PMR in Feet

[maxismall]

Another thread today mentioned PMR can manifest in feet. Could someone kindly describe what specific sensations/feelings this causes in feet. Thanks.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

A whole load of us felt that it felt like wearing shoes a couple of sizes too small with insoles of a mixture of pebbles, sharp gravel and broken glass! The too small shoes could also be likened to your feet being bound up tight like they used to say Chinese women had done to keep their feet small.

Mine hurt most on standing from sitting for the first few minutes and then it subsided a bit. I hobbled like a 90-year old to start with!

[maxismall in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you Pro. I can identify with the too small a shoe feeling especially across the top of the foot around the ankle which feels stiff as a result.Under the foot I find very difficult to describe - it's not like broken glass. Soles of feet feel tight and fizzy. It's with me all the time regardless of posture.

What about ability to sense temperature changes on the feet? I cannot. They feel stone cold all the time. This loss of sensation makes it problematic to walk without fear of falling.Nerve conduction & electromyography have drawn a blank as have various blood tests which have ruled out a few autoimmune conditions. I had a full spine & brain MRI in August. Its not been reported on yet but neurologist doesn't think there is anything significant showing.

I am being offered amitryptiline or gabapentin. I do not want to start either of these.

My symptoms have seen a subtle improvement in the last month whilst tapering from 6 to 5.5mg Pred. The stiffness across the top is a bit better which leads me to wonder if there is a PMR connection?

[Pangolin43 in reply to maxismall]

Hello maxi small. I have gone up a shoe size since having PMR. I can’t bear tightness around my feet and ankles. 😀

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Pangolin43]

Yes, I had to buy a size bigger shoe but they did go back later.

[maxismall in reply to PMRpro]

My feet are size 9. Bigger shoes not a good prospect! I feel the tightness in bare feet so a bigger shoe wouldn't make any difference to me.

[SheffieldJane in reply to maxismall]

You could be describing Peripheral Neuropathy - prickling, burning feet, numbness, feeling frozen. This can be a side effect of Pred. I would tell your doctor.

[maxismall in reply to SheffieldJane]

Both GP & neurologist say its not a side effect of pred. In the absence of diagnostics coming up with anything ,I think a pred side effect is more than possible, especially as I have seen a subtle improvement now I'm down to 5.5mg.

[SheffieldJane in reply to maxismall]

That’s what I thought with my own symptoms. It only happens at night. Base cream seems to soothe feet?

13 Prednisone Side Effects to Know About - GoodRx

High blood sugar: Prednisone affects insulin levels and insulin resistance, so increased blood sugar is a common side effect — even with low doses. This is especially a risk for people with diabetes or prediabetes. Fluid retention: You may notice that your hands and feet tingle and burn, with numbness, cramps.

The jury seems to be out on it but patients report the symptoms when on Pred.

[maxismall in reply to SheffieldJane]

What is base cream please?

[SheffieldJane in reply to maxismall]

Something like E45 cream with no additives like scent. Just to soothe and moisturise not medicate.

[ancientprune in reply to SheffieldJane]

I'm so thankful to learn this as I've been to several foot drs. and was just diagnosed with Peripheral Neuropathy and sent for P.T. which did nothing. When I told my herbalist he gave me B12 vits and his own herbal mix called Myelin Sheath which has helped ease the stiffness. I use homeopathic remedies (['ve been certified) so I also take Agaricus muscarius and have gotten enough relief that I can stand + walk without holding on . 4 UR FYI

[Rrdance in reply to SheffieldJane]

I started with symptoms of foot peripheral neuropathy 18 months ago, this can’t have been connected to steroids as I’m new to PMR and only been on steroids a few weeks, but possibly maybe PMR condition making its way to me. Someone recommended Vicks Vapour rub, I thought it’s worth a try. Morning and night I give them a good massage and it’s helped to ease the sensations. It didn’t happen overnight, was a few weeks. Worth a try, it’s cheap as chips.

Rrdance

[maxismall in reply to Pangolin43]

It's good if going up a size has helped you.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to maxismall]

No, can't remember difficulty sensing temperature. That is one I haven't heard before.

[nottowell in reply to maxismall]

Hi i take Gabapentin and find it really good only thing is they usually want you to start on 300 mg thats where the side effects are i now only take 100 mg which helps with the nerve pain great

[maxismall in reply to nottowell]

Does the help you get from taking gabapentin mean not only is the pain better but also that you are able to walk more easily because the sensations in the feet have improved? I ask because , if nerve damage is involved, I assume taking the pain away probably won't help with mobility.

[nottowell in reply to maxismall]

Yes it does ease nerve pain i have a bulging disc in my spine which is pressing on the nerve in my leg and feet, but it might help with mobility if the pain is eased

[Suffererc in reply to PMRpro]

I have that walking on pebbles sensation but not the tight shoes.

[Bcol]

Never quite sure whether my foot/feet problems are PMR, OA or Neuropathy due to my back problems. I certainly suffer from my feet feeling cold and not liking things, socks, shoes tight across me. I've certainly gone up one if not two sizes of shoes but again some of that is due to swelling/deformation from OA. That has got worse since PMR but it's equally possible that might have happened anyway. Have things got better or worse since tapering down the Pred? Difficult to say but I don't think things were better, foot wise, on higher Pred doses.

[maxismall in reply to Bcol]

Thanks Bcol. There is no swelling & I am a bit better at 5.5mg than I was at higher doses. To be honest, if it is a pred side effect , that's good news for a change , as I must/have to believe I can continue to taper down.

[2013mayo]

My feet played up when I was first diagnosed with GCA / PMR, in fact before diagnosis,. My heels used to itch and burn, also when I was on high dose pred my feet swelled up so bad I couldn’t walk about as it felt like I was walking on balloons. It’s all calmed down now and I no longer get these problems, all my shoes are far too big now.

[Poshdog in reply to 2013mayo]

Every silver lining has a cloud! X

[maxismall in reply to 2013mayo]

Walking on ballons is a good description of what I feel too but no swelling with me. Am pleased things calmed down for you.

[SheffieldJane in reply to 2013mayo]

I got red sausage toes that sent my doctor down the Psoriac arthritis path. It was athletes foot!

[SheffieldJane in reply to 2013mayo]

My fingers still swell. I have found cheap little gold coils that make loose rings secure at the back again when the go down in the cold or with weight loss from Amazon £3-4.

[maxismall in reply to SheffieldJane]

Aha! Athletes are what we all are - running, pole vaulting , hurdling & throwing the discus at PMR to beat it....

[SheffieldJane in reply to maxismall]

😂

[Janbay46]

When I had a flare, it affected both hands and feet. They swelled up, but didn't really hurt that much. I had to buy a bigger size of shoes, with Velcro straps. My knees were affected too, they didn't swell, but they hurt a lot! With higher Pred the hands and feet went back to normal in a few weeks, the knees took months.

[Fries]

Feet swelling - maybe steroids or other tablets. Very painful cramp at time! Have to be careful about kneeling down, curling my toes under me which can set it off. I am better to sit down and reach forward. I am still a work in progress lol. I will advise further when I can. Good luck x

[maxismall in reply to Fries]

Feet swelling seems to be a common theme but I don't have that. Would be interested to know if your symptoms improve with tapering. Good luck to you too .

[Myfoe]

What an excellent explanation PMRPro I used very similar words many times but you put it together like you felt what my feet feel like some days! I often take my shoes off under my desk to relieve the pressure from my clown sized feeling feet stuck in wooden shoes

[maxismall in reply to Myfoe]

Well that's another good description- clown sized feeling feet! My feet do feel very big but there is no swelling.

[Myfoe]

I agree my feet just feel like they are huge but do feel the best with no shoes on..

[Myrna20]

Before tapering to 7mg, I felt like there was sand in my shoes- particularly at the base of my toes. The feeling was so strong, I woukd take my shoes off to check repeatedly! Haven't had that sensation since tapering.

[Comben]

I had the same symptoms as PMR pro . And definitely felt like I was about 90 . It was so upsetting! Hope you start to improve soon .

[papadapadoo]

For me it was my right foot. I thought I had achilles tendinitis, and maybe I did. Having torn the other achilles I didn't want a repeat, so I bound it and took i easy. I have typical prednisone swelling in the lower leg and walk clumsily now. Low-dose naltrexone knocked out the neuropathy but the other effects are improving only slowly as I taper the pred (now at 7mg).