Hi, I haven't posted for a while as I'm not on pred any more - pmr in remission! I hope it's gone for good!I do read the posts most days and like to feel I still belong!
I'm a bit sorry for myself ATM as I've pulled muscles in my back and sides from coughing! It's very sore. I have asthma/ copd so I need to cough up stuff mainly morning and evening. It's agony! The doctor was dismissive and just said take paracetamol. It hardly does anything.
I put ice on at first but now I find heat helps more.
Has anyone got any tips about how to manage this? I guess that every time I cough I'm tearing the muscle again...
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Blossom20
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That’s a lovely compliment to pay your friends here, Blossom.🌸
Forgive me for harping on- I mean well- but I’m sure you’ll find the Asthma/COPD forum equally friendly and helpful. To illustrate what I’m suggesting I’ve taken the liberty of finding replies to a question similar to yours. You may want to save this and read at some time down the line. It’s absolutely your choice whatever you decide to do and, of course, you must come back to PMRGCA whenever you wish. Here goes:
Glad to hear that you’re off pred - and by the way I think it provides some balance to the forum to have some members, like you, who can point to light at the end of the tunnel!
That said, I’m sorry to hear about your current problems. I can’t suggest anything to help I’m afraid - I can only hope you are better soon x
We love to see people back - and replying when they can help from their experience. You do still belong to this community. We keep TELLING newbies that people recover but you are the living proof! We need you - even if you don't need us as much.
One of those doctors that I hope experiences themself what it's like!! Take paracetamol - yeah, right, not the most effective of painkillers for pulled muscles is it!! Icing or heat often helps more and holding the area that hurts while you cough might make it less agonising.
Aww, thanks Pro! Glad I'm wanted!Yes, tried ice. Heat and Epsom salt bath helped most. Also homeopathy.
I do hold the area when I cough ....and am black and blue there! Bruised! A bit scary - if it's like that outside, what's it like inside?! It's cos of the aspirin I take I suppose.
Hi Blossom20! Agree with PMRpro re holding area when coughing. I have COPD and have just damaged what I think is intercostal muscle by stupidly moving some furniture around. Arnica helps but also reaching for the codeine atm which, taken with paracetamol, is the business! Great to hear PMR's (hopefully) over. I'm still battling on 13mg pred.
Hi Blossom20I have PMR and also difficult/ severe asthma and previous diagnosis of bronchiectasis which has seen me start biological therapy for it up at Guys, London which has been life saving and life changing so belong to both groups as it were but having now had PMR for nearly 10 years in December I too feel the PMR group is much more
Have you tried ?
Active Cycle of Breathing
NHS University Hospitals Plymouth Physiotherapy
Type that in on Google ( as no idea how to copy and paste the link into this group)
It's a video on YouTube which they talk you through. I was advised to follow it during periods of illness when lungs infected of which the last three years have been many)
You are meant to sort of huff all the mucous etc up from your lungs as opposed to coughing it up. It does work and saves the strain of coughing.
I totally get what you are saying about this group as having had PMR for 10 years next month the group is so comforting with all their knowledge and supportive comments! And I have learnt so much about PMR from this forum.
And the relief when PMR Pro and Dorset Lady check in with their advice!!!!
In fact only the other morning I felt myself getting teary after reading some ones post and the replies as it brought back all the memories of those early very hard years when I felt like a bomb had just blown up my life!!!!!
I am still on pred but down to 3 / 2 mgs daily so GETTING THERE!!!
Well apologies to PMR/ GCA people as its not relevant to them but basically an injection every 4 weeks. The idea is that it disrupts the inflammation pathways in the lungs.Unfortunately it is very expensive and so the criteria to be eligible is very strict and it took almost 6 months from being referred by my consultant at local hosp to actually receiving the first injection and there were many soul destroying times with in that period constantly having to go up there to be assessed and times when I thought I wouldn't be eligible as my asthma classed as difficult does not fit the usual types of asthma or respond in the way it should!!!
I have not only lived off high dose steroids for the past three years but also had lots of infections too.
Anyway as I said been a lifesaver and life changer as been 7 months now since I had to take any steroids for my asthma!
Having had a granddaughter with severe brittle asthma I can imagine the relief for you - and I have a niece with cystic fibrosis and she is on one of the vastly expensive things for that, hasn't had a winter infection stay in hospital since!! The grandaughter solved her "in the ED every 3 weeks" and almost constant high dose pred pattern by going vegan! Only has "normal" asthma now.
I am so pleased your granddaughter is more stable now.
Now that I haven't needed the high dose steroids and the fact I am down to 3 /2 mgs for PMR I feel a bit better and can cope with short bursts at the gym ( totally wacked after and for the rest of the day though) and am losing some weight!!!!!! I am becoming even more conscious of my diet for other reasons too so it's all had a knock on effect!!!
Blossom20, it is so wonderful to hear from someone who has made it to the other side. There really is light. Good luck with COPD. Please check in again. Would love to hear how things go.
Aw, thanks....'made it to the other side' sounds like I've become enlightened! Not yet! But yes, seriously, I'm so pleased to be off the pred. I don't want to jinx it by saying that!
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