As some of you may know my 86 year old mum was diagnosed with GCA in March this year and we have now successfully tapered to 15mg where we have been for 4 weeks.This illness has taken its toll on her and although her mobility isnt as good as it was she has been doing great and getting back out and about to shops etc.
As my niece gets married next week and my mum has been stressing about it our GP who has been great has agreed we stay at 15mg until after the wedding and he is then happy for us to continue tapering by 1mg a month for now as long as my mums okay.
We managed to get her a dress she was happy with and which she looks lovely in but typically in this past 2 weeks she has started to suffer from what we think is achilles tendonitis in her right ankle which is extremely painful and she is now struggling to walk. She had similar jn May but that was more her calf muscle and it went away after a few weeks with rest elevation and ice. This however is much more severe and its really getting her down. The gp suggested the same as before for the calf muscle and he gave her an ibuprofen gel to use which doesnt seem to be doing much though it is early days.
I just wondered if anyone had any other suggestions we could try as its really making her miserable and the wedding is next Friday. We had just brought her round to looking forward to it to instead of dreading it as she has this thing that people are looking at her because she has put on weight which of course thry aren't and as a family we are just glad she is well enough to go.
Apologies for the long post.
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Buchanan16
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Achilles tendonitis is a pig - takes a long time to heal. She will need a raiser in the heel of her shoes to take the strain off the tendon. It needs ice, compression and elevation. I was given a small boot similar to these by the othopods in A&E here in Italy - it really made walking possible.
I used crutches but I suspect your mum isn't going to wear that is she!!! It will be no comfort to her either that I was almost at my fattest with methyl pred and also had an achilles problem when my daughter got married. I had been given a quinolone antibiotic when on methylpred in the spring and the wedding was late September. By the wedding I had lost some of the swimring fat but was still needing crutches - I nearly didn't have an outfit as I had bought one with trousers and the black ones I took as spare just fell down as I hadn't tried them on for a few weeks. The ones belonging JUST stayed up. My hair was still like Einstein - I felt awful, If someone had offered me a wheelchair I would have taken it.
But no-one said anything, no-one cared about me other than me - all they were interested in was the bride, it was her day not mine and all she wanted was mum to be there and told me wear my jeans if I needed to. Just as all your niece wants is her family to enjoy the day and celebrate with her. Do you think it occurs to your mum that she is being a little bit selfish thinking she will be the one people are looking at? Maybe not something you can say to her though.
Thanks for your prompt reply PMRpro i have actually just ordered couple of supports from Amazon for AT but the one you suggested may be a better one so will mayb order that one to. U mentioned a raiser for her heel is there any specific type we should try? Ive also told her to take regular painkillers even tho its not sore when she is sitting with her feet raised. Should she be trying to move about or just rest for now especially with wedding being so close.And you are right i cant see her using crutches even if i suggested that.
Im just hoping it doesnt last to long as it has been so nice seeing her more like her old self again.
I wasn't really recommending any particular one, I just meant they are similar to what I got to show you. Mine weren't anything like as nice - but they were free and I ended up with a matching pair which - as usual - are saved for the next time! That's also why I have crutches ...
The silicon heel things are in the pharmacy here - this sort of thing
But any shoe with a low heel does much the same although the Scholl things have a cushioning effect which helps.
She does need to rest it or it will just stay sore and antiinflammatories need to be taken regularly.
Even if she won't use crutches in public, they would help when moving about at home to rest the tendon and save it for the wedding. I have told my two - one a nurse and one in A&E - that if I ever get precious about not using aids when I need them, they are to make it quite clear I need them. It is no differnt from wearing specs or hearing aids and if you need them - you need them!
Awe thanks for that will look at gel heel lifts. Im sure we got my dad similar when he had plantar fasciitis. Will also mayb see if i can get her crutches from somewhere to try even about the house as she doesnt tend to use her stick in the house and shes been saying using it outside its causing her lower back to be sore on opposite side but i think its mayb way she has been walking because her right heel is sore.
Can i ask about anti inflammatories as im sure my mum was told years ago she couldnt take them because she is in bp medication.Is this the case do u know?
We will make sure she rests plenty to before next weekend.
I take them with BP meds - what is she on? And what antiinflamms?
The trouble with a stick is that you are walking squint, leaning onto the stick. Crutches means you stand more evenly. In the house at present she might find a zimmer frame better - but call it a walking aid!!!
She is on bisoprolol and irbersartan and doctor gave her anti inflammatory gel to rub on back of her heel/leg.She has a zimmer and a walker with a tray we got her before she was diagnosed with gca and put on pred but i never actually thought of saying to her to use them in the house just now.
NSAIDs may reduce the antihypertensive effect of ibersartan and bisoprolol - that may be why she was told not to use them. The usual idea is to check BP more often and adjust the dose though! Paracetamol should help the pain.
Using the walker will give her more stability getting around and she needn't put as much weight on the bad ankle.
Before it was generally known that Quinolone antibiotics could cause tendon rupture especially in the elderly, a neurologist told me not to allow a home-care patient with MS and a throat infection to get a Quinolone antibiotic. I always try to ask a provider to give me something else.
Recently, my foot has gone up another half size from worsening flat feet when I stand. I've been waking up with the most awful muscle cramps in my feet, ankles going up my calf and even to my thighs. I wear custom orthodics, but I need new ones. I will have to start with exercises to let help the tendons stretch and not become more inflamed.
My dad had a ruptured Achilles tendon at 70, which was never reattached as they thought he was too old. He limped the rest of his life.
When mine happened I hadn't checked interactions which I usually do. Both the GP and the pharmacist in the village knew I was on methyl pred, As soon as the stiffness started a few days latter I looked it up, went straight to the car and managed to drive to the practice - late in a March afternoon. Her comment "Ooooh, I've heard of that but never seen it before ..." To which I replied "You have now!" I headed for the hospital, blagged a parking spot outside the door to A&E as I was at home alone, OH was in Innsbruck. I hopped in and left with a boot and crutches - I needed the latter until Christmas just in case though didn't always need them, It recurs at intervals but I recognise it and take action.
When OH was given a quinolone, his achilles hurt within 24 hours - and he didn't have a history of steroids. Vile things - quinolones, not pred
Without that neurologist's heads-up, I never would have known. My son has many allergies and once had to take a quinolone for a kidney stone as he was septic and that was the only choice. Luckily he was under 30.
Absolutely not as this group especially yourself and DorsetLady have been a godsend to me in navigating my way through my mums illness. You have always been there for me whenever i have needed your advice and support and i really appreciate it.
When I had achilles tendonitis I found a very comfy pair of sandals from Clarks. They had a small heel and had soft, gel insoles. They helped so much that I wore them continuously, including indoors instead of my flat slippers.
PS My sandals wore out, and Clarks don't do them now, but I have bought replacements from Chums. See photo which I think has appeared elsewhere.
Since writing this post I'm getting Facebook ads for Clarks! It might be worth looking at their site as they have shoes for problem feet/ankles/knees etc.
What a shame for your mum.I do empathize with her,Pred caused me to have horrendous tendinitis in my calf it really was agony ! Tried all the things you have already done, the best thing for me was gently stretching and flexing my leg when it came to my ankle again I stretched it and rotated it very slowly.It really hurts to do it at first but gradually easesthe pain over a few days.I always find heat helps me .I hope this helps .🌹
• Diagnosed last fall with PMR, began with 13mg/Pred. daily
• Am currently on a this schedule: Day 1 - 2mg; Day 2 - 1mg; Day 3 - 2mg etc. ,and doing just fine.
In April 2023 got hit - out of the blue - with bilateral Achilles Tendonitis and wondered if reducing my Pred. dosage too quickly caused it. Upped the dosage to 10mg for a few days and got no relief at all.
Consulted Dr. Google and found:
Prednisone is a corticosteroid medication that is used to treat a variety of conditions, including inflammation, autoimmune diseases, and cancer. It is a powerful drug that can have a number of side effects, including weakening of the muscles and tendons.
The risk of tendon rupture is increased with long-term use of prednisone, as well as with high doses of the medication. The tendons that are most at risk are the Achilles tendon, the patellar tendon, and the rotator cuff tendons.
Went to a physical therapist who started me on a series of daily stretches which I did and finally, five months later, I have completely recovered. [Doc warned me it would take up to six months and he was right].
If you do a search for [Stretches for Achilles Tendonitis] you'll find loads of hits plus don'tforget to go to YouTube and enter the search term there for tons of videos on how to do these stretches.
I'll put my tin hat on before making this comment, as I'm sure many brickbats will be coming my way, but perhaps you could hire a wheelchair for your mum for the day?
Or if not a wheelchair perhaps one of those electric mobility scooters?
I'm sure she'd have great fun whizzing around on one of those for the day, and she'd be the talk of the town, as everyone else would be envious, especially if they all have to do much walking around during the wedding or rececption.
"I'm sure she'd have great fun whizzing around on one of those for the day,"
As long as she doesn't do what Grammy80 achieved!!!! I'll leave it to her to explain or you can have a look at her profile.
I would do that in a heartbeat - but I suspect the lady concerned wouldn't appreciate it if she won't even consider crutches because "everyone will look at me" ...
The scooters are great...important to have four wheel, not three, and stable width!! My mistake was thinking I could take a slight grade in my path....as long as I went at a high speed. Definitely did not work out that way the left side of the scooter was higher than the right side and over I went! It is really a great mode of transportation on level ground. At my age I didn't think I had so much recklessness left in me, but I guess I do.💞
I have PMR and have had dodgy ankles for quite a few years with Achilles Tendonitis being one of the main symptoms. It took a long time to diagnose my problem correctly. I found I got the most help from a podiatrist who had custom made orthotics made for me. I realise that you probably won’t have time to consult a podiatrist before the wedding but it might be worth considering consulting one afterwards if your Mum’s ankle problems persist.
Buy your mum a Rollator, I am recovering from a snapped Achilles tendon and it has been a godsend. They have a seat with a shopping compartment underneath and are invaluable, much better and safer than crutches.
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