Shoulder aches and sacroiliac joint issues

[Looby60]

Hi .

Hoping for advice . I have had problems with both sacroiliac joints for last few months .

For the last week or so my shoulders really ache but it starts late afternoon. Could this be Polymyalgia related if so would it be prudent to increase my prednisolone . Currently on 11 mg .

Appreciate any advice on this.

Thanks .

[123-go]

I'm sorry to hear of your pain. It's hard to say whether this is due to PMR or lnflammatory arthritis and needs to be investigated. The fact that your pain comes on in the afternoon is not typically PMR. Your GP leaving you to manage yourself is not right and you must ask for help from him/her and don't be fobbed off. In an earlier post you mentioned the GP said you probably know more about PMR than he but he is the professional (?) and should be looking after you.Are you having blood tests? Does he discuss the results with you?

I feel you have been poorly treated from the outset and should now be seeing a rheumatologist or at least have an X-ray.

Please don't delay.

[SnazzyD]

Hello, my first question would be what kind of activity do you do all day? Where on the shoulders does it ache?

[Looby60 in reply to SnazzyD]

Hi. Currently not a lot as si joints have been so debilitating. I walk around as much as possible . Sit , rest , very light excercise . Try and keep my posture as good as I can .

Have virtual appointment for physio mid March re si joints .

Shoulders ache right across the top which includes the back if that makes sense .

I am just trying to figure out if shoulder aches are my PMR ( when I get tired) or whether it’s to do with my current sacroiliac problems .

Any help is much appreciated.

Thank you 😊

[123-go in reply to Looby60]

This may sound odd but regarding your shoulder pain, can you raise your arms above your head keeping them straight? Can you stretch your arms in front of you, palms down, then turn your hands so palms are facing and clap them together. Give this a try when you're having pain in your shoulders. I couldn't do either of these things pre-PMR diagnosis and that, together with blood test results are what prompted my GP to refer me to the rheumatologist. Just a thought.

[Looby60 in reply to 123-go]

Thank you . Will try that when the aches come on 👍

[123-go in reply to Looby60]

As I said, just a thought looking back. I was fortunate to have an excellent GP who actually apologised for having to send me for a number of blood tests to eliminate other conditions. Keep us informed.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It sounds very similar to the problems I have - and they are due to myofascial pain syndrome. It can be part of PMR but it can also exist separately but then PMR makes it worse.

spineuniverse.com/condition....

This link above has been changed I think - it is even better!!!

jrheum.org/content/jrheum/4...

is from a group doing PMR research.

The trigger points mentioned in the first link are often the attachments between muscles and other soft tissues or bones - and when they are inflamed in PMR you stiffen and have pain.

My low back problems refer on to other muscles and it spreads over time until my whole back is seized up. It is better lying - all the muscles are supported and sometimes strikes as I get out of bed in the morning.

For my s/i and lats pain I take 800mg ibuprofen and sit with a hot water bottle over the actual pain point - it may take some hours but it works a minor miracle! I rarely need more ibuprofen - it isn't a good idea to take it regularly alongside pred so it pays to be aggressive at the start.

[Looby60 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you . I can’t unfortunately take ibuprofen as am on aspirin .

I do have zapain but try to take as little as possible .

It seems to me that the shoulder aches start as the day goes on when I am possibly more tired .

It’s very difficult here to even speak to a dr let alone see one .

The sacroiliac joints have taken priority of late as have been in agony with them and barely able to move . So if have got to speak to dr it has been re that rather than PMR.

I should remember my PMR needs looking after too .

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Looby60]

If you are on low dose aspirin for cardiovascular problems you probably can take a single dose of ibuprofen as I describe. Especially if you take it in the middle of a meal. I'm not suggesting taking it regularly at all - I can't do that either, I take prednisone.