed of ISIS recruitment" when we have the most wonderful Somali community in the country. Sensationalism. I KNOW I must be on the mend from this cold since I have my dander all up once again!!!

[Sandy1947 in reply to yogabonnie]

Love that dander! Glad you corrected Lester Holt’s comment. It’s snowing lightly here and I’m layered up in 2 pairs of pajamas since I over did it last week. I feel like I’m on punishment! I can’t comprehend how you live with PMR In Minnesota!

I have 4 phone dates to determine if meeting is possible. Some flunk phone! Great activity for being grounded thanks to running out of spoons!

[Hidden]

For a few weeks after flu it felt like none of my muscles were connected to body by much. Stayed at 10mg for another month. I did start taper over January to9.5 then 9mg but had to up to ten again so think took longer to "heal" than I thought. Back to dsns at moment. Hope you get relief!