PMR can you blockout the pain: I have a general... - PMRGCAuk

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PMR can you blockout the pain

jensen0518 profile image
23 Replies

I have a general question.

Does anybody or know if it is possible to completely block all pain and symptoms of PMR. This is only my observation one thing I like to do is coach basketball when I am focused coaching I experience no pain or stiffness it is like my brain blocks all pain

Has anybody ever heard of this.

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jensen0518 profile image
jensen0518
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23 Replies
Rimmy profile image
Rimmy

Our focus and psychology can help us 'forget' pain and discomfort temporarily but in my experience there is some pain you cannot ever deny if it is bad enough. With PMR the major 'blocking out of pain' occurs with control of inflammation and that is what the appropriate dose of Pred should generally be doing - whereas 'fatigue' sometimes called here 'deathly fatigue' is not unfortunately controlled by Pred or anything else I've heard of. It is great if you feel fine when you are doing something you enjoy - but just remember not to overdo things as our bodies do not recover as fast as they normally would with PMR - and you can get delayed onset muscle strain (DOMS). I have always been a quite ambitious and physical gardener but if I go like a bat out of hell mulching, wheelbarrow, digging etc I can feel quite sore an exhausted the next day or even day after that - so just be careful of being oblivious to what might happen next.

All good wishes

Rimmy

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador

I suppose it is the ideal of the Pain Clinic approaches to intractable pain but although I could get on with translating without feeling pain as such, it darn soon reappeared when I had to move from in front of the computer. Getting out of the chair was bad enough, stairs were a hands and knees job. After 5 years of that - pred became my best friend.

jinasc profile image
jinasc in reply to PMRpro

When computer came into existence and people in offices were sitting in front of them everyday. The TUC issued advise, no more than an hour sitting, get up and walk around for 5 mins.

When my Ma developed RA, guess what, she was told do not sit longer than one hour in the same position..........Get up and move around.

I now have a timer beside my computer and use it, otherwise I forget to move and boy do I then suffer.

It continues to happen you post something and my memory kicks in...............

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to jinasc

But after a year or so of untreated PMR I couldn't sit for more than a few minutes without seizing up - and it was the same amount of agony getting going so there wasn't a lot of incentive to get up and move around every so often. The process of getting out of bed and even only half-dressed was enough until lunchtime!! My office was upstairs - the kitchen downstairs. I could work and get to the loo or I could work and get something to eat/drink without being killed on the stairs...

jinasc profile image
jinasc in reply to PMRpro

Hi, I should have also said,

Joanna sends you love and hugs. Yes Bowen to the rescue again.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to jinasc

Returned! I do miss Joanna!

jinasc profile image
jinasc

If you have residual pain you can use a TENS machine, providing you do not have any heart problems at all, it interrupts the pain signal the nerve is sending to the brain.

I only know this because a mate, who lives in Cyprus and has PMR, found that trying to shop for more than 20 minutes was a no no - someone suggested the TENS and it worked. So when she went shopping she used it before she went out.

Worth exploring?

Polywotsit profile image
PolywotsitPMRGCAuk team member

When I was teaching I had to keep going for three hours at a time in front of students and, to be honest, the pain and discomfort of PMR would be the last thing on my mind. But when I stopped for a break, oh my gosh, I would feel awful.

Longtimer profile image
Longtimer in reply to Polywotsit

Probably what nowadays they call "mindfulness"....our minds are on something else to distract us....just a thought..

peace_lover profile image
peace_lover

I teach an adult dance class once a week still and whilst I’m am teaching and dancing I don’t feel pain and stiffness. Pleasure related exercise (as opposed to just running for the bus!) releases endorphins which are Nature’s feel good hormonal pain blocker. once the class is over I do suffer a bit, but just pace myself and rest. It also works for mental health, not serious issues of course, but a student of mine recently lost her father and found that class hour and a half meant that whilst she was concentrating on dancing she wasn’t thinking of anything else, and that gave her a much needed break from all those emotions and practical things that need doing upon the death of a relative. She also physically felt better.

Just don’t overdo it. PMR comes back to bite you if you do!

I firmly believe ‘Laughter is The Best Medicine’ there’s nothing l enjoy more than a good catch up with ‘The Girls’ all over 60 😂 wether we’re having a coffee or a glass of wine.

However, when l stand up ~ the knees, boy do l know it & l’m all achy & stiff! I wonder sometimes if l’m missing ‘The Girls’ since we moved? 😔 but at the moment l’m just not up to that 120mile round trip! 😟

Telian profile image
Telian in reply to

I agree - no matter how much I don’t feel like it I always feel better after going out with ‘the girls’. Your round trip is too far! x

SheffieldJane profile image
SheffieldJane

I experienced something similar when caring for my grandson. I only became aware of the pain and stiffness when he went home, I would promptly collapse. Love conquers all!

Angiejnz profile image
Angiejnz

It's the distraction theory, use it with my 20 month old granddaughter, use it on myself as too much time to think makes the pain grow. My littlie even had me distracted enough to crawl under the deck with her to her hidey place - great when we were under there....and you can guess the rest 🤣

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to Angiejnz

How long did it take to get out again?????????? ;)

Angiejnz profile image
Angiejnz in reply to PMRpro

When I'm with her I have supergran powers so I can do anything 🤣 Love the distraction theory

teesher profile image
teesher in reply to Angiejnz

My 18mth old granddaughter also has magic powers to make my pmr disappear.

Angiejnz profile image
Angiejnz in reply to teesher

We've even got matching capes and eye masks 😂

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to Angiejnz

You flew out then? ;)

Angiejnz profile image
Angiejnz in reply to PMRpro

Sort of 🤣

Yellowbluebell profile image
Yellowbluebell in reply to Angiejnz

Sounds like my recent bath drama. OH had headphones on, couldn't hear my calls, so only way around this was to get on to all fours which meant my bum was in the air and use the taps to haul myself up on. No probs you would think but at that moment eldest daught burst through bathroom door (unlocked but its just me and OH) desperate for the toilet on her way home so she decided to stop at ours!! Needless to say daughter was as much help as a chocolate teapot and could be heard laughing hysterically as she got in her car!! Sometimes I hate my family!! Hope getting out from under the table wasnt quite as embarrassing.

pmrkitty profile image
pmrkitty in reply to Yellowbluebell

Don't worry, I'm SURE you're not the only one. I had a client (before PMR) and he insisted on going to a meeting over night without me. Well, He decided to take a bath that evening before bed and He could not get out. He was in the tub the whole night and had to keep adding hot water to stay warm (He was 91 years old). Well He finally grabbed the shower curtain and the side of the tub and got himself out. He totally destroyed the curtain rod but otherwise he was okay. Needless to say after all that, he never went anywhere without me. See, you are not the only one! 💞💞💞 Hugs to you!

Yellowbluebell profile image
Yellowbluebell in reply to pmrkitty

Best bit was she went straight home and told her husband and her sister and her partner.x

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