Pain caused?? By bra strip

[Kaaswinkel72]

Hi dear all! Me; three years PMR, one major flare, now again on three mg prednisone, slowly getting better, mostly..

Since quite a long time I have had a lot of pain in both tops of shoulder bones, the ACjoints. Thinking it to be part of the PMR. My husband said to me today: why don t you get rid of yr bra, it digs into that joint.....I would never have ever thought of getting around without a bra, and I did....sooo the pain is already, after twelve hours, considerably less....No idea why I had not thought of it myself.... so no bra for me, unless I have to go somewhere and have to be extra beautiful.

(I am a 36 D, quite flat). Just in case you have a similar problem, give it a go!

[SheffieldJane]

I swopped to bralets and crop tops years ago because of PMR pain. Never going back, bliss.

[scats in reply to SheffieldJane]

Me too, couldn't get my arms round to do up a proper bra.

[maria40 in reply to SheffieldJane]

I tried the pull on bras and got into such a tangle I had to revert to conventional bra.

[SheffieldJane in reply to maria40]

Step into them, holding the straps.

[maria40 in reply to SheffieldJane]

I'll have to dig them out and try again. But I've now got some bras that are quite comfortable but the lighter ones might be good in the summer - if we're allowed out by then!

[SnazzyD]

The man’s a genius. 🙂

[Kaaswinkel72 in reply to SnazzyD]

Yes, he is, AND maybe you people worked this out ages ago....

[PMRpro Ambassador]

No - not going there at all!!!! I'm a 32F on a small day! But really wide straps are essential!

When you wear a properly fitted bra you often find the under-the-bust number is smaller and the cup size greater than most shops tell you is your size - and that means the support is different. The shoulder straps shouldn't be taking the strain, like a good strapless bra that should be from the band (the strip of elasticated material under the cups that wraps around your torso.).

[Constance13 in reply to PMRpro]

I thought you said you were 'plump'??

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Constance13]

I am - most people wear the wrong size bra - I don't!

[Constance13 in reply to PMRpro]

I ditched them 20 years ago. They were the first thing, after my shoes, that I slipped off after work.😂

[Hidden]

I really shouldn't leave mine off, but I only wear one when I go out. As others have said wide straps really help. 🙆 I can't put my arms up like that with or without!!!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

You used to be able to get pads to make narrow shoulder straps effectively wider.

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

I think you still can. I have a favourite bra out of the pile I have. I did buy 3 in the same style and size but all fit differently. Drives me nuts!!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

Mmmm - but are they the same colour/material?

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

No. The good one is purple, the other 2 black. The material feels the same, but of course given colour is a chemical structure it can make a difference in the materials properties.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

Different colours MAY be made in a different place. Are the 2 black ones at least much the same? If I get 2 the same I usually try them both on.

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

No they are different. It's disappointing. 😂🤣😂

[tangocharlie]

As I've been on lock-down I have only put mine on (grudgingly) if I have to go out or do a Zoom meeting. So much more comfortable without and as Constance13 says - I flung it off with the shoes when I get back home! As the late great Victoria Wood said in a sketch - if God had meant them to be lifted and separated he'd have given us one on each shoulder!

[SheffieldJane in reply to tangocharlie]

😂

[York54 in reply to tangocharlie]

😂😂😂😂😂

[keeptalking]

Welcome to the club. I’ve been braless for ages now and have noticed a great improvement. On occasions when I have to wear one I know I’ll have aching shoulders the next day. The look isn’t great but at least I can use my arms more freely.

[Kaaswinkel72]

Thanks so much for yr clear and specific response...it makes so much sense, and I am happy braless, well the fact we have at least SOME control over our PMR....🌞

[granofthewest in reply to Kaaswinkel72]

If only I could go without a bra, I so envy those who can. Apart from my boobage, 36G, I'm fairly slim, size 10 in trousers. Feel, not look!, like Dolly Parton! If I went without a bra said boobs would nearly touch my waist now that gravity's set in. Will have to put up with discomfort but pred certainly helps.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to granofthewest]

My older daughter, a UK size 6 on a very fat day, needed a 30H when she was pregnant!!! Mothercare told her she was a 36D - I took her to my shop, 10 mins later she left saying "I didn't know bras could be comfortable ..." Then she chucked it out but I found it while sorting the bag for the charity shop and put it somewhere safe. Less than a year later she was expecting again - and mum handed over that treasure

[Kaaswinkel72 in reply to PMRpro]

Where would she be without such a loving mother! You are a gem..

[Dee6]

I crocheted a halter neck bra due to the pain normal bra's caused me, it's a lot better on my shoulders and back and it does give me some lift, ha ha

[Kaaswinkel72]

You are very clever

[Fireleigh]

All the conversation is about shoulders and shoulder pain. But most of my PMR is in the hip area. It took me ages to realise that tight trouser bands add considerably to PMR pain in the hip and lower back. I think the muscles are sensitised and react badly. I don’t mention it now because no one believes it. I wear a skirt which has no downward pull each time I bend a knee together with long socks.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Fireleigh]

Then it probably isn't PMR per se but myofascial pain syndrome - probably affecting the piriformis and latismus dorsi muscles. That's where mine pinches at least!

[Kaaswinkel72 in reply to Fireleigh]

I fully agree and sympathise with you. With our auto immune disease we have become hyper sensitive, and yes, I got a whole outfit of op shop dresses without waistbands! Keeps the energy flow going. It might not be very scientific but we certainly know that it is absolutely true. In acupuncture ( that was my grad) we spoke about free flow of Qi, and stagnation of qi....well most of us can tell you exactly how stagnated qi feels! We also know how damp, cold, dryness and heat influences our conditions.

Wonderful to be able to share all these experiences on line, thanks all.

[Fasttrack]

're bra - mine started hurting a few years ago, preGCA, and I eventually stopped wearing one, except when absolutely necessary. I assumed it was an old age thing. Anyway, the relief!!!

[Kaaswinkel72]

I wonder who invented bra s in the first place....probably not women....

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Kaaswinkel72]

theatlantic.com/technology/...

The originals woud have been fairly comfortable I imagine - strategically positioned handkerchiefs.

But the history does go back a long way with images of females wearing something like a bikini some 14 centuries BC! Since 14 centuries AD there were corsets - making a bra look like sheer freedom

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Histo...

[Hidden]

Same for me. I am a 34G (or a F in the UK) and I over the years the straps from wearing the wrong bra size have left a dent in the top of each shoulder. Currently my right shoulder is very painful when I awake from sleep for a few mins then it gets moving and eases up enough for me to get to going with my day. I had a professional bra fitting done last year and I was amazed with the improvement it made. I buy Elomi underwire bras as they fit the best for me. I don't know if frozen shoulder is related to PMR, but I had it seven years ago in my left shoulder and it was so painful I cried myself to sleep. There was no pain killer that worked, and I eventually had to get a cortisone shot deep into the joint before it started to get better. It lasted about 18 months before it went away, and then I suddenly develop PMR a year ago and shoulder pain (though not as painful as Frozen shoulder) again. Ugh!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

Frozen shoulder is often a diagnosis given to patients but it later turns out to be the start of PMR. Often a steroid injection for it leads to the patient realising a lot of other aches and pain improve all of a sudden - and ,on a rethink, PMR is diagnosed.

[tangocharlie in reply to Hidden]

I started with frozen shoulders and that's part of the reason it took a while to get diagnosed, the GP blamed my stiff neck, back and shoulders on them, told me off for stooping, which I did because it was too painful to raise arms and shoulders. I kept saying frozen shoulders were supposed to go after about 6 mths yet I'd had mine for over 18. By then legs had turned to jelly too, and hips were agony, which he explained was because I wasn't exercising enough and had become unfit!

[GOOD_GRIEF]

One side effect of pred was to turn my chest convex instead of concave for the first time ever. Before, I only wore a bra because of convention. After I lost the few pounds I gained, I wound up at a 36 B.

These days I wear a bra only when I leave the house or have to do an online conference call, and never anything but strapless. No matter how well fitted, it's always a struggle to keep the straps on my shoulders. Since the straps aren't doing anything for me except being annoying, strapless it is.

[S4ndy]

I have arthritis in my shoulders as well as PMR. I only wear bras outside of the house. I swapped to soft cotton front fastening with wide straps in 2016 and have noe got quite a few. They cost £8.99 from Amazon. Just search for Gemm Front Fastening Bra. They are so comfy and washable in the machine. Even come in Leopard print

[stellafmdm]

Easiest way is to do it up In front then twiddle It round and put your arms in.

[bright-horizon]

I tossed the bras when my prednisone weight gain made them uncomfortable and now just wear a super comfortable camisole. No need to tolerate this discomfort with all the other stuff we have to endure. Back to the good old hippie days!

[Kaaswinkel72 in reply to bright-horizon]

Thank you a all for these encouraging replies!!