It's been a year now since officially being declared in remission from PMR. Emotionally and mentally it's been a great place to be. No more preds! Slowly throughout the year I've lost a stone in weight so I'm moving about more and a lot easier but it hasn't all been plain sailing. Whilst on the very low doses of preds I noticed pain appearing in my right hip that over last Christmas was unbearable. Following visits to the GP I was referred to a physiotherapist who declared that there was absolutely nothing wrong with my hip but my problem lay with my right side lower back muscles. I was given a strict daily regime of exercises to follow and the pain has improved no end. Obviously I have the odd day especially when I've over done things but on a subsequent visit to my GP he did ask if I'd suffered from a right hand side back issue in the past. I replied I had many many years ago and he immediately replied that whilst on reasonable levels of preds these drugs were able to mask any inflammatory issues with these damaged muscles but once I reached very low levels and then none there was nothing helping this existing injury. He added that the combination of the pre existing injury (that was basically long term damaged muscles) plus the weakness caused to the muscles from the PMR and the preds it would take a while for them to become strong again and that my daily gentle exercises would probably be necessary for a long while yet.
I'm telling you this story because it's important to understand that not every pain we get is a symptom of PMR. Because the condition and the medication weakens our muscles to a degree old existing injuries are more likely to be exposed, but that correct gentle daily exercise could help enormously.
Obviously I'm hoping to continue losing more weight and at the same time work to get myself healthier by more gentle exercise.
My PMR journey was peppered with diagnosis mistakes initially but once under a consultant who by the way embraced the dead slow and almost stop method of reduction was not too bad an ordeal. I was diagnosed at 52 and my journey in total including 2 flares took 5 years, so there's hope for everyone. But, as Eileen always says the condition dictates the level of medication and not the medication that dictates the condition. These forums helped me enormously and I still read members posts and I'm so pleased they're here with members who offer wise words and advise.
All that remains for me to do is send you all the warmest of Cornish Best Wishes for Christmas and the Coming New Year. With Kind Regards, Tina.
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tina-shelley
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Happy Christmas Tina and thanks for sharing your story. I'm a fresher here so always good to learn from the escaped convicts. I know I can't dig my own tunnel, have to wait till pmr leaves the cell unlocked!
Always encouraging when news from the PMR-free world shines a light into our pred tunnel - thank you, Tina, and wishing you a Happy Christmas and 2019 from another part of our windy Cornwall.
Thanks for your interesting and insightful Post. You make a very good point in that how we cope with and perceive all things PMR symptoms-wise might depend to some extent on pre-existing conditions like injuries and co-morbidities, to name a few.
I can relate to the hip / lower back pain conundrum especially. Although always fit, sporting and active '(Action Man' type) pre-PMR, on reflection, I always had a lower back weakness (Lumbar T4 / 5 trapped nerves, not helped by being tall and often over-doing things on the squash court!). On deeper reflection, I was regularly seeing a Chiropractor 20 years ago for often eye-watering and crippling lower back pain after excessive lifting, shifting (and / or just plain learned bad posture / tension?). Ironically, those days are behind me now - even though 20 years older and still pretty fit and active. Phew...
All the same, you Post reminds me that, even at my fittest and much younger, bending down to get to the bottom drawer of the fridge or picking-up something from the floor was never comfortable. Thanks goodness for discovering the Alexander Technique - and all that goes with it. Fortunately, I rarely have back / hip problems nowadays (apart from the odd bout of PMR-induced hip bursitis). But, as you say, these things can be a reminder that pre-existing ailments can be exacerbated by a condition like PMR?
Most of all, thank you for re-visiting this Community with some encouraging words for many of Us Lot who are often Confused.com about Cause and Effect with PMR symptoms.
Thank you Tina,you have given us hope that we can eventually recover from PMR,however long it may take.l wish you and your loved ones a lovely Christmas and good health and happiness throughout the new year.
Thank you for posting this Tina! It is full of your accumulated wisdom and the importance of a competent doctor, It was a comforting post to those of us still struggling to understand our symptoms and this/ these diseases. Sending you warm Season’s greetings from Yorkshire.
Thank you for taking the time to write this marvellous information. If it’s ok with you I might print out some of it. It explains a lot. So happy for you. What a great attitude you have. Happy Christmas darling and SO happy for you xxxxxxx
Thank you Tina. Your message is so encouraging . I’m down to 3 and hope I get there soon but take your advice about not rushing! Have a lovely Christmas
Thank you for the hopeful message and congratulations! Gosh what an amazing feat. We all need to hear these stories of success. My hope is alive again. Thank you.
Thankyou so much....I’m struggling on 18 months in, feeling like someone stole my life! Was hoping to be feeling a bit better this Christmas but it’s not panning out that way harrumph! So lifting when I read this this morning...... off to work now with a little beam of hope back in my heart 😁
Thank you Tina for sharing your pmr journey. Gives hope to all of us that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Have a lovely Christmas and a happy new year. X
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