I returned from Devon a week ago and did quite a lot of walking, and only felt ill for one day. I was achy all the time, but walking seems to help. At home I try and walk every day, even if it’s a short one. Last Wednesday I missed a step near the bottom, going down the stairs. I didn’t fall down, but in trying to remain upright I did a few ‘contortions’. The result is quite a bit of pain, and certainly don’t feel like walking very much. I wonder how much the pain can be worsened by Polymyalgia, and how much my osteoporosis? In the past, having missed a few stairs, I would be achy but not find it so debilitating.
Rest or exercise? Do I need to keep moving or rest, giving it chance to heal? I know what I feel like doing! Even without this setback, if I don’t keep on the move I am always stiff and achy, but not like this!
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ClarkB
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I didn’t fall on to concrete or anything as I have done in the past,- not looking where I was going. Although it was on carpet, it was the surprise at missing a step, and having a greater reaction to it than I would have done previously . Normal falls would have caused more sharp immediate pain, but this was different with my ‘contortions’ which wouldn’t have affected me in the past.
Sorry you 'twisted' but love your sense of humor. A sense of humor sure helps!!! I see you have gotten lots of good advice for those who are more senior members...not that they are older than me, nobody is, but I am new to the forum.
Also...when I signed on...I saw you went to Italy and had a hard time finding veggies... how wonderful that you went....that is great!!! If I get there...I will eat anything!!!
It is lovely really....I lived in New Englad in my 'starter' years, then Florida and ultimately Indiana. I moved here to be closer to my grandchildren in Nova Scotia in 2016.
I thought I had traveled a fair amount but it sound like you have been through more than a few passports!! I always used to say I had jet fuel in my veins and would have traveled anywhere. I just may get feisty enough to go again.
If you ever get to these parts again I'd love to give you my address!! All I have ever seen of the UK is Heathrow and I know there is so much more beauty there.
Thankyou Grammy. I live in Derbyshire in hilly countryside. I didn’t see enough of the States when I was there. I had friends in New Canaan, Connecticut, Long Island, and Sausalito, Sanfrancisco. I hope I get to do a bit more travelling, as in the last couple of years has been mainly in the UK due to my health issues!
Mainly achy on my weak left hip and bottom of pelvis, and am stiff. Didn’t think of ice packs. Had a very warm Dead Sea salt bath to soak in. Anywhere I go I have to walk up or down a hill. Usually I have no problem, but yesterday it was a bit tricky.
Am not achy all over, mainly pelvis, so will try an ice pack. Thankyou!
Will do thankyou! Making me feel slightly sickly. Taken Paracetamol. Doesn’t help that I ‘m feeling bloated too, with other probs and haven’t eaten much either!
Contortions can give you more aches and pains , especially with PMR , but you could have sprained or pulled a muscle in the process , bruised a bone , or even pulled a ligament or two.
It might be worth having it checked out just to be on the safe side , if it is affecting your hip and back you can't be sure that you haven't done so trying to the bone or joint.
X-rays on the right areas would help establish wether it's a minor injury being made to feel worse or lasting longer because you suffer with PMR , or ligament/ tendon or bone issues that may benefit from some extra support or specific exercises to help them improve.
When you know what has happened properly it will give you peace of mind and you will know the best way to " move" forward .
As it is a few days past the initial injury warmth from heat pads and alot of fluids are more beneficial. If you don't take it Omega 3 and an increase in vitamin C and zinc help improve tissue injuries.
Take paracetamol if you need to , caring for the injury and reducing pain from it will help stop you slowly inching into a PMR Flare.
If there is still heat in the area a little biofreeze ointment , dermacool or even Vicks massaged into the painful area after a shower , left to be cooling for about 15 mins then followed by a heat pack or wheat bag is soothing. These helps at night too.
Some exercise is usually recommended to prevent ligaments and muscles getting tighter as you mend , but make sure it's not too much and doesn't involve too many slopes at first, having something like a stick or walking poles to help support you , give balance and cause less pain is also beneficial for about a month .
But definitely check via GP that you haven't done any extra damage , especially if it's bothering your hip , pelvis and back or you still have growing swelling or painful bruising.
Will reply to your message, and appreciate the trouble you’ve taken to reply to me! I haven’t felt well for a couple of days and have been put on antibiotics.
I slipped and brushed against a table, nothing dramatic but found walking on my left leg very painful. I went to a physio who discovered I had a trapped nerve and a couple of sessions helped it enormously. Still took several weeks to fully clear. The point is that in the old days these little incidents cleared up easily - not anymore. And that it’s worth considering physio as well as the GPS. They often know more about how the body responds to stress and can deal with the causes. Good luck!
Thankyou, I appreciate your replying. Haven’t been well for the last couple of days, different problem and am on antibiotics! Will reply when I feel a bit better.
My Polymyalgia is taking a back seat at the moment, as I have a diverticulitis flare, hence antibiotics. Since slipping on the stairs the pain doesn’t seem to have eased at all, and with osteoporosis I wonder if I’ve done damage. The doctor said it would be bruising. It’s difficult to discuss three conditions in one session!
Thankyou for your comments. No I haven’t had one. The problem is when another condition takes over, I concentrate on that. Perhaps it was my fault that I only mentioned it at the end, when I said I had missed a step and was in quite a bit of pain. He had spent some time discussing diverticulitis, saying it was vital to take the antibiotics.He’s quite thorough when you see him over one condition, but my mentioning the other sounded like an afterthought! Polymyalgia didn’t come into it.
He mentioned bruising, but I didn’t mention osteoporosis. I will look into it after the weekend.
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and I know there is so much more beauty there.
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