Painful shoulders and arms

[2013mayo]

Hi everyone,

I know I’ve asked your help before but I really am in pain with my shoulders and arms, so much so I can hardly lift a kettle in the morning to make a cup of tea, it sort of eases off later in the day.

I’ve emailed my rheumatologist, but for the first time since being diagnosed he’s ignored my plea. All I was asking was should I up my pred, I’m on 3mg and getting nowhere, it’s not piriforms as it doesn’t fit the bill, I’m assuming it’s to do with PMR, I’ve got GCA and PMR.

I did up my pred for a couple of days and it did help but then went back to 3mg, it’s been 3weks since I e-mailed my rheumatologist so I’m not expecting him to contact now.

Any help would be appreciated .

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

If it is a flare of your illnesses which it sounds suspiciously like, then a couple of days at a higher dose is probably not going to cut it.

Usual advice is 5-10 days at 5mg above the dose you last felt ok…so if that was 4mg, then try 9mg.

Don’t drop down to 3mg, because you’ve proven that’s not enough, so back to 4mg…whether you do that in one drop, or stagger it 9 to 7 or 6, stay for a week and then down to 4mg is up to you.

Then no further reduction for at least a month.

[2013mayo in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you, I agree, I will do that.

Xx

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to 2013mayo]

Exactly what I was going to say.

Though I have to point out that you can have a similar effect to piriformis when your upper back and shoulders are very tight. Just t'other end ...

[2013mayo in reply to PMRpro]

Hi, I’ve checked out piriforms and nothing seems connected with the symptoms, this is an ache in the upper shoulders and arms, well more than an ache, quite severe actually, nothing to do with the spine or lower limbs. I’m going to try upping the pred and see how it goes

Thank you for your help .

Xx

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to 2013mayo]

That's what I mean - piriformis is low back - but you can have tight muscles in shoulders and neck too. And believe me - it can ache!!!!!

[Hidden]

I was very sad to hear of the lack of help you are getting from your rheumatologist. Steroids are given to block the pain. If you are still suffering, you must have been prescribed too low a dose. I am on 15mg (5mg x 3) and am not experiencing any pain. You have, from what I can see, been given a much lower dose, which obviously is not enough for your needs. Can you change your rheumatologist ?

[2013mayo in reply to Hidden]

Oh thank you for your concern, I am really puzzled by my rheumatologist, he’s never let me down before, even throughout the pandemic he’s seen me every time I’ve had a problem, I’m reluctant to seek another rheumatologist as they all work together at my hospital, maybe he doesn’t feel it’s important ?

Xx

[Hidden in reply to 2013mayo]

Dear Mayo, I hate to think of you being in pain, as the steroids are there to stop that. Please do what you can to enlist the rheumatologist's help and raise the dose. Good luck.

[2013mayo in reply to Hidden]

Will do, thank you😍