immune reaction to physical stress.

[Jane424]

I have poly myalgia, celiac and PCOS as well as myeloma, so my immune system gets upset pretty easily. Yesterday, a Physio manhandled my body to see how much I could move. I have chronic back pain. Today, my back is in spasm, I feel as if fighting flu and my digestion is out. Coukd thus be an immune reaction to what my body perceives as threat? It happens when any therapy pushes my body. Many thanks. It Wouk’s help me make sense of it. Jane

[123mossie]

hi Jane so sorry to hear you’ve got so much to cope with physically. I’m not experienced in any of your conditions apart from pmr but I would presume your body has little reserve to deal with the type of physio you describe. It seems bizarre to push you into movements instead of passive exercises to maintain what you’ve got presently. Wouldn’t have thought this is an ‘immune’ reaction, rather a reaction to inappropriate range of movements. Are you still on 7mgm pred, if it’s lower now you’ll be approaching the point where your adrenals need to start working, this in itself can result in feeling unwell & fatigued. It’s worth having a chat with your doctors. Hope you feel better soon.

[Jane424 in reply to 123mossie]

Many thanks. Bless you.

[piglette]

I have discovered that one must be very careful with physios as a lot of them do not know that PMR must be treated delicately. If you have someone who does understand PMR they can be excellent. Why were you seeing a physio?

[Jane424 in reply to piglette]

Thanks, Piglette. I was at a Pain Clinic having my chronic back pain assessed for a procedure. The doctor was assessing my muscles and movement, saying no point in relieving pain if the muscles don't support it. I protested, but he was too rough. The actual physio was very gentle in what he suggested, but by then it was too late and I could hardly walk out of the clinic. This has happened many times as my back flares and freezes very easily. At the moment, I have PMR plus a recently fractured sacrum . They are considering ablating the sacral nerves for my constant pain. Also have a fused spine. Your help is so welcomes. Jane

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Jane424]

I'd complain - the doctor doing the assessments here is very good about not causing pain and it is really pointless an insensitive doctor creating that much pain.

[piglette in reply to Jane424]

The trouble is there seem to be an awful lot of doctors around who think they are perfect. Pain does not seem to be part of their vocabulary. Other people’s pain that is!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Physio can be very beneficial for PMR patients (I get superb help) - but NOT manhandling! PMR is often associated with myofascial pain syndrome and that can cause muscle spasm - it sounds as if a physio who is ignorant of the nature of PMR has very successfully induced an episode of muscle spasm due to myofascial pain syndrome. I feel unwell when the MPS is rampant.

[Cosmos22Marigold]

Hi Jane. Ouch was all i could say when i saw your post. Looks like that physio has caused you more pain. So sorry to hear that. I went through a bout of severe back spasms and could hardly move. I just had phone calls from a physio who recommended i buy a LACROSSE MASSAGE BALL.which i did. Its like a coloured tennis ball made of quite hard rubber and cost £6.49. You just put it between your back and a wall or a door and push on it to relieve the spasm. Put it where the pain is and try rotating it in small circle. Easy when you get to know how to do it and it took my pain away completely in couple of days.. Such a relief. Anything is worth a try but i know you've got other problems so just do wht you can in small burst.

Good luck and i hope it works for you. No more physio. You can manage you own pain threshold with this.

[Jane424]

will try - thanks! Jane