Can a fall cause a flare?

[Mfaepink1973]

I fell at work yesterday on a wet floor and landed on my right side hurting my hip and shoulder. Today I started off feeling sore and bruised down my right side but as the day’s gone on my left shoulder and hip have started hurting as well. Could the fall have made my PMR flare? I’m on 6.5mg pred and was ok until the fall apart from a few twinges in hips, shoulders and knees.

[SheffieldJane]

The shock and stress of a fall can definitely bring on a flare. Are you sure you haven’t injured yourself and the left side is trying to compensate?

I think you should be off sick and properly resting. Your employer has a duty of care towards you, are they in anyway responsible for the wet floor or your fall? I honestly don’t know how you manage to hold down a job. I never could - not even my voluntary work. If these generalised PMR symptoms continue, I would follow the flare guidance that Dorset Lady put in FAQs on here. Basically double your dose and go straight back down in a week or two, maybe to a mg or two above your current dose because you have poke through symptoms. Then wait a bit before you taper. Get better soon, a fall is horrible.

[Mfaepink1973 in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thanks for your reply. Yes my employer is responsible ( someone who doesn’t know how to squeeze a mop had washed a kitchen floor and left it wet through and no WET FLOOR sign put up) I filled accident book in when it happened and was on “light duties” this evening. I’m 71 and have retired 3 times but get bored so took this part time job just 3 evenings a week. I must admit it’s been difficult since getting PMR and after 4 years there I’m thinking I need to retire for good! I look after my 2 year old grandson 2 mornings a week as well!

Many thanks for your advice

[SheffieldJane in reply to Mfaepink1973]

I envy you your grandson so much. I cared for mine during his baby days but they decided to emigrate to Australia - my son in law is a doctor and it’s a better life for them. My heart broke 💔. They bring energy I find. My voluntary work was for Victim Support and Witness support - mostly supporting people following crime - quite sedentary and utterly satisfying + fascinating. Alas, a huge flight of stairs into the Court building and exhaustion ensued with PMR. I do get the interest and being needed bit completely. There is help- line work though. You commit as much as you can/ want. I expect you don’t want to sue your employer but citizens advice can help if you do.

Good luck, you’ve always got The Wheels on the Bus” 😊. X

[Mfaepink1973 in reply to SheffieldJane]

It must be awful being so far away from your grandson. I know I’m very lucky having all 15 of mine within an hours drive. I’d be devastated if any of my children moved so far away.

I’ll definitely give some thought to doing helpline work.

The wheels on the bus have been going round and round for one or other of my grandkids for the last 23 years!🤣

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Sorry to hear of your mishap -and yes, due to carelessness of A N Other…not good.

But have to say - this comment might imply flare was pending anyway - so fall just hastened it -

I’m on 6.5mg pred and was ok until the fall apart from a few twinges in hips, shoulders and knees.

As   SheffieldJane says usual advice for dealing with flare here -healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

Good luck, and maybe find a hobby to relieve your boredom… 😊

[Mfaepink1973 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks for your reply. I know what you mean about a flare already pending but hadn’t thought of that at the time. The pain is worse today so I’ve increased to 10mg and will stay on that for a week then drop down to 7.5 and stay there for a few weeks.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Mfaepink1973]

Okay… but as some aches and pains may be from fall as well, you can try paracetamol for any non PMR pains, and you may need arnica for bruising…

[Mfaepink1973 in reply to DorsetLady]

I hadn’t thought about arnica, I’ll try that now. I did take paracetamol at work last night but didn’t notice any improvement. Thanks so much for your advice, this group is invaluable

[SnazzyD]

It could do but also bear in mind falls can cause all sorts of pains even in places that didn’t get the impact. As SJ says, trying to avoid the fall can inadvertently injure other places. Sudden tensing of the whole body and reaching out for something to arrest the fall can pull those tissues. All of a sudden the body weight can be hanging off the other side before the impacted one hits the ground pulling on the limbs and torso. Over extension can wreak havoc as well. The neck often gets a hammering as it has to hold the head up forcefully which can lead to shoulder pain and headache. I would expect to feel rather battered everywhere for at least a week and if you have properly wrenched something, longer. 48 is often a peak for injury pain too. As it came on so quickly, I wouldn’t panic but the old hands with PMR might suggest a bit of an increase for a day or two but don’t panic if it isn’t a magic cure because the pain could be just injury.

[Mfaepink1973 in reply to SnazzyD]

Thanks Snazzy D, your reply makes a lot of sense and explains why my other shoulder is a lot more painful than the one I landed on and why it’s worse today. I’ve increased my pred today and hopefully that will help but I realise the pains may all be due to the injury and not the PMR although, as Dorsett lady said, the twinges I was getting before I fell could have been the start of a flare.

[SnazzyD in reply to Mfaepink1973]

Yes, unfortunately you could be getting two for the price of one.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It can and even has a publication about it!

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

And when Manzo says it - I'm very inclined to believe him as it is a very good group.

I have to say - one thing I haven't been since retiring is bored! But it was a gentle transfer from being freelance, at the computer translating to being at the computer "doing" the forum, reading stuff up and answering questions! I did find that Covid and my husband's illness changed my feelings about not being out and about - no-one could so it didn't matter as much.

But physical work when you have PMR really isn't easy and it does sound as if you were skating on thin ice with those twinges. But someone needs to have a hand smacked - it could have been so much worse had you broken a hip or worse. Were you properly checked over in the ED after the fall? The post-fall adrenaline rush can hide even broken bits. It is probably brusing but you can never be too careful at our age.

I have 3 grandchildren, all big and working now, but they are in the UK, I am in Italy so we see each other by video. I watched one graduating as a nurse a couple of months ago - will see him next week as I am driving to near Nuremburg to meet the whole family between rugby matches in France. Well over a year since I saw my daughters.

[Mfaepink1973 in reply to PMRpro]

No I wasn’t checked out in the ED or anywhere else. I just sat down and had a cup of tea then carried on working although I did spend time sitting filling accident reports in (I work in a Council care home) and was put on light duties for the following 2 days. I’m off work after today until next Monday and they are assuming I’ll be fine by then.

I hope you have a lovely time with all your family next week.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Mfaepink1973]

Hmmm - if the hip pain continues I think you should at least ask the GP.

[sidra1968]

I would think so, since just sleeping on a different bed for 2 nights seemed to bring on a little one for me.