Could this have been aFlare?

[Stifffingers]

Hi People.

Quick question pls. Originally diagnosed Sept 2018 . I remember my early pain days , and my frequent questions to you “experts”…I recall being berated for trying to do too much too soon , and then learning so much more about my condition, from others , and heeding their advice.

I recently wrote that I had been crippled with Sciatica. ( I can’t actually recall my post .. lol), but just know that I did. Cutting to the chase , I eventually had an Epidural as physio was not helping, and sad to say , the Injection wasn’t successful either. So I am having to book to repeat the procedure. ( Apparently it can take up to 3 injections?) Yesterday I had my second Covid Jab, and reminiscent of the first I had a reaction.

I have managed to get down to 1 mg every other day …. And prior to the Crippling Sciatica was pretty confident that I was at last approaching the finishing post.

Following the Covid injection ,my thumbs became stiff , my body ached, I was getting cramps in my shins , ( which I remember writing about early days.)

This morning I chose to take a 5 mg tablet ..as my pains were severe. Was this a Flare in your opinion .? Did I do the right thing?

1 other question , have any of you guys had epidurals for Sciatica, and what were your success rates?

Also I’ve been recommended to use an IDD machine to stretch out my spine . It’s not a cheap option , so would appreciate your feed back if anyone has used themselves?

Kind Regards

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Only bit I can comment on is the flare after the vaccine - loads have had a return of symptoms. Mine wasn't too bad but I was on 13/14mg anyway, Definitely better on 15mg though! I think it is improving now - after a couple of months.

[Stifffingers]

Thank you for your feedback. Can I return to my minimal dose age of 1 mg once everything has settled down .?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Stifffingers]

How long's a piece of string? No way to know is there really?

[GrandmaPirate]

I had a flare of PMR while tapering off from 2mg/day to 1 mg/day prednisolone after I got the first AZ injection in April. My rheumy put me back on 6 md/d pred until 4 days after my second injection planned for 5 July. After 8 days on 6 mg I am almost back to normal activities. Now after 10 days on 6 mg/d I can dor again part of my pilates exercises. But I think I will go first to 4 mg/day for a week before back to 3 mg/day (as my rheumy requested) after my second AZ injection. I will report here on my reaction after the second injection.

Question: I suffer since 6 weeks from Meunière (dizziness when coming upright after laying). Anyone has experience with this? I had sometimes Meunière in the past before I got PMR, but now it appeared when PMR flared up after the AZ injection.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to GrandmaPirate]

If you want to know about Meunière you would be better to post it in a new thread - people are unlikely to see it here in the middle of an existing thread.

[GrandmaPirate in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you. I did so now. Have a great weekend!

[VAl4266]

Just make sure it is sciatica,my daughters now diagnosed with cancer after mri scan after being treated for sciatica for months, sorry just make sure .

[pugrescue in reply to VAl4266]

I am so very sorry to hear that. Praying for your daughter.

[pomeranion]

In reply to the epidural question. I've had 2 back surgeries with sciatic involvement. Although about 40 years apart. First surgery herniated disc at 38years old. Recovery good probably because relatively young. But I had two children under 6 years old. Good for about 36-38 years with occasional moderate discomfort. I had to have another surgery at a higher location on my spine because of pain about 8 years ago now. I didn't need an epidural after the first surgery. I wasn't even aware that they existed. This last one didn't work as well.I still had extreme pain and I could hardly bring myself to walk or function. Age probably a factor this time. Thank God I found a pain clinic at the hospital where I had my surgery.

Now to answer your question the first epidural was unsuccessful. I had to repeat about 2 weeks later. This one was a miracle. Pain free for a long time. I am experiencing more pain and stiffness now with RA diagnosed 3 years ago and of course PMR. Good luck and I would definetly have the shot again. I don't know if it's even an option what with the RA and PMR.

Explore your options. I hope this is helpful.

[Stifffingers in reply to pomeranion]

Thankyou for your feedback. What did the pain clinic do differently? I assume the 2 nd injection was as the first, but this time they injected in the right place. ?

[achybreakybod]

I too have such severe sciatica that I can barely walk. Have a stool in the shower to sit as standing too long would bring me to the ground. I have had 2 epidurals. Neither of them worked. Doctor set me up to have an ablation of the nerves but my insurance won't touch it unless zi have had 3 months of physical therapy or chiropractic help. That is the United States for you. Ugh. Just today my doctor mentioned one other shot so could try- intra articular facet injection. I'm desperate to have a normal life again so will try that next. Let me know how your 2nd epidural goes.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to achybreakybod]

Are they sure it is bone structure related? Muscle problems are also a common cause.

[HeronNS]

Has the 5 mg been helping the pain? Just asking because for a few months I was sure I "only" had osteoarthris in my shoulders. Oddly enough a fairly major increase in pred (higher than I've been for years) sorted it in three days and I am now very very slowly going back down. I'm not going to risk going past the place where this shoulder pain remains controlled as it's possible there are two things going on, one being OA although my shoulders haven't been x-rayed, and also a recurrence of PMR which was a major symptom at the start back in 2014-15. Also when I was first diagnosed one of my symptoms had been severe hip pain which made me think I might need a hip replacement, but no sign of OA when x-rayed. That pain went with pred, returned with tapering, and then was sorted by physio which focused mostly on very tense muscles in my back. Referred pain was the result of the spasmed muscles. Resetting the electrical signals of those tense muscles has more or less permanently cured hip pain, several years now.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to HeronNS]

Very similar to me ...