Painful foot/ankle & use of microcurrent

[NWFiona]

Hello,

Hope you are all as well as can be expected? 😊

It is 7 months since my last post, when I was “dithery” and as you said this subsided quite soon after my post & my “normal” level of Adrenalin has returned.

I have had PMR for three years & have been on Predniselone for nearly three years.

I have been relatively fine since my last post & managing well with the DSNS method - now down to 3mg going to 2.5

I have been trying to manage my latest problem, but am still a bit confused, so wondered if anyone had had a similar experience? It may be nothing to do with PMR or Predniselone? I will try to put it concisely!

In mid July I suddenly developed a sore foot/ankle - not sure which, as it moved around. I thought it must be Plantar Fasciitis. It wasn’t getting any better & I was using random insoles, which didn’t help.

I went to a private physiotherapist, who had sorted my back & knee out on previous occasions. I went a few times (making her aware of my PMR) she didn’t think it was Plantar Fasciitis or even tendonitis. She used - Myofascia release, Soft tissue release, joint mobilisation, deep oscillation & microcurrent on my foot ankle & hip (very low current - lower than tens machine) The pain seemed to disappear for a day or so after each session, but then it returned. She felt that there was a trapped nerve involved somewhere & said it would be a good idea to get a scan.

I self referred to the physio, who also couldn’t find an obvious cause for the pain. And I should get an MRI scan in a couple of weeks.

(11 years ago after an MRI scan I was diagnosed with a Synovial cyst at the base of spine - facet joints L4 & L5 which had been giving me sciatic pain. Almost immediately after diagnosis the pain disappeared!)

In the last month or so I also felt that my PMR was flaring - I upped my dose to 5mg for a few days then went back to 3mg feeling ok.

In the meantime I also made an appointment with the doctor to ask for my bloods checking etc - I was signed of by the rheumatologist at the MSK last year.

*So what I am trying to say is... has anyone else had a similar experience? is the pain caused by a cyst or the effect of the PMR or Predniselone on my muscles? And also could the microcurrent affect my muscles in a detrimental way?

Sorry if this post is a bit long & confusing - that’s how it is inside my head!!! 🤯🙄

[Hidden]

I certainly had a painful swollen ankle a few months ago and the other ankle then became sore. A bit like pf. I increased pred for other reasons (at 6mg} that indicated a flare. I did a three day blast of 5mg more and during that the pain went then I went to 7mg and it has stayed away. I am assuming painful ankle and heel area are one of my pmr indicators. I did have sore painful feet before dx but hadn't had it so bad since. Had just forgotten! I hope you get an answer. 🌻

[NWFiona in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Poopadoop! I’m hoping for an answer too!

Pleased that you got on top of yours 😊

I didn’t have painful feet/ankles before - they’ve always been fine 😕

Having a lazy morning in bed & catching up, so nothings hurting at the moment!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

When I have work done on myofascial release management without steroid shots into the trigger points it takes far more than "a few sessions", even depending at what stage we start. I've been waiting for a year for the affordable 12 sessions I'm entitled to at the hospital and have been to the Pain Clinic here to keep things manageable in the meantime and in the hope the sessions will allow some physio rather than the therapeutic massage that took the entire time last time.

Our pain clinic starts with practical approaches rather than CBT or whatever - my pain can be shown to be due to muscle spasm - and it affects the sciatic nerve. CBT won't show anyone how to cope with that! Outer thigh soreness is almost always a feature of my PMR and was bad the last few weeks despite not walking a lot (always makes it worse) and finally yesterday the pain lady agreed to do something - she won't do steroid shots as I'm on anticoagulants, the rheumy has no such inhibitions! But she identified a sore place just about the hip bone - and says that is due to the thigh pain affecting posture when walking. I shall keep on trying ...

In the past Bowen therapy DID help the foot pain too - trapped muscles can be due to muscle spasm too. But you do need some imaging to rule stuff out/in.

[NWFiona in reply to PMRpro]

Hi PMRpro & thank you for your reply!

I was wondering if it could be due to muscle spasm too - it’s far more complicated than I first thought 😬

I would have loved to continue to see private physio, as she is really good, but have decided to wait & save my money until after MRI & then we’ll know more what we’re dealing with (or not!!!) 😊