New PMR symptoms or not?

[craighead72]

I have been tapering my Pred over the last few weeks from 16mg to 13mg and have felt fine. Since last week when I came down from 14 to 13 I have developed tendonitis in my right heel and sciatica in my left buttock and leg, neither of which I have had before. Could these be new symptoms of my PMR or just bad luck but if due to PMR what should I do with my Pred dosage?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I'd be inclined to think more lousy coincidence! For the sciatic problem I'd try some stretches for the piriformis muscle which can tighten and pinch the sciatic nerve,

myhealth.alberta.ca/health/...

I've just had similar problem recently and more pred didn't help then. More targeted approaches did.

[craighead72 in reply to PMRpro]

OK. Increased Pred from usual 13mg to 18mg yesterday to see if had any beneficial effect on sciatica pain which is bad in early morning. Good idea or not? and how high a dose should be the limit for a few days? No other PMR symptoms and trying targeted stretch exercises.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to craighead72]

For a couple of days to see there probably isn't a limit - except don't be silly! But I'm not convinced oral pred will cut it - a local steroid jab used properly might.

[piglette]

I do seem to have had both tendinitis in my foot and sciatica much more since I had PMR. It may be just coincidental of course.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to piglette]

The tendinitis could be pred?

[piglette in reply to PMRpro]

That is true. I don’t think I ever had it before PMR. It can be quite painful to walk as it is down the outside of my feet underneath.

[diana1998 in reply to piglette]

Could your foot problem be plantafaciitis? Special stretching exercises are good for that.

[craighead72 in reply to diana1998]

Thanks but no it’s not plantar fasciitis - I have had that before and it affects under the heel. The physio said its tendonitis but taken with the sciatica he suspects they are both down to PMR - inflammation.

[diana1998 in reply to craighead72]

Very true. Like walking on a bruise. Very sore. Get better soon.

[piglette in reply to diana1998]

No, it is definitely not plantar fasciitis. It is down the whole outer edge of each foot not just in the heel.

[Abbeynan82 in reply to piglette]

No. I have had the same sciatica. And I had awful time staying below 15 mg. Back up twice. Now after long and persistent symptoms, back up to 15 again. It’s the nature of the beast.

[piglette in reply to Abbeynan82]

I agree it is so frustrating.

[moonieboy9358]

how long have you been on steroids? Steroids can can demineraluze bones. Have you had a bone density scan?

[craighead72 in reply to moonieboy9358]

9 months and my doctor put me on gabapentin to guard against steroid side effect on bones

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to craighead72]

Gabapentin will not guard against loss of bone density due to pred. Are you sure that is the drug you mean?

[craighead72 in reply to PMRpro]

Sorry I meant AdCal. My wife takes gabapentin. Too many pill boxes in the kitchen😁!

[moonieboy9358 in reply to craighead72]

gabapentin was originally used as an antiseizure drug. Then doctors began using it for everything under the sun. Although. You ste taking adcal. I would suggest asking about a bone density scan. I was taking calcium and vitamin d supplements prior and during and currently. However, I still ended up with five compression fracture. It is good to get a baseline density scan anyhow

[Viv54]

I think it has to be the pred , i have had terrible both of what you have, awful pain ! On the bright side it does seem to ease the lower the dose . Good luck .

[craighead72 in reply to Viv54]

Thanks. I agree with you.