At the moment my PMR seems to be under control but now I think I have sciatica. It started with pain in the lower back radiating down th right leg 😱😱. The next day it was in the lower back and both legs 😱😱😱. For the past 2 days it's been in the lower left back and left leg 😱😱.
Does anyone know if I can use ibuprofen gel (I know we can't take ibuprofen tablets while taking Pred)? I've tried paracetamol but it does nothing.
Hope someone has some ideas, the pain is making me shout and grunt like a pig 🐷
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This sounds really unpleasant Footfairy. I wonder if the pain has moved to the left because you have been compensating for the Sciatica type pain in the right? We aren’t suppose to take NSAIs because of the double harsh whammy to our digestive system. It’s possible that you have a problem with a disc in your spine. This needs to be accurately diagnosed first by X Ray or MRI Scan. The appropriate treatment may end up being exercises with a good physio but you need to know what you are dealing with. The intensity of the pain indicates that this needs to happen quickly. The doctor maybe able to give you a stronger pain killer that helps but is not an anti inflammatory. More Pred could help. I would be tempted to try temporarily. Good luck!
Thanks for the reply Jane. I'm presuming it's all sciatica at the moment, but you're probably right that I should go and see a doctor. I'll see when I can get an appointment. Probably in two weeks time 😤 If not longer. I'll check to see if they still do a sit and wait thing (they have changed their appointment system recently) although I'll be sitting, standing, sitting, waiting 😊. Josie x
According to my pharmacist at the time he told me I could use ibruprofen gel sparingly alongside Pred.
But as Jane says you really need to find out exactly what it is as other therapies may be better.
Plus try hot and cold therapy - 10mins with ice pack (cheap frozen peas as good as anything with tea towel around pack) followed by at least 20mins of hot water bottle or microwaveable warmer.
Thank you DL. I've tried the hot and cold but only for a few minutes each. I'll give it a try for longer.🙂
Rang doctor and can go from 8am and receptionist can give me an appointment for later if available. So if no better by tomorrow morning I'll stumble along to reception. 😟
It is very possible that the sciatic pain is due to spasmed back muscles - especially the piriformis. Google piriformis syndrome. Once you know where it is try ice over it to reduce swelling though if it is spasmed a hot water bottle will achieve more. You have to experiement to find which is best for you. When I have spasmed muscles it tends to be above the sacroiliac joints and heat is best (just below your waist).
I'm lucky - our pain clinic will do all sorts of things to sort it but the quickest option isn't for me as I take anticoagulants and linjections aren't a good idea! But I'm waiting for physio appointments for manual mobilisation of the muscles. In the UK I had a wonderful Bowen therapist for such needs - jinasc recommends her too!
Thank you. I've checked out piriformis syndrome and I understand why you think that it could be that. It does hurt in my left buttock too. Think I'll give the hot and cold a try. x
I had sciatica last summer, all the way down to my little toe, arrived in the wee small hours for no apparent reason. When I saw GP she was surprised that I could touch the floor without any increase in pain, prescription for tramadol and ref to physio who gave gentle exercises, two months later as it just came it just went. The only thing that really helped was a warm hot water bottle or wheat bag as PMRpro suggests, you just have to experiment a bit to find out what works for you. Lots of sympathy I know how you feel but do see your doc to try to find a possible cause. Hugs and 💐
I have had a couple flare ups of piriformis issues. I always go to my physio person for treatment.
She has given me a few exercises (stretches) to do daily - takes less than 10 minutes - and I haven’t had any piriformis issues since I’ve been doing them. My back and my butt feel much better since I’ve been doing these!
My Rheumy gave me an intra muscular (buttock) injection (Kenalog). That was in early January. It took 8 days to take effect but no Sciatica pain since. The pain before that was awful. The injection can be repeated at three monthly intervals but saw rheumy last week and no sign of needing repeat yet.
I went to the docs this morning. After examination and questions she believes it's sciatica. Told her I'd tried hot and cold packs, paracetamol, ibuprofen gel and gentle physio exercises but nothing is working. She has prescribed 500mg Naproxen twice a day with 20mg Emozul (to protect stomach - I can't usually tolerate these things but I've not tried this one so fingers crossed) . I've never had Naproxen befor, so hope there aren't any side effects.
I'll have to take the tablets as the pain is continuous whether I'm standing, sitting or lying down 😱 So I need something
So glad to hear you went to the GP and got the additional pain relief.
I have sciatica a few times , it's no joke , and it can flare your PMR symptoms while you try to cope with it too.
Light walking and body stretching helps . And yes , it does feel worse when you sit or lie down , so you can try the exercise of lying on your stomach on the bed with your hands below your chin . You lie like that for about 10 minutes twice a day , but don't quickly move out of it . When you get up you move your arms down , slowly turn on your side bend your knees up then turn onto your back to sit up.
As well as trying to slowly touch your toes , reach for the sky !
Put your arms up as much as you can cope with palms to the ceiling and breath in , breath out and push the air away , it helps to stretch the sciatic nerve out at the base of your back.
You can do the same with your legs while sitting in a good chair put your leg out in front of you , put your foot with toes up , push the air in front of your foot away , as much as you can cope with, to then point your toes. Only do 2-3 at first, then work up to 8 reps per leg a day for both of these exercises . In combo with walking it does work out the sciatic pain without putting to much pressure on the joints that suffer with PMR .
I found that cold therapy relieves the hot prickly buttock pain , and also the pain in the thighs but heat therapy works better on the upper buttock and back.
If you use your topical gel ( if you haven't had one prescribed if you are tolerant to it an ibroprofen gel , arnica or capsicum cream or a tiger balm are best,) rubbed in before you try to sit or lie to do the hot/ cold therapy helps to make the cream penetrate deeper into the skin and reach the muscle for real results.
I got this tip when I was young from a professional sports therapist , and it does make a difference.
Using your shower head to rotate and alternate cold and hot water on the area also relieves the hot tingling pain.
You are probably already on Vitamin D , but boosting that and vitamin A, C,E and magnesium and zinc ( just with a good multi supplement) helps improve your nerve and muscle strength. And lots of fluids , nerves don't like dehydration , and even if you drink alot already , you don't realise how dehydrated your body gets on the inside while the body is inflamed.
Sorry for the long answer , but I hoped some of the tips I have used may be changed for you. Hugs and hope you feel better soon, Bee xx
massage...or barring massage.. get a lacrosse ball and push it against the wall with your hip/butt (shoulders neck arms ) might get the point that is compressed and hurting your lower back! I find this so helpful with pain.! might just do the trick. also look up some sciatic nerve exercises online. ! good luck. and I say, tylenol... but Never more then recommended dosage!)
when you find a spot that hurts. just hold pressing the ball there.. and then just rolling around with your body... bend knees and get some thigh muscle workout too. Its a fine line with this damn prednisone and PMR. you do not want to get weak..then bones go bad.
You're right Yogabonnie. I've had quite enough of feeling weak. My thigh muscles have definitely suffered. I've only just got to walking up to 45 mins on flat ground (couldn't walk to the front door for ages) and now this is stopping me. Well, not for long if I can help it!
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