sparkle

[Movies5178]

hi to everyone I have done well with my steroid tapering not been on them for month now I found what help me was swimming two days a week and I still go because I really enjoy it 😊

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Well done - hope it lasts!!!

[SnazzyD]

If it helps and you can get away with it, good on you!

[piglette]

I love swimming except they are repairing a bridge which is now closed in the way to the swimming pool so it takes quite a while to get to the pool and I am down to once a week or even less at the moment. Will be back to normal on 23 March!

[SheffieldJane]

Top tip!

[Animalover65]

Congratulation sparkle! I have also stopped steroids 4 weeks ago. I attend a weekly yoga class and an adult ballet class and intend to resume swimming and walk more. As exercise strengthens the immune system I intend to keep it up along with a good diet. The experience of PMR makes me want to take as much care of myself as possible going forwards.👍

[Janet57]

Congratulations-I enjoy swimming/exercising in the pool. It helps to keep me mobile. I hope that you remain well. 😊

[Marcy47]

That's great, I was thinking yesterday of taking up swimming again, haven't done any since we left Spain in 2012. We have a new Leisure Centre here with 2 pools so after New Year I will go. Hope it helps with my weak left hip and thigh. I am also trying a dairy free diet! Good luck.🤞😊

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Marcy47]

I do aquafit with the local rheuma charity offer here in Italy - only wish there was more on offer at an affordable price! It kept me mobile with untreated PMR at the start - my gym had an amazing selection of daytime classes including aquafit every day!

[Movies5178]

hi not been on here for awhile just need to ask I had blood tests done came back CRP25 and ESR43 is this ok because starting to get pain in shoulders neck stiffness in the mornings if can give any advice, please

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Movies5178]

If you want lots of answers, you would be better to post this question as a new thread - only DorsetLady and I are likely to see it here,

However - that ESR and CRP are both raised and that is an indication that you have active inflammation going on. Eight months is a long period but not exceptional for very low disease activity without pred to build up inflammation to a level you can feel it. It is possible that the swimming you were doing masked the symptoms until now - I used aquafit to keep mobile during the years before I was diagnosed with PMR.

It may be a relapse - but I think my suggestion of not entirely burnt out PMR is most likely. If your GP will let you treat it as a flare you may get away with a very low dose without having to start over again with higher doses. Try 5mg for up to a couple of weeks and drop to 2mg and see how you get on. If you are lucky you will get to 1mg, Then try 1/2mg or just stick,

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Movies5178]

Agree with PMRpro’s comments -and sounds very likely that your PMR has been pottering along at a very low level and has now reached a point where you need to get it back under control.

[Movies5178 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you for advice doctors want to speak to me tomorrow what I don’t understand my rheumatologist said blood were ok at time he did ask me how long pain was last for this was in June pain was lasting for hour but as weeks gone on pain lasted from 4am in morning start to get little relief 2 in after noon

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Movies5178]

Are you saying Rheumy thought the readings of CRP25 and ESR43 were okay? If so, he’s wrong. Or are they recent ones which have increased since you saw him in June.

PMR activity has obviously increased as well since June -but really don’t understand why he didn’t address the issues then.