Pain in arms after handling heavy goods

[Karendeena]

I have been running a celebration event at work on Monday and Tuesday. I had to lift a couple of boxes containing some trophies that were mega heavy. I mean each one heavier than a house brick! I had to pass these over to the presenters on the Tuesday but last night...bang...my upper and lower arms became excruciatingly painful. I tried paracetamol, no help. I am successfully down to 2.5mg prednisolone but though 'is this a flare' so upped it to 3mg. It's only the day after but blimey do my arms hurt.Could this be a flare or just because I was lifting? Has the 2 years of prednisolone weakened my muscles?

[SheffieldJane]

I think that the fact that paracetamol didn’t touch the pain could point to a flare, possibly triggered by overdoing things. I think muscle strain would be more receptive to pain relief. I know that we easily strain weakened muscles. I made the mistake of vacuuming my hall only to feel like I had broken my ribs - this was eased by Tramadol.

[SnazzyD]

It might be a flare but in my experience of not having PMR but lots of Pred for GCA is that that sort of activity would have floored me. Generally if I injure myself I don't expect Paracetamol to set me right completely, especially as it doesn’t have huge anti-inflammatory properties. Ibuprofen would be better but even then I wouldn’t necessarily expect full resolution. So, I think we have to take the flare/not flare Paracetamol test not too literally as it will help pain but it won’t heal. That will take time and I expect a week with an increase in pain over the first 2-3 days. So, I’m a bit in disagreement with SJ in that I wouldn’t jump to increase the Pred. However, I’m not a PMR expert.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

DOMS -delayed onset muscle soreness - probably. ..and yes, 2 years of Pred have undoubtedly weakened your muscles…

[Karendeena in reply to DorsetLady]

I used to be a horse rider and had very strong arms. I do think pred has destroyed my muscles generally and I am so weak these days 😔

[123-go]

I would say you have strained the already weakened muscles in your arms (due to previous inflammation) with the repetitive movements you made. Have you tried paracetamol?

So sorry! I see you have tried paracetamol!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Quick answer - probably yes. But PMR does a fair job too. I can't lift even heavy shopping bags in and out of the boot without knowing about it later, I use a sack trolley to bring the shopping up from the garage but I usually put things in small cotton bags and transfer them one at a time into a big bag already on the trolley.

I get physio exercises for sore elbow attachments that require holding a 1kg weight in the affected hand - really goes for my forearm muscles and biceps.

[Shiba64]

Hi I find that when I've done anything physical about 24/48 hours later my muscles hurt and liken it to if I'd been to the gym! The other day backs of my arms hurt and I realised it was cos I'd done the housework 🤣 But then about couple days later they settle. I reckon it's down to the affect the PMR has had on my muscles 😔