Just some help needed: Hi all, if P M R it's bad... - PMRGCAuk

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Just some help needed

Harrywogan profile image
42 Replies

Hi all, if P M R it's bad enough been I think I've already said I've now got TROCHANTERIC Bursitis, getting a cortisone injection when I get back from holidays, I've been doing exercises from physio for 6 weeks now and don't feel much difference , don't like doing some when in pain and may make things worse not getting much sleep as you don't lie on that side and I forget,other half IAM moaning half night in my sleep, has anyone had this and got better. Thanks xx

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Harrywogan profile image
Harrywogan
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42 Replies
PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador

I've had it for some years off and on. A steroid injection together with the exercises used to sort it for a few years. These days the rehab department uses extracorporeal shockwave therapy - I had a treatment yesterday, another in a couple of weeks. Icing can help too. But the exercises over a long period really do help.

The rehab rheumy here says it is a common situation: PMR and arthrosis in the lower back and pelvis join together and make their presence felt!

HeronNS profile image
HeronNS

What exercises have you tried? I self-diagnosed bursitis (as opposed to sciatica) and found an exercise called clamshell which helped brilliantly. There is also something called the reverse clamshell, mentioned specifically for Trochanteric Bursitis,but I haven't tried that. As cortisone is not great for the bones i was glad to find something which so far has helped me avoid need for injections.

Harrywogan profile image
Harrywogan in reply toHeronNS

Yes heron doing all exercises, not helping much, xx

HeronNS profile image
HeronNS in reply toHarrywogan

That's a shame. Well, I hope you find some relief soon. 🍀

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toHarrywogan

My rehab rheumy reminded me yesterday, exercises are a long term solution - patience.

Harrywogan profile image
Harrywogan in reply toPMRpro

Thanks PRO,patience will need to think what that is. Take care lol xx

Janstr profile image
Janstr

I cured mine by going to a podiatrist & getting some orthotics. They weren’t cheap, but worked for me

Pollyanna16 profile image
Pollyanna16

I feel for you & your partner! Going through the same problem though I’ve had to self diagnose as only a phone appointment available! Now on Naproxen for a week to calm things down so sleeping better. Cortisone injection in another week if needed but I am interested in the extracorporeal shockwave therapy which I have never heard of & hasn’t been offered & so will make enquiries. Though may have to go privately….. I think mine was brought on by too deeper massage in January though I know I weekends in that area.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toPollyanna16

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

eswt.info/en

It works best together with the stretching exercises they say. I'd be surprised if massage triggered it - my physio uses massage techniques on the soft tissue attachments that are inflamed, It is over-use and above all stairs that are a nightmare for me.

If you google "ECSWT in the NHS" articles from loads of NHS Trusts come up and I know my daughter's partner said his father had it done for plantar fasciitis in northern Ireland.

Pollyanna16 profile image
Pollyanna16 in reply toPMRpro

Thanks. Yes I’m very familiar with those exercises as have been doing Pilates for many years but this massage was horrible! I thought no pain no gain & went for 3 treatments it was just too deep. I live a good massage but although it helped in other areas it definitely inflamed the hip area. I’d also been to Aqua & Pilates & maybe it was all too much 😜 anyway I’m going to look into this therapy which is available locally & I need a proper diagnosis!

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toPollyanna16

Ooooh - where is that? NHS or private?

Pollyanna16 profile image
Pollyanna16 in reply toPMRpro

Private. Needed to free up my hip flexors urgently! Which, to be fair she did!

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toPollyanna16

Er - did you need to take out a mortgage? Private access to it would almost compensate for losing the amazing care I have here!!

Pollyanna16 profile image
Pollyanna16 in reply toPMRpro

Sorry I think you were asking me about the ECSWT & not the massage! So I see there are private physios locally who do it. I don’t know if the surgery physio does it as I haven’t asked the question. More than likely it would be a long wait anyway. My chiro son says the treatment can be uncomfortable, would you agree? He also suggested acupuncture which I have found beneficial in the past. Otherwise he thinks hitting it with anti inflammatories for a week & gentle exercise is the way to go just now 🤞

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toPollyanna16

I was! It can - this week's was quite painful compared with previous ones. The first wave through a new patch of tissue hurts most and then the subsequent ones hurt less and less until the head is moved to a new area when it starts again, But that depends on the setting the operator is using and Conrad knows I tolerate a fair bit and just gets on with it. It is just at the moment - no pain at all once it is completed. And it works!

Pollyanna16 profile image
Pollyanna16 in reply toPMRpro

Thank you that’s really good to know!

Monkey321 profile image
Monkey321

Hi, I have trocherantic bursitis also. My DR referred me to physio and I attended, I was shown the clam shell and other exercises which I faithfully did. However, for me, it actually worsened the pain quite badly. In the end the physiotherapist told me to stop, she discharged me as she agreed it was only aggravating the issue. Sorry to say I've not had any improvement and my hips, lower legs still very painful and its been over a year. I hope this is not the case with you!

Pollyanna16 profile image
Pollyanna16 in reply toMonkey321

Oh my goodness I’m sorry to hear that! I do hope it magically disappears for you x

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toMonkey321

Lower legs shouldn't be affected by TB - think someone needs to look harder.

Sumojo profile image
Sumojo in reply toMonkey321

I was exactly the same. Physiology made it worse. Ultra sound showed torn gluteal tendons. Exercise makes it worse.

I’ve had gluteal repair surgery

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toSumojo

I assume you mean physiotherapy? The things autocorrect comes up with!!!

Sumojo profile image
Sumojo in reply toPMRpro

Yes, I did and yes, autocorrect and preemptive text is the bane of my life. It can get one into trouble 😂

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toSumojo

It certainly can!!!!

DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer in reply toSumojo

Don't we know it!😏

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toDorsetLady

Good laugh sometimes though ...

DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer in reply toPMRpro

Yes, usually at my expense, but I'm a big girl and can take it!...

Indigo2417 profile image
Indigo2417 in reply toMonkey321

I was given exercises by a physio after compression fractures in my spine due to osteoporosis. I faithfully did these along with regular walking but I started getting some niggling hip pains. Was then additionally given exercises for my hips which showed osteopenia on my DEXA scan. I really tried with these, but found they seem to make things worse. On my next visit to the physio, last January, she concluded that I’d got trochanteric bursitis. Gave me some different exercises, including the clamshell, which I did try and persevere with. She also got me to try the tape that you put on your muscles, which I didn’t find very helpful. Then, in August, PMR reared its head and I stopped trying to do any of the exercises. I have to say, since stopping the exercises, the bursitis has been better. PMR, then Covid and now a back strain have all curtailed exercises, but I’m now trying to start right from scratch with walking and then trying to build up from there slowly. I hope you can find some relief.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toIndigo2417

You should have been at the "Ask the Researcher" seminar I just finished participating in!

It was pretty much agreed that PMR and TB can be interlinked with one presaging the other; That exercises that make it worse mean you need to go back and tell the physio as they were too advanced for the stage you were at; Lower back arthrosis adds to the entire greater trochanteric pain syndrome.

Ben the Physio seemed to think that there is enough difference between PMR and GTPS for them not to be confused - but I don't agree!! I think he needs to educate the GPs! And he approved of "just" walking to start.

tangocharlie profile image
tangocharlie in reply toPMRpro

I think PMR and GTBS (Greater Trochanteric Bursitis Syndrome, which used to just be called Trochanteric bursitis) so often go together hand in hand. To me, having read the paper on the research of MRi findings with people with PMRm just about 100% of the people who had some kind of bursitis went on to be diagnosed with PMR. but they were in the trial because they had suspected PMR. Maybe for people who have bursitis due to other reasons but not PMR, exercise is the solution, but for some it can make things worse especially if you are given the wrong exercises, which is quite likely if the physio doesn't know anything about PMR and how over-exercising brings on a flare! Two papers I'm currently digesting are the one PMRPro shared a while back and one I've just found yesterday about basic exercises for GTB

The research one is ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

It won't let me post a link to the exercises one but if you Google: Greater trochanteric pain syndrome A patient’s guide Information for patients, relatives and carers there's a nice user-friendly exercise guide from Yorks and Scarborough teaching hospitals

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply totangocharlie

This one?

yorkhospitals.nhs.uk/seecms...

tangocharlie profile image
tangocharlie in reply toPMRpro

Yes thank you how did you do that? It would only let me save it to my computer not save the link. Perhaps my brain hasn't had enough tea yet today.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply totangocharlie

I just C&P the URL at the top of the page when I have loaded it

tangocharlie profile image
tangocharlie in reply toPMRpro

O tried again but it wil only let me save the pdf to my computer, I can't get a link to copy and paste. This happens to me a lot must be a setting somewhere

Indigo2417 profile image
Indigo2417 in reply toPMRpro

Haven’t seen the physio since last January. She is usually so busy that I don’t think I’ll get followed up. She must have put some on my records at the time as she does a clinic attached to the surgery, or at least she did. There have been some changes over the last 2-3 years as the Health Board took over the practice when the original GPs left. Since then we’ve had several locums so I don’t even know if they are aware that I’ve got bursitis, or if the physio is still there. The only slight improvement is that we now seem to have 2 ‘permanent’ locums. If you can make sense of that.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toIndigo2417

Seems a common situation - permanent locums I mean! Sometimes locums can be good. Decently paid for walking out the door and not taking work home ...

Indigo2417 profile image
Indigo2417 in reply toPMRpro

The two that I first saw when PMR arrived were very good. Unfortunately, they’ve not been back since.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toIndigo2417

Shame.

Pixix profile image
Pixix

No, I haven’t got better yet. I’ve had bursitis in left side & sciatica in right side for over two years now, the first bursitis injection helped for 3 months, which was great, but the recent one only helped for 3 weeks. Until you try you don’t don’t how long it will help you! Sadly, exercises & insoles from hospital haven’t helped my bursitis. I do find heat helps, heat pad, electric blanket…& it’s never as bad in the summer as the winter!! My sleep is compromised by having two issues, one in each side…& snoring loud enough to wake me up if I try to sleep on my back!!

Monkey321 profile image
Monkey321 in reply toPixix

Funny comment about your snoring on your back...I know the feeling!

Harrywogan profile image
Harrywogan in reply toMonkey321

Yes Monkey, my husband complaining he's not getting sleeping, I did say there is a spare bed lol x

Pixix profile image
Pixix in reply toMonkey321

Yes, it’s hopeless…the noise is so loud! My husband snored really badly when we were first together, but he was diagnosed with sleep apnoea & has a CPAP machine now, so is always quiet! I haven’t really found a solution, but toss & turn & turn all night right now!

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