I have been reducing steadily down to 2.5 using DL method with out any problems, then started reducing to 2 mg , (Monday 2 mg rest of the week 2.5 then 2 mg on Monday & Tuesday and so on.)
Then I went out and trimmed the lavender bushes, very gently so I thought. However half way through I developed a pain across my lower back just like the first time I started with the PMR symptoms.
I tried Paracetamol but it didn’t seem to help which made me think it could be a flare. I upped my pred to 5mg but after three days there was no improvement, so went to 10 mg. After three days again there has been no improvement. Usually if I increase my dose it goes quite quickly but not this time
I went for a walk on Sunday and the pain in my back got worse .
I am now at a quandary! Do I carry on at 10 mg or is it just muscle soreness which will ease as it gets better?
I know you all say that we can stay at 10 mg for a week and then drop down to just above the last dose when things improve, but they are not improving.
I am going on holiday on Saturday so am desperate to sort this out.
I do hope you can help with this
Thank you all in advance for your advice.
Written by
Lacelady
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To me it sounds more like a muscle spasm due to myofascial pain syndrome which does tend to be more common alongside PMR.
What I do with similar problems is take an 800mg flooding dose of ibuprofen - preferably with food - and sit upright with a hot water bottle across the painful area. Someone in a meeting with me the other day said she has started using that for a more serious problem than just muscle spasm and finds it works for her too. It rarely works instantly, how long may range from a few hours to a few days! I often add paracetamol - you can take them at the same time - for a bit more pain relief. But paracetamol alone doesn't have enough antiinflammatory effect and pred doesn't really work for some reason.
Someone said recently they find lidocaine patches help too.
Thank you. That sounds like a good idea. However I thought you shouldn’t take ibuprofen with pred, but you know what you are talking about so I will try it.
As it seems to have just appeared after an unusual activity and doesn’t care for Pred, I suspect you’ve done yourself a mischief. I can just see those little pelvic muscles and ligaments being strained as you bend over if even just a tiny bit as you concentrate on your arms. There isn’t a quick fix and Pred won’t help this time amidst awful timing. You could try going back to your previous dose of Pred and try PMRPro’s one off flooding dose of Ibuprofen unless you can’t take it normally. Then rest with gentle little and often movement.
I have an old back problem and I find that turning my bed mattress over and also rotating it really helps. Also how old is it? Perhaps you need a new one.
have you thought about doing some very gentle back exercises? Like lying on your back with your knees bent and doing a gentle pelvic tilt/ rocking? Press your back down and bring the pubic bone towards your chest. Stay within your pain free range. It may help.
Thank you for replying. At the moment I am reluctant to do much exercise I just want to rest it. However when it eases off I might give your idea a go.
I am keeping going carrying on with the usual stuff but more gently. Not too much bending from the waist. Next week we are on a walking holiday so I must keep active.
I am a bit worried but we have been looking forward to this so much. I will just have to grin and bear it. Hopefully you’re ibuprofen idea will clear it up in time it has eased a lot
We are trying to sell our house and I need this break from all the stress. It should do me good to get away.
We are walking the coast in Jersey it is somewhere we know well and busses are not far away. It is just the two of so we stop and sit a lot. Over the years we have shortened the walks and coordinated with the bus timetable to get us back. If necessary we can have days off
Ever hear that old saw, "When all you have is a hammer, all your troubles look like nails."?
I can certainly see how one could extend that to PMR in that every time we get a problem with our knees, backs, shoulders, etc., our first thought is that it's a PMR flare.
I suspect that the many respondents who suspect your backache has nothing to do with a PMR flare may be correct and worth listening to.
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I fear I might have made a mistake with yo-going dose at a very early stage of treatment and would value your opinion.
Could i have GCA?
Could this have been aFlare?
GCA tapering and differing rheumie views. I think I now have the one who understands.
Now I understand my Rhumie
