Curious besides prednisone does anything help

[jensen0518]

I have been wondering if anything but prednisone has helped with flare ups for anyone. For example

1. Heating pads or applying heat

2. Ice

3. Ibuprofen

4. Any of those creams

5. Acupuncture

6. Vitamins

7. Whirlpools Or saunas

Thank you

[PMRpro Ambassador]

None of them helped me with flares. But stretching in a warm shower, relatively gentle aquafit and using the steam room used to help me mobilise in the mornings by combatting the stiffness. Bowen therapy helped me a lot with the pains I call the add-ons caused by myofascial pain syndrome.

[jensen0518 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you

I have tried most of them and none have worked

[SheffieldJane]

Nothing helps dramatically but I think it is important to do comforting things and take little walks in the fresh air. Arthritis thrives on all this sedentary life style and can await you at the end of PMR ( as I have discovered).

[jensen0518 in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thank you I definitely try and walk every day and try to exercise

[GOOD_GRIEF]

Aspercreme is now by preferred body lotion for aches and pains. While it won't do much for PMR pain, it does help with the overused muscles that compensate for the ones PMR aggravates. I've also used heating pads and heat patches. When I'm cold, my muscles tense up, and that makes PMR more pronunced when I want to get moving.

I've also be allowed to take ibuprofen when I feel the need, but I take it at least 2 hours before or after pred dose, and only with food (just like pred). It does nothing for PMR pain, but again, when using other muscles to compensate for what PMR is limiting, it help alleviate those aches.

I have noticed that I ache a little more when I've missed by D3 dose.

I do find that stretching and moving around helps the pain dissipate (as long as I don't go overboard).

Everyone is different. Try one thing at a time and see what works for you. if you try too many things at once, you won't know which might have been good on it's own, or which one to never touch again.

[jensen0518]

Thank you

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

To be honest if your inflammation has been allowed to build up again, which is what usually causes a flare, then all that will sort it out is more Pred. Other therapies suggested may help and make you feel a little better, but they won’t clear it completely.

[Blearyeyed]

Unfortunately there isn't one sure way for anyone as we are all different , with different underlying other conditions too , so your list is a good start and will involve a touch of trial and error to find a combination that works for you personally.

I have to say if it is a full flare of the PMR alone then generally only rest , trying to remain relaxed , gentle rotating exercise of the joints in a warm shower and during the day and little strolls to keep mobile , more fluids , my heat pad work for me , quite possibly with a short increase in the Pred to damp down the inflammation.

For a mini flare , or flare warning , as I like to call them , just the same without the Pred but being willing to accept that I might need to take more rest and cancel any plans that I have so I don't make the flare kick in full steam.

I also increase my fluids then and I take more of my supplements or vitamins A, E,D,K and Magnesium and Zinc to help the body cope with dealing with the inflammation.

When not in a flare , I try to eat nutritiously , take my usual supplement with the things above , I also take garlic and Omega 3 ( keep away from Omega 6) and always keep fluids up , basically trying to heal from the inside.

I pace myself with rest and activity , especially on days with Fatigue , I will accept I must take a back seat and not just try and battle on through it as this causes the flare to come on.

I can't cope with massage or acupuncture , alot of us react to these or get inflammation from these treatments .

I , like Pro , have found comfort and ease by using a steam room as general therapy , but that doesn't work when I'm in a flare , then it can make me feel worse.

I have a cream called Dermacool , which you can get online ( mine is on prescription) which you can gently massage into the joints when required , or after a warm shower , or using a heat pad on the area for about 10 minutes first ( this helps open the pores and so the cream soaks further in to the muscle layer). Use it on a bit of skin first to make sure you are not sensitive to it.

Then I rest and let it work , it tingles alot then feels really cool.

Massaging that into your neck , behind the ears and putting a little on your temples and across your sinus area on the forehead ( avoiding the eyes ) also helps neck pain and migraines.

I have a clay heat pad for my head and one that came in a wrap that can be velcrod to your back , abdomen or shoulders from a company called Dynamik which is really good because it holds heat longer , you can walk around on it in place and the wrap gives your joints added support . It can be heated in a microwave or a pan or cooled in the freezer.

Any therapies you choose to try , or exercises, you should only have a taster with someone who knows the condition and works with people with joint conditions.

You should drink lots before and after and have a warm shower , and you should not do a full session straight away but build it up slowly.

Sometimes treatments can inflame a flare not because they are bad for us full stop but because they are too long or too intensive that's what causes the flare.

Many people find Bowen Therapy or Rieki useful , but again as prevention rather than cure

Having a chair or place to rest regularly during exercise and not doing full sessions is important too.

The dry heat of a sauna is often not good for us because of dry heat intolerance on Pred and a jacuzzi should either be your own or better avoided as the steroids affect our immunity and so the water used by many can cause skin reactions . Warm water pools or Hydrotherapy pools and gentle exercise in those us another good prevention of flares while getting therapeutic exercise.

Ibuprofen or other pain killers will help only if the PMR is causing you non PMR pain in your nerves and muscles too , but, if they have given you some minor relief in a flare it is worth keeping them in the mix , as it means you are dealing with that non PMR pain which doesn't help you to relax .

Relaxation and stress reduction is one of the most important things to do to relieve the tension in your joints and stop triggering more PMR pain during a flare but also in prevention of one too.

Hope that helps and you find the way that you can get through . Take care , Bee

[jensen0518]

Thank you

[ponai]

I think trying things cheers you up whether they work or not! Voltarol and paracetamol both help me, and a hot bath with epsom salts. Also, possibly ginger. The trouble is the condition is so variable that it's hard to decide cause and effect. It seems better in warm weather. Definitely stop and rest as soon as you start feeling the pain and stiffness building up- it is not helpful to push yourself. It's boring, but plan a quiet day before a demanding one and again afterwards. Not sure about cannabis oil but it amuses the children.

[Purplecrow]

All of the above help, some more than others. Did you try chiropractic and massage also?

However,.... nothing replaces Pred in a flare. But, in my experience,the flare dose-increase does not need to take long to reduce the problem, then you can return to tapering . Over time, I have learned how to “play the game”, and if unavoidable, how to address flares. Eg., hit it hard and fast, then move on.

Kind regards, Jerri

PMR diagnosed 2013

[jensen0518 in reply to Purplecrow]

Thank you