I was wondering if being on Prednisone has any effect on ones balance? I have noticed on hikes that my balance is a bit doddery, also does Pred cause numbness of the toes? I stubbed my toe going to the bathroom and didn't feel or notice the blood pouring out of my big toe. Happy New Year fellow sufferers.
Thanks
Have you been checked for diabetes?
Here in the US, they check my blood every 3 months, apart from the PMR flares, all is normal and I don't have high blood pressure. I would think blood sugar results would have shown diabetes if that was the case?
It depends if they checked for it. Do you have your blood test results?
Yes, they email the results and I can see the history of all of them. What should I look for?
Blood glucose as a single value - but it isn't reliable when on pred as pred causes the liver to release spikes of glucose from body stores and if you don't happen to catch one it may not be seen.
The Hba1c value is a reflection of the aversge blood glucose level over the previous 2 to 3 months and seeing that rise is a sign your blood sugar levels are too high over longer periods of time.
GLUCOSE, RANDOM 111 mg/dL 60 - 159 mg/dL
Borderline range of 160 - 199 mg/dL suggests follow-up. Results greater than
or equal to 200 mg/dL is suggestive of diabetes in the setting of classical
symptoms. I'm 111mg which looks pretty good to me
Yes, but a random glucose reading doesn't mean that much.
I understand what you are saying, but in my case they check every 3 months. I can chart and compare my results down the years, and it's pretty consistent.
A random BG every 3 months still doesn't necessarily catch everything - that's why we asked if you have had an Hba1c done every 3 months.
I'm okay then. They do 10 different test, my Hba1c is 5.6% which is averidge
Yes , Ihave the same problems. Have been on pred for six years
It has affected mine
Yes. I have tripped more than usual. Stubbed my toe and didn’t know until it was the size of a golf ball. Has taken 6 weeks to go back to near normal. Tripped last night outside and went flat on my face. Knees die but no pain in wrists . So all ok. Put it down to age
Yes! Had 3 nasty falls and loads of trips in the last 6 months. Thought I’d just become ridiculously clumsy
Same with me and I'm now very hesitant about walking alone.
Me too! I thought it was weird as I’ve always been super active now I’m walking like I’m frail
Get yourselves a pair of walking poles. Years ago one of the charities for the aged did a Nordic walking course oop north and several ladies with PMR joined the group. After 6 months all of them said they felt much more stable and one had even been able to dispense with her zimmer frame! Having a reason to have your arms away from the body helps your balance - remember walking along a chalk line with your arms spread out? The action with your arms is also very healthy - good for the heart. Many older people here use them walking around town - not just walking upand down mountains!
The Nordic poles have a hand grip bit so you can let go of the handle as you swing your arm back without dropping the pole but even ordinary walking poles really help. There is one form that is supposed to reduce the pressure on knees as you walk. Whatever - they all will improve your balance and confidence.
During the 5 years I had PMR without pred my balance was appalling - I could and did fall over my own feet. It did improve once I was on pred and the muscle soreness was gone. But I'm sure a em lot is due to the effects of PMR on the muscles - something I struggle to explain to medics is the feeling your limbs don't do what you want them to do, that is what makes patients feel the muscles are weak even though the medics say the muscle strength isn't affected in testing.
I found that while I had PMR my balance was affected when I walked so it was a bit like having to walk deliberately instead of automatically. I put it down to muscle weakness. It took a little while to recover after I went into remission and could stop taking Pred. but it improved after a few months once my muscles built up once more. Its fine now, so I don't think its a side affect of Pred.Happy New Year.
I can stand on one leg quite easily as in yoga positions but walking is a different matter. Snazzy posted an interesting response to another query regarding balance which said we tend to exercise the major muscles but 'neglect the small ones that keep joints stable during the side to side movements that tend to occur on uneven ground.'
Yes, to the point I feel unsafe.
I'm currently the same, BUT my history points definitively to muscle weakness. PMR for about seven years, on pred since 2015, have in that time frame injured my left knee a couple of times but it has recovered fully. The over-worked right knee is now giving me the devil of a time, to the extent I noticed recently the calf muscles in that leg are wasting away. I now need my walking poles (the stabilizer ones PMRpro alluded to which are designed for balance and can be used to "offload" weight from legs to arms) in order to go any distance at all, not so much at the moment because of a painful knee (much much better since I basically stopped using it) but because of the weakness in my legs from lack of exercise, particularly the troublesome right leg. Until lockdown in the spring where the trouble began I did not at any point in the PMR journey have this issue with feeling off balance. I am a klutz and appear sometimes to be trying to self-destruct, but that is another matter!
Hi Happy New Year from snowy ScotlandMy balance is dreadful but it could be due to a number of factors. I have been on prednisolone for 2 years, now down to 7mg and on 15mg of methotrexate diagnosed with GCA with a little speculation by the rheumatologist - no positive biopsy or ultrasound! Not had headaches since starting on pred just a bit of jaw ache but I am also anemic as I reported on previous post on a lot of iron and no reason found yet - I also had a partially ruptured achillies and in a boot a year ago - foot still a bit numb - also have fungal toenails but advised not to take the oral remedy in view of the other drugs taken - toes a bit numb.
In short balance rubbish but ???????????
Here is my experience. Walking and balance became difficult with onset of PMR. Losing muscle strength, I think was the culprit. In earlier years I was a competitive runner. I have a hiking stick, but do not use it. I walk with "intention" and try to maintain good posture. I believe this helps. I m hesitant stepping up on the curb, am beginning to think that a lot of my hesitancy comes from worry in my mind. I am careful in the dog park, making sure none of the dogs jump up on me. I am 92 years old and determined not to give in to a walker or stick as long as I can muster the will and strength to walk alone. After 2 years, I am down to 2mg. of prednisone.
Yes, I occasionally have a bit of poor balance while walking. Never severe and I'm always able to "catch" myself but it can be a bit disconcerting. I've had numbness in the toes almost from day 1 but I rarely think about it. Only when the shoes come off!
I did become pre-diabetic from the prednisone but changes in diet and taking Metformin has brought me back down into the normal range. The main irritation currently has been my hands. Over the last month or two I have increasingly become unsteady when writing. Sometimes it looks like the writing of a 7 year old! Thankfully it isn't always like that.
Just finished Year 4 with PMR as my "friend" and am at 7 mg Prednisone, moving towards 6 mg. Had gotten down to 4 mg early this year but other issues caused me to kick it back up to 10 mg. My unofficial goal is 5 mg and then I really won't much care how long it takes to reduce further. Ah, the joys of PMR!
😜
Yes. In fact, after 3mos on Pred, not only my balance but all muscles seemed to disappear. The muscle mass started shrinking and could not walk safely without aid. Pred also thinned my hair/thinned skin tissue/ and despite being a miracle drug for PMR was sneaky bad for me. Thankfully started Tocilizimab injections & weaned off the steroid. Unfortunately it seems now that osteo arthritis is settling in my fingers. So on we go! Good Luck with answers and Best in '21.
Your dose is low (I started on 100mg] so you should be fine
Curious
Curious,2....
Big toe pain this morning 
Broken little toe! Bummer!
A flare or something else
