I overdid it!

[noslak]

I’ve had PMR for a year & I’m still on 16 mg of prednisone. I have definitely overdone my physical activity & my pain has increased quite a bit. Should I just take Tylenol or will an increase in prednisone also help?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Depends what the pain is - if it’s PMR symptoms then you need Pred- but if it’s just overusing muscles and DOMS( delayed onset muscle soreness) then Tylenol and cold/warm therapy may be enough.

[noslak in reply to DorsetLady]

I definitely overdid it. I also keep pulling a muscle in my upper thigh & left butt cheek that is very painful. My muscles seem to be very weak.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to noslak]

Unfortunately that’s an effect of Pred -they take a lot longer to recover than previously, so you need to be aware of that when you exercise.

Gently does it and plenty of rest in between your sessions.. rebuild slowly.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to noslak]

That could be piriformis syndrome - have a look online for stretches that almost always help.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Does Tylenol work for the pain? If it does, it is questionable as to whether it is due to PMR,

Has this been the case all along or is this new?

[Bonsaigirl]

Hi there, I have had PMR for just under a year now and they have tapered my down to 10 mg of pred which I couldn't cope with so went back up to 12.5 which I am struggling with. Can I ask you what was your exercise regime was which you think you over did? I can walk about 2,500 steps at most. Thanks

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Bonsaigirl]

After only a year your PMR is likely to still be very active. And to be down to 2.5mg in a year is very fast - you might do much better at a slightly higher dose.

[noslak in reply to PMRpro]

I’m at 16mg. I wasn’t exercising. I have a summer place that I’m working at cleaning up & getting ready to winterize. Just working a little harder than usual causes pain.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to noslak]

And what is that besides exercise? Cleaning and sorting stuff out is similar to working out in the gym with weights. Repetitive actions are poison in PMR - you have been doing too much, causing DOMS, delayed onset muscle soreness, and continuing when you still have pain so the damaged muscles never get a chance to heal. So they don't stop hurting.

[Nextoneplease]

Hi noslak 😊

Well, if you feel you’ve definitely overdone things, then resting and pacing yourself has to be part of the answer.

I’d try this plus regular painkillers like Tylenol first and only if that doesn’t help, consider increasing the pred for a few days, then dropping down to 16mg again.

It’s so frustrating. I used to exercise regularly but have had to give it up at the moment because my muscles are so weak. So annoying after a lifetime of trying to keep reasonably fit, but I find it’s the only way (along with pred) to manage my pain and fatigue.

All the best to you x

[noslak in reply to Nextoneplease]

I wasn’t exercising. I have a summer place that I’m working at cleaning up & getting ready to winterize. Just working a little harder than usual causes pain.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to noslak]

In that case you need to pace yourself.

Rather than getting stuck in as you could pre illness/pre Pred and trying to do it all in one go…..break your jobs into certain areas or by time... not easy to start with, but you need to be strict with yourself.

So either one job, or say half an hour doing something, an hour absolute maximum….then a 10-15 minute break, just to sit down and give yourself a break - have a cuppa, look at phone, or just rest….

It’s all too easy to get engrossed and let time slip by without you realising ( gardening was my downfall early days).

Adjust your thinking re household jobs, and you’ll avoid doing damage to your muscles.

[Nextoneplease in reply to noslak]

Ah, I see…..and I agree with DorsetLady’s reply. Pacing myself has been so hard, but honestly I think you’ll find it’s worth it.

Good luck 😊

[Missus835]

It's not that I'm over-doing things, but when I do most anything, the fatigue is getting to me. I work 8 hrs. per day sitting (for a call centre from home). I can go to the store and walk around for an hour or so and then crash on the couch when I get home. Sometimes for a couple of hours. The pain in the back of my upper left arm and shoulder and neck has returned for the last few weeks.

What I believe is the hip flexor on my right side, keeps giving out and hence the hip, which may not be PMR. I had thought perhaps I could drop .5 mg on Monday gone by, so was down to 12 mg. for a couple of days, but I've picked up some kind of cold or flu (not Covid, the test was negative). I do think this has pretty much passed. Thursday upped it to 13 mg. for a few days. I find that I'm unable to vacuum (which I did do 2 days ago) and when I do, I pay for it.

Muscle weakness (especially legs) has become a thing and I presume that's from the Pred. Here I am at this very moment up at 3 AM because I couldn't sleep (which has not happened in awhile) and whole body sweat (like menopause sweats which I never had) and maybe the extra .5 mg. Just soaked. I got up and here I sit.

GP is with me on the slow taper (thank heavens). Rheumie is less reachable than God himself. I've not much good to say about her. I'm sure this reply doesn't help you much. Every day is something different. Slow and steady is key for tapering and exercise. I too was very active and that's a thing of the past which I've come to embrace rather than fight. Sorry for the vent.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Missus835]

Bear in mind that the quick tests for Covid are very unreliable for Omicron - my daughter tested negative 3 times despite symptoms and in the end did 2 tests from different batches: one was positive, one negative!!! And these were NHS issued tests!

[Colleen1974]

The first weekend I felt better on prednisone I cleaned out my kitchen cabinets that hadn't been done in months. Big mistake. I was sore for a few days but found relief in a hot epsom salt bath. I've now learned my lesson.