Tingly lower legs! Why? I’m on 4.5mg Prednisolone and feel ready to taper again but I’m concerned about the leg discomfort.

[PipandDots]

Diagnosed last May and started on 15mg.

Tapered easily to 3.5mg by December then early Jan I got the flu and had my first flare. I went up by 1mg and am still on 4.5mg now, but I’m well and feel ready to taper by .5mg.

I have tingly lower legs and wondered if this is related to PMR/Pred?

Any advice from this wonderful group would be so welcomed.

Thank you all x

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

You probably need to get it checked out -is it there all the time -or after walking or particular activity.

Might not be anything much and just need resting or masssge etc, but could be Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) -so please contact GP.

[Rachmaninov2 in reply to DorsetLady]

When I had tingling in my legs my GP thought it could be Peripheral Neuropathy and referred me to a neurologist. A scan found no evidence of neuropathy but I was diagnosed with spinal stenosis.

[cycli in reply to Rachmaninov2]

I was exactly the same

[Rachmaninov2 in reply to cycli]

Do you have spinal stenosis?

[cycli in reply to Rachmaninov2]

Possibly, but I don't know. The number of thing

[cycli in reply to Rachmaninov2]

Possibly, but I don't know.

[PipandDots in reply to Rachmaninov2]

no I don’t

[PipandDots in reply to DorsetLady]

Many thanks for your advice I’ll do that

[cycli]

i've had it continuously and it started before I was diagnosed, although suspect I had PMR and GCA long before diagnosis.. Still don't know why I have it. Also in outer side of both palms

[PipandDots in reply to cycli]

Thanks for responding to me Cycli. You don’t associate it to the PMR or Prednisolone then?

[cycli in reply to PipandDots]

Not to pred. but probably PMR or GCA. I have both

[Pr0jection]

I started to develop this last autumn together with being unable to walk continuously for more than 20 minutes at a time without getting cramp in lower calves - the right one in particular. I've mentioned it to my GP and she said it could be intermittent claudication which is one of the main symptoms of PAD. I haven't followed it up until I really need to. I just keep walking as often as I can. I have no problems walking around the house and garden, just with sustained walking particularly on hard surfaces. Off road walking on tracks is much better for me. I remember my aunts talking about hardened arteries, and here I am!

[PipandDots in reply to Pr0jection]

thanks for taking the time to reply with your experience. I hope you continue to get well. Best wishes

[Pr0jection in reply to PipandDots]

Thank you, and to you too. There are probably other issues I need to consider - spinal stenosis, plantar fasciiatis to name but two, but to be honest I'm trying to deal with it myself because every time I go to my GP I end up having to consider so many alternatives I tend to overthink things and become anxious. At 79 I have to accept that I'm no longer a spring chicken, but it's difficult!

[suenewberry in reply to Pr0jection]

I had this develop and it gradually got worse. Spinal stenosis can be diagnosed on an MRI scan. I have just had a CT scan which confirmed the problem is at L5/S1 where a nerve is pinched. They are going to fuse a vertabrae. I know you are dealing with a lot at the moment and it is sensible to take one step at a time. The time it takes to get to see a consultant and get scans can be ages so possibly worth starting the process early to give you peace of mind. The odd thing was in the early stages there was no pain in my back, just pain and tingling in the ankles and calf. My thoughts are with you.

[Suffererc]

I told my GP about the same and she just ignored it ……

[Broseley in reply to Suffererc]

Same here. Told physio and he said it was probably from my back, but I think it's more my knee, as it happens when I lie in bed on my side with my knees together.

[CamGina]

I have had this sensation for years and thought it must be PMR related. I've seen elsewhere that low magnesium can cause this. I take a daily supplement of magnesium, Vit D3 and calcium now. But this is anecdotal, not proven!

[HelenDaisy]

if you take calcium you also need magnesium, some hours apart. If I don’t take magnesium I get restless legs. Just a thought.

[PipandDots in reply to HelenDaisy]

Yes I take both. Thank you for replying x