New symptom

[Siena62]

Hello again,

I have been tapering my Pred, I thought fairly successfully until a couple of weeks ago when I started to experience a new pain in my left buttock. Pain might be too strong a word but it's very annoying and today it's starting to restrict my walking. I had put it down to a strain from carrying a heavy bag a couple times but a niggle started before this.

Is this likely to be the beginning of flare or could it be something else? I reduced my Pred dose three weeks ago. Should I try Ibuprofen or Paracetamol for a few days? I'm away from home but can go to the chemist tomorrow.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

If it’s just one-side, might well be piriformis syndrome

If PF -Warmth will help - as will stretching -painkillers but not ibruprofen-although topical gel used sparingly should be okay

this might help -

nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/s...

if you type Piriformis into search facility you’ll probably find plenty of related posts

[SnazzyD]

Have a read of this about piriformis syndrome and see if it rings any bells. It is a muscle in each buttock and problems with this crops up here regularly.

webmd.com/pain-management/g...

If you search on YouTube about piriformis stretches you’ll find movements to loosen this muscle. I have to do them almost daily, along with others like ileotibial band stretches.

[piglette]

Try a painkiller. If it works it probably is not PMR.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Your taper has been successful if you have got to a lower dose - but remember, you aren't heading relentlessly to zero. You are looking for the lowest effective dose at any given time. Sometimes what I call the add-ons appear as a warning you are getting closer.

[Karenjaninaz]

I had this too; I was even using a cane! I had mild physiotherapy and home exercises and it never came back.

[Siena62]

Thank you everyone. Last night and first thing this morning I was awful. I took some Paracetamol and went for a short walk which wasn’t too bad. I’m in this afternoon and will be going out to a concert this evening. I’ll keep taking the Paracetamol and see how I get on.

I’m definitely going to postpone my next taper (to 5mg) until this problem is resolved (perhaps it won’t be).

[nuigini]

Have had this many times and stretching exercises general deal with it in a few days.

[ab58sf]

That was a part of my pain from the beginning. First my shoulders, then my hips.

I am not very good with this technology, so I will ask a question here.

I now have Covid after wearing two masks for over a year!! My doctor called in molnupirivar (an antiviral). Have any of you taken this and had any benefit?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to ab58sf]

You can ask the question here if you like - but very few will see it. Many people choose their posts to read and don't revisit once they have commented. If you want an answer, you need to post it again as a new thread.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to ab58sf]

as PMRpro says not many will read this -so just copy what you’ve written above and paste into a new post.

Me -no experience of molnupirivar - but will have.