Back pain

[Pinkpepper]

I woke up Tuesday morning with stiffness and back pain. Thought it was strain caused by ten pin bowling with grandkids the day before! Still really painful after three days , could it be a flare?

[SnazzyD]

Hello. Did you take part in the bowling and do you do ten pin very much? Where is the pain exactly? My immediate thought was you’ve tweaked things hefting a heavy ball that is weighing heavily to one side of your body. It can take about 24-48 hours for injuries to show and Pred/PMR can cause a delayed reaction to injury which can then take a while to recover.

[Pinkpepper in reply to SnazzyD]

Hi SnazzyD, I did take part and only bowl about every 2/3 months when the kids are on school holiday. Pain in mainly right side and towards the middle, my hubby thought it was probably lifting the heavy ball but when you've got PMR you always wonder don't you? Thanks for your input, have a good day

[SnazzyD in reply to Pinkpepper]

Have you tried normal pain medication?

[Pinkpepper in reply to SnazzyD]

Paracetamol doesn't touch it, now trying co-codamol and ibruprofen gel

[SnazzyD in reply to Pinkpepper]

Paracetamol isn’t the best with musculoskeletal injuries. I know we are not supposed to take non steroidal anti inflammatories but that would be the best. You could ask a pharmacist if one would do any harm.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Sounds more like the bowling has caused sore muscles - which, as Snazzy says, happen more easily with things that normally wouldn't do it and then last longer. Rest and ice/warmth whichever works best ...

[Pinkpepper in reply to PMRpro]

Im happier to think its the bowling to be honest as I know it should gradually go. Thanks for your advice, have a good day

[piglette in reply to Pinkpepper]

See if the co-codamol works. It is not an NSAID so fine with pred. If it does not touch it, you may find it is a flare.

[Pinkpepper in reply to piglette]

Thanks

[GOOD_GRIEF]

You went bowling? And you're sore? No kidding!

One of the many side effects of pred is slow recovery from injury. Sore muscles are injured muscles, of course.

Try alternating heat and cold with heat packs and gel packs. And very, very slow and gentle stretching. I've used the stick-on heat packs to good effect on muscles sore from overuse.

And you might want to try my new body lotion - Aspercreme. It does take the edge off non-PMR pain.

As for NSAIDs, I heed my doctor's advice. Drink a full glass of water BEFORE you drop the pills. Eat something solid and bland. Then swallow the tablets, with more water. And don't take any within 4 hours either side of a pred dose. Start with one tablet and see if that helps. Sometimes, that's just enough. If you need two the next time round, do the water and food thing again.

Hope you feel better soon.

[Pinkpepper in reply to GOOD_GRIEF]

I didnt realise it could hurt so bad 😢Maybe I'm too old to compete with a 9 and 5 year old! Thanks for your advice

[Hellyowl]

I did the same at Christmas. Took my granddaughter ice skating. We only do it once a year and my back was stiff and sore for ages after, the next morning I could hardly get out of bed. Stretching exercises, a hot bean bag behind me on the sofa before bed and paracetamol helped, although being on my feet for hours cooking over Christmas set it back several times. I finally got to grips with it this week with a really good sports massage.

[Pinkpepper in reply to Hellyowl]

Think I'm still a spring chicken not an old biddy, thanks for your message, take care

[Hellyowl]

Best to overdo it than not do it all