Could a fall cause a PMR Flare?

[Purplecrow]

I took a misstep 10 days ago, falling with a sprained ankle, but no other injury. However, in the next few days, I began feeling my usual indicators of flare, shoulder pain, hip pain,etc. Not quite recognizing that I was beginning a flare, I just ignored and carried on. Then my spouse, wise she is…said…you’re having a flare…and…so I was. A few days of extra pred stopped the flare, but left me puzzled…. So I started looking for articles associated with “can a fall precipitate a PMR flare”.

I found that, yes, it and other environmental stressors, can cause the dreaded flare. If anyone is interested in the Document, I will try to post its cite.

something new every day.

[piglette]

A fall can often precipitate all sorts of other problems such as flares. The body gets shaken up and reacts.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Yes - there is a case report saying a fall can trigger a flare! Some of it may be the stresses exerted on your back by wrenching them trying to save yourself can wake up myofascial pain syndrome! Does for me! Even a bus braking sharply can cause the same effect!

[Purplecrow in reply to PMRpro]

Dainty flowers, we 😂🌸😂

[SheffieldJane]

Any shock to the system be it physical or emotional seems to tip you over. Sorry about your fall. I hope you recover quickly. Are you doing sick day rules dosing, or just a mg or two extra? X

[Purplecrow in reply to SheffieldJane]

Hi, thank you for reply. I did a few extra mg for several days, with ice to the sprained ankle and my recent surgery site (back). I’m feeling much better now, and back to lower dose as of 2 days ago. 💜J

[19287Morty]

I would like that link if you have it please, as I am sure a bad fall triggered my PMR. Thanks

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to 19287Morty]

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/293...

[Purplecrow in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Just put up the title/source/authors and I'll find it if you struggle with the link

[Purplecrow in reply to PMRpro]

Article titled “ relapse of polymyalgia rheumatica after a fall”. Thanks .J

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Purplecrow]

The link to the abstract of the paper mentioned is:

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/293...

[19287Morty in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you

😀

[Purplecrow in reply to PMRpro]

🙏🏽

[Bennijax]

Yes. I fell a year ago and broke the two main bones in my wrist. The flare was noted a month later as the shock of the break kept me from considering a flare and there was so much aching everywhere the flare was hidden. I hade to increase the Preds.

[Missus835]

I think it could. I stupidly went "swimming" in the cold waters of the Atlantic last Thursday and got knocked about by some beautiful waves. As of today, I feel rotten. Backs of arms, tops and backs of thighs, between shoulder blades and extremely shaky this morning. Of course I overdid it. Due to drop to 11.5 mg. tomorrow (again), but think I may go up to 12.5 mg. for a few days. The girl across the hall (about 4 ft.) from me has Covid19, which I tested myself for yesterday and it was negative. It may be just residual muscle pain from the "swimming", but it feels an awful lot like my first real flare since January 2022. Le sigh.

[Purplecrow in reply to Missus835]

So sorry to hear that those wonderful experiences we enjoyed in our younger years, can now cause us problems. Aaaarrrrgggg! I hope you recover soon and don’t let the cold waves deny you joy of the ocean. I live several hundred miles from the open ocean, and miss it awfully. The bay where I live is a bathtub substitute for the real thing. 😕

[Trulyscrumpious]

I’ve had PMR since 2016, and it came on suddenly a few months after l had a hip replacement which went badly wrong and l was in a lot of pain, as well as getting a chronic chest infection from the anaesthetic. My daughter has always wondered if there was a connection. I’ve got down to 5mg now and if l go further the aches come back, So my Rheumy is happy for me to stay on this maintenance dose. Still get the fatigue and try to pace myself. Hope you feel better soon.

[Purplecrow in reply to Trulyscrumpious]

Thanks, I am getting better…💜

[MB2016]

I had a flare about five weeks after my femur broke. I didn't fall, It broke while I was standing and I lowered myself to the floor but it must have been the stress from the surgery that caused the flare. And my excellent surgeon said it was caused by Prolia.

[MB2016]

Meant to say the break was caused by Prolia not that the PMR was caused by Prolia

[Hidden]

Sorry to hear about your sprained ankle, Purplecrow. It seems that any sort of stress can precipitate a flare. Get better soon 😀

[Purplecrow in reply to Hidden]

💜🙏🏽💜