Pain in arm

[Robinsnest72]

Hello Everyone

I am now down to 2&1/2 mg of prednisone. Been on this for a week. As I have never been pain free I just put up with it as my CRP and ESR are excellent. The only thing is a high red blood cell count, For three days I have had a painful arm in the muscular area. Today it dawned on me I used that arm with great force to push the laundry line out. Is it normal for your muscles to hurt after what I call small useage? I find even riding my bicycle will make my upper arms hurt. Is this from being on pred for two years or from my PMR.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I'd say it was the PMR more than the pred - happens to me too if I try to do too much. Pred deals with the inflammation and the pain but not the underlying autoimmune disorder. It continues in the background, attacking the muscles and making them intolerant of acute exercise. Pred CAN make muscles and other soft tissues delicate though so care is required.

When you ride your bike you are gripping the handlebars - and that creates a sustained muscle status in your arms. Too much and they get sore.

[Robinsnest72 in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for your quick reply. I think the hardest part dealing with this disease is you can look good but not feel good so many do not understand. At 73 my kids still think I am super Mom, and was up till two years ago

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Robinsnest72]

I know - but it comes to us all at some point!

[Fifegran in reply to Robinsnest72]

I am on the same dose of pred, 2.5, after two years. During lockdown I decided to scrub an area of our monoblock, by hand, down on hands & knees, it was quite a job and my arms suffered for days. The blocks look good though! Then this week I carried a good-sized flower trough, full of compost and planted up, from the back garden round to the front of the house, it didn’t feel too bad at the time but I really felt my arms the following day! So yes, we need to take of our muscles, but it’s so easy to think, ‘I can do this’.

[Thelmarina in reply to Robinsnest72]

You still are a super Mum but in a different way. I bet you’re still there for your family, at the end of a telephone, thinking up treats for them and just being there. So no more bike races but who cares? Gentle rides, Jigsaws are fun, social media a saving grace, TV, books, walks...👍💕

[Robinsnest72 in reply to Thelmarina]

What a nice reply thank you so much

[SheffieldJane]

Definitely ! My arm pain turned out to be holding my kindle for too long in bed. It was delayed, horrible pain.

[Suffererc]

I get the same with the smallest amount of use