Injury or a flare?

[Markandevie]

I was coming home yesterday and filled the car with petrol but when pulling the pump out my left shoulder started to hurt like a pulled muscle. This morning the aching on my left arm at the top near the shoulder down to nearly my elbow is painful and any task such as lifting a coffee while stretching out my arm is extremely uncomfortable. My question is, would PMR if flaring be a bilateral pain on both shoulders and elsewhere or would the pain be felt on one side only? I have been lucky so far and reducing pred very slowly such as a quarter m mg every 14 days and currently on 8.5.

Thank you in advance and hope everyone has a pain-free and happy new year.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Sounds as if, as you described, a pulled muscle or DOMS [Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness] - so initially plenty of TLC, maybe cold/heat treatment and gentle movement of the shoulder/arm and ordinary painkillers..

hopefully that will ease it.. but no reducing for a while, and obviously if it spreads it could be a flare. But hopefully not. Should that happen - usual advice here -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[PMRpro Ambassador]

That is more typical of a muscle injury really - sudden onset and one-sided. Try ice and rest.

[piglette]

I find that with PMR I am much more susceptible to knocks and strains.

[Gimme in reply to piglette]

Same here. I get the sense that I am more prone to strains since I have been on pred.

[piglette in reply to Gimme]

I never know if it is me getting older or PMR, I think I will blame the PMR!

[Markandevie in reply to piglette]

Good idea lol.

[Gimme in reply to piglette]

I have wondered the same, i.e. whether it is part of getting older, but I am only 65. I would imagine it is a combination of things, as age, PMR, and pred can all contribute to loss of muscle bulk.

[piglette in reply to Gimme]

As they say old age is not for the faint hearted!

[Gimme in reply to piglette]

ha ha that's very true.

[Merryfield]

My PMR started in right shoulder, couldn’t lift a coffee cup. Then it hit my right leg..couldn’t lift it when sitting. So in my case, not bi/lateral. Had 128 sed rate. Pred cleared pain immediately.