Pectoral muscles

[HamishPMR]

I have had PMR for nearly 4 years but only recently had ache/pain when exerting my pectoral muscles for example in doing a sit up. My sit up involves lifting my head only 6" above the mat. So, can the pectorals be part of my PMR problem?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Long term PMR and long term pred don't improve the condition of the muscles. And so does aging I fear ...

But myofascial pain syndrome can affect the pecs:

jabfm.org/content/33/6/1031

my.clevelandclinic.org/heal...

[123-go]

Sounds as though you've strained the muscles, Hamish. I'd give them time to heal by having a break and then start again gently with fewer sit-ups to begin with.

[mgrogers99 in reply to 123-go]

That's exactly what I was thinking. I recently strained my upper back and it hurt like crazy. I've hurt my lower back lots of times but never my upper back. It was on the right side, then went to the left. I stayed away from the doctor and rested, taking a muscle relaxant and Tylenol.....it left after 10 days. I tend not to pin blame on PMR or steroids because there are so many things it might be.

[123-go in reply to mgrogers99]

I think there may be a general feeling in the PMR community of not wanting to blame Pred for everything and sometimes we prefer to be in denial because acceptance is not in our nature and we don't want to let our illness to define us. However, PMR is a musculoskeletal disease and our muscles are weakened. Extra exertion on those weakened muscles while inflammation is active has unwanted effects. I'm sure you know this and will understand that I'm not nagging!-and you have clearly understood that if pain or discomfort is experienced while exercising you must stop. Exercise and keeping active is vital but only at a level that is well tolerated. No pain, no gain is off the agenda 🙂.

[squashie]

Hate to say it Hamish, but your technique must be a bit off if you've strained pecs doing sit ups. All of the effort for sit ups should be from the abdomen, not the upper body. I've certainly had more soft tissue injury since the onset of PMR. Most of it I've put down to the effect of pred, although, to be fair, age is undoubtedly part of the problem.

[HamishPMR in reply to squashie]

Thanks Squashie, but my technique is fine. I follow Stuart McGill exercises for core but you are correct in that age and perhaps current stress is all part of the story.

[Manchild]

In my so far 3 1/2 year journey with PMR I have probably strained almost every muscle in my body. This is because I somewhat foolishly am determined to keep exercising at the gym and doing (almost) everything else physically I wish. The upside is that I have retained most of my muscle strength, and maybe, even gained a little. I am almost 73 and currently OK on 3mg of prednisone.Please note that I don’t expect that everyone with this disease should or could follow my lead, it is just my story.