please can someone advise is it a flare or withdrawal 🥴

[Maggie1313]

good evening i think I have the same as you. I reduced down to 3.5mg from 4mg on the slow reduction,and six weeks in I got pain in my back on right hand side under my ribs and travels round to front. Like you it is painful for a day or two and settles a bit for a day and then flares again. I know I did not hurt myself but my doctor says it a pulled muscle and it could take 6wks or more to heal, it’s now 4wk still sore when I bend and so very sore when I touch the spot. Could this be a flare and if could be how much would I need to up my steroids .

[7DaysinMay]

Hi Maggie, I have recently had the same experience. Got down to 2.5mg and was OK for around two weeks but then the pain and stiffness came back. I've gone back up to 5 to try and settle things down and then have another go at tapering.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Did you mean this as a reply to someone - just to give it some context?

[Maggie1313 in reply to PMRpro]

sorryPMRpro it’s for advice from anyone on what I should do. I developed the pain 4 was ago and was in hospital 3wk ago to have a femur nail replaced in my leg that was fitted wrong last March. So at the moment I have the normal muscle pain where the surgery has been, but the back pain under ribs and round under arm to front is like pulled muscle but I don’t remember doing it unless it was in my sleep 🥴 this is why I can’t decide if it a pulled muscle or a flare. I’m on 3.5mg at moment and don’t know whether to up to 6mg or 7mg to see it would help.

Sorry for such a long post 😊

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Maggie1313]

It's OK - like DL I replied on the other thread - it sounds very like costochondritis. If it is then more pred probably won't help - like a pulled muscle, time heals.

[Maggie1313 in reply to PMRpro]

thank you so much 🤞

[Thelmarina in reply to Maggie1313]

Sounds very wearing and also horrid when surgery has to be repeated. I don’t know if it’s a comfort or how old you are but my consultant niece says older people take longer to heal but do get there. If you’re in the UK double the duvet, enjoy comforting drinks and some daft TV! ❤️

[Maggie1313 in reply to Thelmarina]

👍😊

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

have replied to your reply in another post- for completeness have replicates here -

Doesn’t sound typical of a flare, the pains would normally increase - not come and go as you describe.

Many people on here seem to suffer with Costochondritis - maybe have a look at this fairly recent post and see if the links in it from PMRpro ring any bells - if so then talk to your doctor again -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

.if it’s not that - this link contains the usual advice for dealing with a flare- 

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[SnazzyD]

Have you done anything unusual such as sit in one position for a long time, do any repetitive action even if light, bent over to pick up or tug on something, or reach up to do something like clean a window? You can pull a muscle without an initial ouchy alarm pain. Can you find a focal point of tenderness anywhere on the area of pain?

[Maggie1313 in reply to SnazzyD]

thank you SnazzyD two days before the pain started I made soup and was bending from the large pot on the cooker to fill container to freezer and they were on a lower table. I had forgotten about that as it was two days before the pain started 🤔 when I touch where the pain is it hurts 🥴

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Maggie1313]

Large pots and PMR muscles don’t go together….😳

[Nextoneplease in reply to DorsetLady]

Agreed ! I can no longer use my heavy iron pots and if I do make soup (which I find is a good way to eat veg) I ask hubby to move even the lighter pot….

[Blearyeyed in reply to Nextoneplease]

I'm lucky as I can as I have an OH shaped Kitchen Slave to move all my pans, chop up my veg (under instruction ) get all the stuff out if the cupboards and do the washing up. He's happy , it means he still gets to eat proper food instead of the more basic fayre he can make instead.

So the big pan is still half full of Cawl , he got a Bara Brith and some Aberffraw biscuits, and today's breakfast brunch is Anglesey eggs with Bacon ..... Can you tell it was St. David's Day by any chance...😆😆😆

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Blearyeyed]

Never have guessed 🌼 😊

[Maggie1313 in reply to DorsetLady]

yes I know 🤣but I did not lift the large pot but using a pint jug to fill the container and transfer it to the lower table. could it have been the repetitive up and down movement 🤔

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Maggie1313]

Yep…that’s another thing for sure!

[Maggie1313 in reply to DorsetLady]

thank you all for replies. will take paracetamol for few days to see it that helps 🙏

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Maggie1313]

Hope so….

[Blearyeyed]

Did the GP do any other tests , like a urine test , or a full blood count , liver function and kidney function test?Just asking as years ago because I didn't fit the pattern for it I was misdiagnosed as having a pulled muscle , then costochondritis for over six months ( this was well before I learnt that I had to research things myself ) finally I got blood tests and an ultrasound it turned out I was having gall bladder infections and had to have it out. They dismissed it because I was thin , dark haired and under 40 at the time but it turns out my other illnesses could cause me to have these issues earlier , just like they seemed to cause the GCA before 50.

Not saying your GP is wrong here , a pulled muscle in that area is the most likely and most common possibility, but it's better to rule out other possibilities like an infection , kidney issue, gall bladder problem , or change in liver results as early as possible so you know what's best to do to improve it. So, if they didn't order any blood tests I think it is worth calling and asking for them.

If I were you I'd try some paracetamol at the standard dose through the day and see if it helps as well as being careful in your movement and using a heat pad. These will bring relief for both muscle strains , costochondritis or a infection. I'd also increase your water intake and Vitamin C if the amount you have now is lower than recommended as this will help reduce general inflammation and improve recovery. I wouldn't try and reduce the steroid any further while you deal with this problem as it is unlikely to be successful , but I might hold off on increasing the steroid and trying the self care options for other things before increasing the steroid dose too , and then maybe returning to the dose you were on just before this started instead of doing a bigger jump up then finding it hard to get back down again , which isn't quite as quick and simple on the lower doses as it can be on sick days at the higher Pred doses.

Take care ,,rest and pace yourself and I hope it improves soon, Bee

[Maggie1313 in reply to Blearyeyed]

thank you so much for reply and kind words .

I will ask Dr to do blood tests and I intend to take it easy for next few days 🙏😊

[Shanghi]

Sorry you are having this additional pain to already something that is a pain in the ...! I think we have to be extra careful since our muscle fibers are shot. I, for instance, was trying to close my carryon luggage at the airport, ( us, ladies always seem to find extra things to stuff in there), so I leaned on the carryon with my upper body to close it, I heard a pop, it wasn't the suitcase, but my rib! This time I really learned a valuable lesson, I ´m not as strong as I once was! So same goes for cast iron pots etc. No lifting anything, not worth it the pain that might come with it.

I do hope you will feel better soon!😊

[Maggie1313 in reply to Shanghi]

🙏😊