Improving muscle strength on prednisone?
Right now I am on 10.5 milligrams of prednisone; I’m doing a half a milligram reduction every five weeks. I need to improve my muscular strength so I could possibly get off oxygen. Even my diaphragm is weak. Does anyone have any idea at what dose I can see some improvement in my muscle strength? I do exercises and I think I’ve prevented getting worse and actually I’m a little stronger but unless I keep after it vigorously, it slips back. Thanks
I don't think there is a definite figure - and there is also the age-related deterioration of muscle. If you have prevented it getting worse you are really doing well. It isn't going to improved quickly - it is a long process to get muscle to rebuild especially as we age. It will feel hard work at present - but it will slowly get easier I think.
healthline.com/nutrition/sa...
What sort of exercises are you doing? And you are maybe not eating enough protein to be able to improve muscle bulk.
I am on a high Protein low carb diet to control reactive hypoglycemia. I am walking outside with a rollator or treadmill ~ 20 min with rest outside because its hilly where I live, stationary bike, pilates performer, 1lb wrist weights for chest wall rehab. These are short stints sprinkled throughout days. Outside walks limited in time because I use a battery powered oxygen concentrator. Up until Oct I wasn't doing too much- thats when I was hospitalized with the asthma exacerbation with mega steroids; my muscles got worse after those mega doses. That phenomena has been reported in the medical literature in persons without PMR.
Think you are doing very well!
Hi can I ask you if swimming is any good . I just recently been diagnosed PMR
It may be - but everyone is different. If your shoulders are involved then swimming may not be so good - it wasn't for me. I did aquafit and that was terrific - for me. But bear in mind that every action in water requires 7x the effort than on land and it is very easy to overdo it and be exhausted - which can take a long time to recover from.
Like others I'm trying to increase my muscle strength. You mention protein levels - are there any high protein food plans available that I can follow.
I don't know what you are currently capable of doing, however when I hurt my knees in 2020 after a while I noticed the muscles in my worse leg were actually visibly wasting away! I started doing some physio exercises which were more isometric than aerobic, and this really helped me a lot. After I was partly recovered I was able to start doing tai chi again. The first little while I must have been a sight (which no one could see as I was in the privacy of my home)! Could hardly bend a knee, could hardly lift a foot. Six months later and I'm better at tai chi than I ever was when I first learned and was taking classes. Just plugging away at it every day. So as PMRpro says, it is a slow process, but carry on, and maybe try to find some targeted isometric exercises, and one day you will notice how far you've come!
I've been trying to increase my muscle strength. What are targeted isometric exercises? Is there a useful website I can go to?
This explains them
verywellfit.com/what-are-is...
But you have to be very careful to identfy what YOU are capable of doing - and holding a sustained position as in a plank isn't ideal for someone with PMR as it requires too much of the muscle. You really need ones designed for rehab and to be guided by a physio who knows what they are doing and understands PMR
Of course - HeronNS may have a suitable link
I have received all my exercises from various physiotherapists over the years, and they have all been for specific problems generally caused by osteoarthritis. I have had PMR for several years and over time I have become weaker; on the other hand I have also become older. Some people suffer severe muscle weakening as a pred side effect, but I think a serious problem is very rare. That's why we suggest that people continue to get exercise , but to be sensible about it as it is easier to injure ourselves when we have PMR and are on pred.
You might like to consider taking up an activity like tai chi. Although I had to heal from my knee injuries before I could do it again, and that involved guidance from physio, the tai chi itself has really been improving my physical condition quite noticeably lately. It is important to learn how to do the exercises correctly as there is a risk of hurting oneself if not careful so a class, or following some of the good instructional videos available on YouTube are good ways to begin. I personally enjoy it a lot more than yoga now and I think it has even been shown to help improve or at least maintain bone density. Probably doing something like this potentially prepares the body to return to more strenuous exercise. Long time coming but I find I can now risk a bit of running, or even scouts pace to get places faster. This is from a place of nearly forgetting how to run!
My physiotherapist has a very good understanding of PMR and although she has prescribed repetitive exercises for particular problems they have never been ones which have caused any strain. In fact she has even discouraged me from overdoing things when I got a pedal exeerciser to help with my knee rehab and then started using it for too long every day! So if you do look for some guidance from a physiotherpaist make sure they know what PMR is all about. Before I was diagnosed I went to a different physiotherapist who I gues must never have seen PMR before (sometimes it's the physiotherapist who recognises PMR and tells the patient to go to the doctor) because eventually she gave up on me and suggested massage therapy (which I tried and hated). I had burst into tears at a follow-up visit with the physio when faced with the activity she wanted me to do!
You sound like your doing such a lot. I have found that since on the slow tapering programme walking a little every day and my gardening is all i have needed. I move a few pots here and there so that helps my muscles. I recently overdid it and paid the price so I'm back to my walking, gardening but resting more is added to my day. Feeling much better for it and much stronger. I see your walking is a bit restricted so it difficult for you. I'm nearly 84 so part of it must be age related. Just keep at it but take it steady. Good luck.
sorry you are needing oxygen for acute asthma condition. As if you don't have enough to deal with. Sounds like you are doing quite well already. I believe that there is a property within the mechanism of the way pred. works that will prevent the protein and necessary substances we consume from our diets getting into the muscle. I fear we need to get to a very low or zero dose of pred. before we can realistically rebuild muscle. I also wish to know what that dose is but there does not appear to be any research which gives a figure. That's why I'm trying to start something here using me as a guinea pig. Just carry on doing what you feel physically able. Try my exercise regime for mobility and improved muscle tone. healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...
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