SEVERE BACK PAIN
I am 83 and have been suffering from GCA/PMR for about 6 years. I am on 7mgms prednisolone.
Co codamol helps pain a bit but obviously cant take too many. I was advised to try physiotherapy, They gave me some exercises to do and go back in three weeks but they have not helped and my three weeks are nearly up. Cant think what else to try. ANY SUGEST IONS
I think that 3 weeks is a bit too soon to expect improvement in somebody with GCA/PMR and taking prednisolone. I guess that they won't be surprised and will suggest that you keep trying.
Hands-off "do these exercises" almost never works for my severe low back pain because until the muscles are in a better state you can't exercise them better.
I have just had a couple of 1 hour hands-on manual mobilisation sessions and 4 sessions of hydrotherapy - I'm now walking without crutches (first time for nearly 6 months) and the pain is manageable with paracetamol at last. But that is a lot of work over a period of about 5 weeks.
However - for you that should only be the start and they may adapt their approach a bit. What exercises did they give you?
IF and i stress if the pain is nerve related and not muscle i would highly recommend cymbalta ( duloxetine) . it has made a world of difference for me. ask your gp about its use for pain.
How many mg of prednisone are you on right now?
When I went back up to 15mg from 8mg my back pain was much improved. Now that I’m at 10mg the pain has increased again.
I had back surgery in August of 2021 , a Laminotomy of my L4 & 5.
I had physio for foot / thigh pain and was given exercises. Helped a little but have found for me osteopathy helped more. It looks at the whole you and massages gives acupuncture and has helped me greatly.
Hope you can find relief- back pain is so difficult to live with.
The trouble with doing unsupervised exercises is that no-one is watching to tell you whether you’re doing them correctly. I’ve no idea whether your back pain is connected to your PMR or not - hopefully your GP or rheumatologist knows. If it is, then surely you need to increase your pred, if not I’d try an osteopath.
Hi
I was asked to reply as I have had PMR, or at least I think I had it, the doctor said so on a phone consultation.
This was in June 1960 and I had gone from being very active to full of aches, on waking and during the day, culminating in being unable to get out of the bath unaided. Daily 20mg cleared up the aches and stiffness with pred reduction asked for. I am now done to 1 mg every other day, having slowly slowly reduced by half a mg every week or so.
My only problem is trying to contact the GP to ask if I should stop completely, a message asked me to contact my GP for Prescription review and I’m still trying. I’m sure this doesn’t help you but I’ve told someone at last.
Best wishes
Peter S
why I said 1960 I can’t think 2020 two years ago it was. Maybe it seems that long ago or age related deterioration!
I'm a bit perplexed at you saying on several occasions that you have been "asked to reply" and a couple of time you say I have asked you to reply - I don't recollect ever asking you to reply, if I do ask someone to reply it is DorsetLady, MrsNails or one of the Admin team. What requests/nudges have you received - it is a feature of HU I've not come across.
actually Pro, i got a couple of those prompt emails to reply to someone about something or other. They seem to be random. Not sure if they are some kind of automatic thing, picking up certain words or whatever.
If they are - you'd think I'd might qualify! What are the prompts like? Bncc says that I have asked them to reply - no I haven't.
i dont think the ones i got mentioned you or anyone named, it was more just from HUnlocked. Unfortunately i dont have them, but if i find one of them i'll let you know. Thats why i reckoned just some kind of random thing.
I’ve had a few pop up windows recently when I look at a particular thread inviting me to say I have polymyalgia rheumatica and other stuff. I just ignore them and they go away. I don’t know if this is what is meant. It seems random and just started recently but doesn’t happen very often. If it happens again I’ll try and screenshot for you. No idea what it’s supposed to achieve!
No - we (DL and I) both boggle at HU at times! As I say, random is a good way to describe them!
Very random...and not in a good way!
Hi
The email was headed “Bncc, have you got any advice about Prednisolone” and a bit more inviting me to reply.
I know you and your contributions have been a great help to me, but I didn’t assume you had invited my reply, some algorithm I expect.
Best wishes
Peter
I received a similar email.
How odd, never had anything like that in 10 years…..
Me neither ... And if they want experience with pred - surely you and I should be included!!!!!!!!
Hmmm…wondered if something in their notifications triggered email request -whether selected on purpose or not - but can’t see anything likely…
Another HU oddity.
And really rather risky - no idea what sort of reply will be generated.
That’s different to mine - mine definitely wasn’t an email but a pop up window while looking at a thread - but essentially similar content. I’ve not had one since I replied the other day. They’re obviously trying to increase the number of replies to posts for some reason. 🤷🏻♀️
They needn't bother on this forum!!! It'd be different if there were few replies but that is one thing isn't going to happen here is it?
back pain again 
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Update on Severe Hip Pain
Lower back pain. Not PMR? 
