PMR Flare with new sciatica issue afer a fortnight in Italy

[cmj33g]

Just returned from Italy where I had a super time in great heat and toured Rome including god knows how many steps and was in an apartment in Sorrento with 4 flights of stone steps!! I can almost say my PMR symtoms vanished because apart from a little morning stiffness No symptoms and just 3mg steroids a day.

Well you can guess what is coming next can't you!! After 3 days back I feel really unwell, feverish and tired and poor arm and thigh motion. But to top it all I have really sever lower right back pain which radiates to the knee and in certain positions pain takes breath away!! I think Ive read on here about a certain muscle beginning with a p. And also, I remember reading a post from a lady who had returned from Rome and then had a PMR flare. I was cheerful and optimistic and congratulating myself on my achievements a week ago. And now I just want to give up!! Started PMR in January 2017 when just 54. Any suggestions dear friends?? Best wishes to you all

[PMRpro Ambassador]

There is a lady on the patient.info forum who's just back from France with a similar story.

Did you haul your luggage around at the airport? Sit badly on the plane?

The word you are looking for is piriformis!

[cmj33g in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for this reply. Yes l could have done that. I will look up the muscle.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to cmj33g]

You are in the UK - not sure what to suggest. Have you ever tried Bowen therapy? Used to help me a lot, even acutely like this. Otherwise a physio who can work on the spasmed muscle (would be available for me here). When you google it you will find suggested exercises for piriformis syndrome.

[CT-5012]

I too have this problem occasionally. One exercise which works for me is to sit on a dining chair with my back against the back of the chair with feet flat on the floor, put ankle of affected leg onto opposite knee and press GENTLY down on knee until you feel a slight stretch in affected buttock. Helps until you can get to see the physio. Painful little beast this piriformis. All the best.

[cmj33g in reply to CT-5012]

Thank you

[Hidden]

I am so sorry to hear this.... what a disappointment especially after having such a lovely pain free, PMR free time!!!!!! If it is a flare (which it sounds like it may be) I hope it is short lived and you are back down to 3mg soon. I'll let the experts advise on how much to increase your Pred or what steps to take next... Good luck!

[cmj33g in reply to Hidden]

Thank you x

[SheffieldJane]

Don’t give up! This in no way negates your lovely experience. Sciatica is horrible. I got it after being my eldest daughter’s nursery maid for a month. I wouldn’t trade the experience for the world. Rest, painkillers, good physio, time, it goes, unlike memories.

[cmj33g]

Thanks so much x

[Kcartney103]

I recently had a therapeutic massage, for a couple of days I felt almost 'normal' . The masseuse concentrated on my sciatic muscle, it was great. She also suggested the exercise putting my ankle on the opposite knee and gently pushing down to keep the muscle loosened up. I am definitely going back in a week or so for additional treatment....

[cmj33g]

Thank you everyone. Things have changed today, the pain is still there but also burning on surface and more poorly in myself. I have tried to take a pic. myself of what appears to be small blisters developing on the side of spine with pain. I am wondering about shingles??

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to cmj33g]

When I saw your image on the other post the first thing that came to mind was shingles even though I couldn't see it properly.

If it is, you need to see the GP quickly - as in emergency - to get a script for antiviral medication to try to reduce the severity/duration of the symptoms but there is a relatively short window of opportunity, hence EMERGENCY appt.

[cmj33g]

Thank you. Yes it has been confirmed and I have started acyclovir. The image was awful as l tried to take it myself but now they are scabs in a line and pulsate. How kind everyone is. Big thank your xx