Upper back pain

[JanieBaxter]

Hi I have came off prednesilone mid december after 2 years and whilst initially ok for a week I now have aching groin, thighs and severe upper back pain - the back pain comes on during the night when I have been lying for a few hours? It feels fine during the day can anyone relate?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

You wouldn't be the first to discover even 1mg of pred was keeping PMR at bay! Two years is very much the short end of the journey and only 1 in 3 manage without pred that soon.

[JanieBaxter in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you I feel the pain in my groin and thighs is definitely same as my pmr pain but the backache is completely new and eases off during day to return during the night after a few hours sleep .

[PMRpro Ambassador]

There does appear to be one form where patients are able to get off pred in under a year - but also seem to be at ahigher risk of relapse.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Everyone is different - and I belive there are at least 5 different versions, A top research rheumy is beginning to think so too. It varies a LOT from person to person. That is half the trouble with diagnosis. Not that I'm saying you had it - just that you could well have done.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

A top research doc asked me what I thought was the most important thing to be looked for by them in PMR/GCA. I think she expected me to say a better treatment - but it isn't. Abive all they need a reliable marker for PMR/GCA - doesn't matter if it is a blood test or an algorithm but there needs to be more evidence, Nothing wrong with pred used properly - but you have to know what it is you are looking at.

And youa re right - if paracetamol helps, the chances of it being PMR is marginal.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It's just the number of people I've come across in the last 10 years - duration and symptoms do vary and there's enough to suggest they are a different sort.

My upper back is due to tight back muscles, myofascial pain syndrome. Really worth a thought.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Bad posture is as much due to the sore muscles making you adopt a position that hurts less as it is to the bad position causing the problem - whatever some physios will allege!