Severe pain and stiffness : For the last 8 days I... - PMRGCAuk

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Severe pain and stiffness

Wenhaz profile image
25 Replies

For the last 8 days I’ve had a dreadful cough and cold. During the last 3 days ever bone and muscle in my body aches, is sore and painfully stiff (including my fingers and toes)

I can hardly turn my head or walk properly.

I’ve had PMR for 5 years, and during that time I’ve had colds... but I’ve never suffered like this.

Has anyone else suffered like this?

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Wenhaz profile image
Wenhaz
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25 Replies

I’ve had a ‘Throat’ & Cough/Upper Respiratory Tract Virus over Christmas & every muscle my body/legs hurt when l coughed, l didn’t know where to hold as it was a competition of which hurt the most, l have never felt cough pain in my thighs before. I’m very ‘PMR’y’ too, lots of symptoms, burning thighs, feet, cheeks & arms.

It’s very much improved now but still somewhat below par......

And ‘Par’ isn’t great 😉

Odosmum profile image
Odosmum in reply to

Me too, Mrs N. There is a lot of it around. Adding insult to injury, I have had to stop leflunomide and etanercept to allow my immune system a chance to get shot of it. Latest bloods showed ESR 92 and CreP 39! Roll on summer.

in reply toOdosmum

Oh No! Definitely best to drop the DMARDS when you’re not well. Give yourself a chance. Get Well Soon 🌷🌷🌷

Odosmum profile image
Odosmum in reply to

Thanks Mrs N. You take care too

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador

Sounds like a combination of the "exercise" of coughing, the virus and its effect on the immune system kicking the PMR into life.

Bed, warmth, paracetamol and lots of fluids and rest, Have you tried taking a bit more pred?

DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer

Could be a combination of a couple of things -

a virus as described by MrsNails - have you tried paracetamol to see if that helps?

b. whatever you have has meant your PMR has flared.

Try the paracetamol first to see if that helps in any way (drink plenty of fluids as well) , if not, then you may need to up your Pred a little, or at least stop tapering. Give yourself a few days of TLC, or get someone else to if you don’t live alone!

Have you had this winter’s flu jab? It does sound quite ‘fluey’.

Wenhaz profile image
Wenhaz in reply toDorsetLady

Yes I had my flu jab in October. Paracetamol and hot lemon have been my main go to. Sadly my loving husband doesn’t do illness when it’s me, so I’m on my own with this

DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer in reply toWenhaz

Could still be a mild case of flu then, I had similar in January last year despite flu jab. Fortunate it only lasted about 48 hours but it wiped me out for a while afterwards. No GCA to contend with, been in remission for 3 years.

I guess you’ll have to see how it goes over next few days then, stick with the paracetamol (no problem to take with Pred), but if it doesn’t improve you might need to take an extra mg of Pred for a week or so.

Wenhaz profile image
Wenhaz in reply toDorsetLady

Really hoping not to increase my pred. I’m struggling to reduce this time and don’t want to take a backward step if I can help it. It’s such a long process for me.

DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer in reply toWenhaz

Well hopefully you won’t need to .., but you do have the option. Better to increase a little now than let it go on to a full blown flare where you’ll have to increase even more.

Wenhaz profile image
Wenhaz in reply toDorsetLady

Yes, you are right. I think perhaps I should 🤗

piglette profile image
piglette

This year there seems to be some quite nasty bugs going round and people without PMR seem to be suffering badly. I am keeping away from our medical centre until March!

DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer in reply topiglette

keep away even longer if possible 😂🤣😂

piglette profile image
piglette in reply toDorsetLady

You mean forever!

DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer in reply topiglette

Well not quite forever, forever- but as long as possible!

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply topiglette

There were 9 people standing outside the practice this morning when we went into the village. We debated whether they were afraid of catching something or whether there just wasn't any room after NY!

Marijo1951 profile image
Marijo1951

I went down with something similar starting late on Boxing Day and was completely knocked out for the next few days. My worst symptom has been terrible prolonged phlegmy coughing fits, which for a few days gave me appalling pains in my chest plus strange wheezing. I thought I was developing bronchitis, but the cough has subsided in the last few days,though it hasn't gone completely. I don't think it has much to do with PMR as these nasty viruses are affecting lots of people at present. I'm sure the mild damp weather (at least in the south of England) is one factor.

Wenhaz profile image
Wenhaz in reply toMarijo1951

That sounds like me. I love that I can share with people who really understand, instead of those who raise their eyes and make polite noises. (Sadly my husband is one of them)

Marijo1951 profile image
Marijo1951 in reply toWenhaz

One blessing of living alone is that I've no partner, child etc who's going to wake up when I'm having a coughing seizure or be startled by one of my stupendous sneezes. I do worry a bit about the man in the flat below whose bedroom is directly underneath mine. There's a pretty solid floor between us but even so at 3 a.m. when it's quiet all round I suspect I must wake him up sometimes. Unfortunately he's a recluse, so I know he wouldn't open the door if I went down to apologise.

HeronNS profile image
HeronNS in reply toMarijo1951

Not only that but maybe not a good idea to tell him you might be waking him up. He might be a really sound sleeper and not have noticed.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toMarijo1951

Not mild, not damp, not the SE of England - but something like that going around here too!

PMRCanada profile image
PMRCanada

I’m suffering with a chest cold right now....on day 17! Felt pretty good yesterday, but woke up hacking again today. Using a puffer, cold tablets and my regular pred dose along with a cool mist humidifier and lots of fluids. Can’t seem to shake it. Lots of people sick, even hubby got it but it’s virtually gone for him after about 10 days.

Can’t help but think my compromised immune system just can’t fight it off?? I’m watching to ensure I don’t get a fever, and did see that what I’m coughing up is changing colour (darker and green now). My bloodwork shows ESR 29 and CRP 4.4 (higher than all my monthly readings last year), so assuming it’s impacted by this virus. I have my 3 month appointment with my GP next week, so I’ll see what he says.

Hope you get some relief soon. As mentioned, rest, fluids and patience.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toPMRCanada

Chest infections send the CRP up

Stifffingers profile image
Stifffingers

It’s a nasty virus , going round.Know so many people with it.

I m just getting over it, nearly 3 weeks .

Blearyeyed profile image
Blearyeyed

Hugs to all of you suffering with the extra pain and burden of coughs , colds and flu systems this year , I hope you all feel better very soon xxx

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