Am I being too hasty?

[merril]

Had my spinal epidural Oct 8th. Today woke with burning pain in both legs. Have tapered down to 4.5 mgs pred and was seemingly ok with pmr although my sight has deteriorated badly last few weeks. Considering that epidural is causing problem with legs? Am I being too premature re back? It's early days yet

[piglette]

Why were you given a spinal epidural?

[merril in reply to piglette]

Had been waiting since first lockdown last year for an MRI scan, but no-one would do it Have a pacemaker and that put the local hospital off. Have had back problems for the last eight years and have had two epidurals in that time. I manage to walk around the house but cannot go out alone and like everyone else Covid has had such a detrimental effect on people. I seem to have been isolating for ever except for hospital appointments and occasional hair appointments. Determined now to take one step at a time and because my surgery is now open I can discuss all the other problems with my GP. My thanks for replying, I am so lucky to have found you all.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to merril]

Modern pacemakers are MRI-friendly - mine is at least!

[piglette in reply to merril]

Ah, the epidural was nothing to do with the PMR?

[merril in reply to piglette]

Correct piglette. So onward and upward a they say. 😀

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Have you had your sight checked? In what way has it deteriorated?

[merril in reply to PMRpro]

Hi PMR. Have had AMD for a few years and this last eighteen months my sight has deteriorated. Not due at optician until January and need one step at a time. Back came first, off and on morphine three times since first lockdown and coping without any pain meds ( my decision) has taken it's toll. Want to make the time I have left as pain free as I can. My thanks to you and all the others who have contacted me. Your help is invaluable to me.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to merril]

Oh right - as long as it isn't GCA turning up to play too. And absolutely - quality of life is all. My view on life with PMR as well.

[merril in reply to PMRpro]

Agreed! have put pred to the back of my mind, continued with a very slow taper and fingers crossed.

[Constance13 in reply to merril]

Why "cope without pain meds"? If they work what's the point of suffering?

[merril in reply to Constance13]

Hi Constance good to see you again. Well, the effect on my head was such that I could hardly string two sentences together. It was no quality of life for me then. After three tries and consultant's advice I managed to wean myself off. I am sleeping better, eating better and my memory has improved. I might even be able to go to Las Vegas again at Xmas where I have gone for the last ten years. At 90 I should have a little excitement in my life, don't you think? ... laughing.

Cheers, Constance

[Constance13 in reply to merril]

Good for you, Merril!💥Glad to hear things are improving for you. We must enjoy life as much as possible.

You're better off than me (and I'm 8 years younger) as I can't travel anywhere.

[SnazzyD]

It could be the epidural as there are potential side effects, but why did you have it.l?

[merril in reply to SnazzyD]

Back pain began again before first lockdown. Had two previous epidurals giving me eight years pain free. Can't have a general anaesthetic because of IHD and now pacemaker, and of course my age. I have spinal stenosis , compessed nerves, bulging discs and now osteoporosis. Determined to make the most of the time I have left. Fingers crossed.👍

[SnazzyD]

I can totally understand that. Re the burning legs, I would try to contact the department that did it because epidural procedures do have the risk of affecting the nerves or perhaps some inflammation has occurred at the site. A doc may also need to decide whether the pain is directly nerve related or of another origin like PMR.

[merril in reply to SnazzyD]

Thanks for that Snazzy. Had no burning pain yesterday so will hang fire until after the weekend. Don't want to increase pred because I am on a low dose now (3.5)mgs), but will if I have to.