Hi new here. Is pain in lower back/hips normal with PMR. Sometimes I can't stand for more that 10-15 minutes at a time.

[SARose]

Sometime I can't stand for more that 10-15 minutes at a time before having to sit down.. Diagnosed February of 2020. Started at 30mg with one reset in May. Currently tapering at 1mg per month-now at 7mg starting today. Love your website-comforting to know there are people out there willing to sharing their ups and downs with PMR.

[MrsNails]

Hi Rose

Welcome! Firstly, has the issue with standing come on recently? You have done extremely well to have got to 7mg already. I’m afraid we always ask lots of questions, so as to be able to help you further. Are you working or Retired?

Once again Welcome 🌹

MrsN

[SARose in reply to MrsNails]

Thank you for the warm welcome! I am retired thank goodness, can't imagine trying to work with all the aches and pains! And thanks to everyone for sharing the own experience's with me. Some very good information .

[SheffieldJane]

I get this too. One helpful exercise has me lying on the floor with my feet on a dining chair, I then stretch forward with alternate arms. This gentle exercise seems to stretch things out again. I am sure there are others. There will be physiotherapist advice on line

[Constance13 in reply to SheffieldJane]

You can get down on the floor and exercise? The only way I could get down on the floor would be to fall 😏 and there is no way I could get up again. Last three times it's happened (I fainted) OH couldn't move me - ambulance called - result 10 - 14 days in hospital.😟

The strange thing is - I am hyper agile when standing (even with PMR and Polyarthritis). It's a mad world (or should I say "illness")?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

In my case a similar problem wasn't directly the PMR itself but severely spasmed low back muscles due to myofascial pain syndrome. A local orthopaedic doctor in private practice who I saw for whiplash after an RTC told me it was due to "wear and tear" (i.e. osteoarthritis) in the lower spine and I'd have to live with it with no suggestions for relief.

I put up with it for some time until I was admitted to hospital, unable to move at all without excruciating pain. The first approach to relieve the muscle spasm was very effective but elicited another medical problem so I was handed over to the pain clinic - here they work on identifying the cause and, where possible, dealing with that. Since then I have had ongoing manual and other treatments that keep the muscles in a reasonable state and me reasonably pain-free.

The thing to try first would be stretches for piriformis syndrome in particular

spine-health.com/conditions...

healthline.com/health/lower...

Don't do any that hurt - last week I was given the clam stretch:

central-health.com/video/lo...

and side straight leg raises to start on for strengthening the muscles. I am finding they are having an effect already even starting with 2 sets of 10 once a day.

[Predderman2020 in reply to PMRpro]

Yes - I had back spasm in the lower back which came on after e period of worsening pain. I saw an Osteopath who gave me very useful stretching exercises for the lower back. Any other ache I put down to the offensiveness of the pill when it dissolves, and I am assuming this is referred pain from the stomach. In which case, to prevent it I take an Omeprazole 2 hrs before anything in the morning to stop the stomach becoming raw & tender. Seems to work. Good luck.

[Trulyscrumpious]

I have the same problem, but put it down to my hip replacement op going wrong 6 years ago. I can also only walk for about 10 minutes before my back aches. It’s like a vice! 3 months later l got PMR so l wonder if that is what caused it? I’ve been to physios and do their exercises but nothing has helped.

[Chihuahua1]

It depends on where the pain was when you were first diagnosed. My PMR was diagnosed because of the pain you describe in hips/lower back. I have to say that at the time the pain was constant and respond well to prednisolone . Since my PMR went into remission I have had the odd "attack" of a similar pain, which triggers when I'm moving about, but stops when I sit down, only to start again when I start moving about again. It does this for a few days and then stops for a while and then begins again.

[jinasc]

I had myofascial pain syndrome and I used Acupuncture and it worked for me. Just make sure , if you do decide to try it that you use a registered practioner.

[tangocharlie]

I can't stand in one spot for more than a few minutes without totally seizing up. Makes washing up and food prep tricky tricky, and no chance of going to stand up event like an outdoor concert. It will try out some of the exercises suggested above and see if they help, thanks PMRPro