Lower back pain

[Norton1944]

I am 78 years old. PMR GCA for nearly 6 years. Still on 2.5 Pred. Other lumbar issues in that I have wear and tear in L1, L2 vertebrae.

I have extreme back muscle pain (both sides of my spine) at waist level after being active for a few minutes which results in me hunching over to try and ease the pain. I’m wondering if this pain might be linked to PMR or whether it is to do with the wear and tear in spine. Would my rheumatologist be able to help? My ESR and CRP levels are low.

[herdysheep]

I get that same sort of pain when standing but sometimes walking helps. No idea where it comes from or why. I do find walking, even if only a short distance, helps as long as I am not carrying anything at all.

[jinasc in reply to herdysheep]

Hopefully this reply will help you. I had both and used Bowen.

I did not write this post, I blocked and copied part of it from a larger article written by PMRpro and published it in a Newsletter we used to produce. If anyone wants a full copy send me a PM.

Extract from SOME ADD - ONS to PMR:

Myofascial Pain Syndrome and Piriformis Syndrome

Piriformis syndrome is similar in the symptoms it causes. The piriformis muscle is at the bottom of your buttock, at the top of the back of your thigh, just where you sit on it. In about 20% of people the sciatic nerve passes through the middle of the muscle – and if it is tight, the nerve is pinched and irritated.

Typical symptoms may include tenderness or a dull ache in the buttocks and pain down the back of the thigh, calf and foot (sciatica). Walking up stairs or inclines may cause pain. The range of motion in your hip joint may be restricted and sitting for any length of time, walking or running often make it worse. It may feel better after lying down on your back. The pain can sometimes be mistaken for trochanteric bursitis – another add-on to PMR.

As you can see from the description of the symptoms of both MPS and PS, many of them are very like what you experience in PMR and many patients say that looking back they had noticed them even before the PMR appeared.

Many of us have found that using Bowen therapy has helped a great deal to relieve MPS problems. It is unlikely to help with PMR itself and doesn't help everyone but by reducing the pain that comes with MPS or piriformis syndrome it can make the PMR problems easier to live with.

If it will work for YOU then you should see a difference in 3 sessions – the pain may take longer to go altogether and you may need several sessions or to have repeat sessions every few months to keep the improvement but if there is no change after 3, you can probably stop. On the other hand, many of us find there are other benefits with Bowen – it is relaxing and soothing to the spirit as well as the body. And every little helps.

bowen-therapy.co/Bowen/btpa...

mayoclinic.org/diseases-con...

[herdysheep in reply to jinasc]

Thank you for this, Jinasc. I will reread.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Exactly the same as me - It is the muscles and their attachments to the spine that are inflamed and tight. My rheumy is great - but he trained in Austria and works in Italy so has some different approaches! He uses something called neural therapy but I doubt that is available on the NHS!

I have been having physio appointments and she has been working on my back, mobilising the sore bits and it is slowly improving. I have a pain clinic appointment next week as the doctor there also does something similar to the neural therapy - I like to spread my options! If I were in the UK I would look for a sports/therapeutic physiotherapist and in the past I got a lot of benefit from the Bowen therapy jinasc mentions but here they are a bit airy-fairy and scented candles, not the very down to earth NE ladies I went to in Durham!

In an emergency, I take an 800mg flooding dose of ibuprofen and sit with a hot water bottle across the painful area - once the pain eases you can move and movement does, in the long run, help. One of the rheumies here provided lignocaine patches - and they did help some but they are pricey if not prescribed.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

And a PS - please can you expand your bio on your profile. It makes it a lot easier for us if we know what country you live in, your diagnosis and a bit about your journey so far.

[piglette]

I have pain there too, but before PMR. I take Glucosamine.

[Oboes22]

hi Norton, I have a similar diagnosis and symptoms and at times find sitting upright very painful. I find ibuprofen and a hot water bottle gives the best relief. It is not associated with my PMR. Take care.

[Maxgate2]

Have you tried TENS. The cheapest machine is £15 and you can order online. back intelligence.com has been very helpful for me. They both involve no drugs so, even if they don’t help you, they will do you no harm.