Extreme weakness in arms...anyone else have this... - PMRGCAuk

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Extreme weakness in arms...anyone else have this problem?

Pris80 profile image
16 Replies

I do have arthritis in my shoulders and knees in addition to having PMR for 6years but gradually I am now experiencing extreme weakness in my shoulders and arms so that everything I lift seems very heavy and I struggle to keep them lifted up for any length of time.

Does this ring a bell with anyone?₩

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Pris80 profile image
Pris80
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16 Replies
SheffieldJane profile image
SheffieldJane

Only from my early days of PMR when I couldn’t raise my arms above my head or carry a mug of tea across the room. Has a flare been building? Pred use long term, can produce muscle weakness. What does your doctor say?

in reply to SheffieldJane

Hi Jane, you've heard the saying 'pain in the butt' that's exactly what I have today and it's very painful on both sides. I have been in the garden this morning putting it to bed. Weeding and lots of bending and sweeping and am I paying for it now from the PMR. Just taken a couple of paracetamols and a nice hot bath. My finger after using it is very painful and swollen (not sure what to do about it now as I've decided not to take that script the doc gave me) Hubby watched me sitting in his recliner and giving me his orders haha.....told him to shut up !! now he's fast asleep and envy him so much. PMR allows us very little on the jobs front.

simps999 profile image
simps999 in reply to

I definitely have a pain in the butt ! I sympathise and it's constantly there

SheffieldJane profile image
SheffieldJane in reply to

You have my sympathy. You must rest,rest,rest. Earplugs?

in reply to SheffieldJane

Morning Jane, what a bad night I had last night. Shattered from working hard all day. Turned in at 8am as so tired....hubby had another fall at 3am getting to bathroom, ripped skin off elbow and knee blood all over sheets and floor. So I was changing his bed and getting machine on. Up I went and another call from him. Thank goodness no real damage done, imagine if he'd broken his other femur as I have wooden floors in bedrooms so a hard fall. Jen's father in-law is taking him to the hospital for his macular check up this morning so that gives e time to unwind. Hoping he manages to get away without having to have the eye injection. At least his macular has been stable for the past 5 months. Seems I'm going to have to wrap him in cotton wool so no more damage is done before his surgery on 27 Sept. Nice day out there so will get washing dry.

DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to

Oh dear, sorry to hear about last night’s traumas…

in reply to DorsetLady

Not one thing it's another Sue. He's just gone off to hospital.

SheffieldJane profile image
SheffieldJane in reply to

I am sorry to hear about your dreadful night. It’s reminiscent of the sleepless baby days. You must be in a constant state of flux. Seriously, I wonder if anything can be done about the route to the bathroom? The bare wooden floors. Rails, a walking aid where he would need it. Just temporary equipment to get you both through this period. I wonder if social services could do an assessment and lend you some equipment?I am so glad you have help and support but inevitably it mostly falls on you. I am worried that this might break you and then where would you be?

in reply to SheffieldJane

He has everything Jane. He was using his four wheeled walker too. His hips just give out on him that's why they made him priority to get the left hip done.

SheffieldJane profile image
SheffieldJane in reply to

Oh bless him! I was going to suggest a free home assessment from the council for equipment that could help temporarily, until he gets his much anticipated operation. X

in reply to SheffieldJane

Lucky we've got it all. Some purchased other bits on lone

SheffieldJane profile image
SheffieldJane in reply to

Roll on the operation, then the recuperation of course. Make sure that you both nap when you can. I think about you a lot. Xx

Seacat30 profile image
Seacat30

Yes when I first had PMR and when first taking steroids for it. I found it hard to pull my duvet cover into place in the morning and carry a dinner plate of food upstairs.

My arms are getting stronger now on lower doses of pred and after doing some physio.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador

I wouldn't call it weakness but my arms often won't do as I want them to! Changing the duvet cover is a nightmare! But that was with PMR long before pred.

Twopies profile image
Twopies

Yes, yes and yes—I’m on pred 6 years, tapering to 5 1/2 (third time) using dsns. My arms and shoulders are so weak that I can barely make coffee in the morning—I have to hold the pot with both hands. Doing laundry is hard, but for now, it is what it is. There are small exercises to do, but I have so many areas to work on, I’m not faithful to my arms and shoulders.

piglette profile image
piglette

I found when I first had PMR my arms became very weak and have continued to be. I do go swimming which I think improves things but I am still definitely weaker than I was pre PMR.

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