Back to the beginning or not .?

[daisylazy]

Please help as I am struggling to make sense of all the latest in the PMR story .Ten yrs on from diagnosis. Tapered to 3mg relatively easy and then due to Adrenal Insufficiency was left at 5mg.I have posted lately of very painful shoulders which has been put down to osteoarthritis and torn rotator cuff. Chronic pain which exercise seems to make worse.Anyway woke one morning lately to find I could hardly walk .Now my question is could this be a bad flair which my GP seems to think and has put me back on 20mg of Pred .Needless to say I am devastated as I have bad osteoporosis and have to take a lot of PPI'sfor reflux .Thank you in advance for any suggestions

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I think your GP is correct to start with the premise that this is a severe flare of the PMR. If you respond well to the pred, it will go a long way to confirming his suspicions. It is difficult to say whether the PMR was actually in remission since you have been on pred all along at 5mg - but even if it was, relapses after a few years aren't unusual.

I do hope you get some relief and then are able to taper fairly easily. If you already have osteoporosis, then you should be on medication to deal with that too,

[daisylazy in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks Pro, day three walk has improved but shoulders very painful but will wait and see for another few days. Hope your weather is OK and not like the awful floods in Spain.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to daisylazy]

We have our long awaited stable central European high pressure which means clear skies and temps on Garda IRO 20C in the afternoon. We've had the rain all year - 2 or 3 days nice-ish and then 3 or 4 days yuk with rain as one Mediterranean low after another formed and moved north. Last week was the first extended dry period - and now it is the end of the camping season!!

[Gaz227]

I feel your pain , I put up with rotator cuff issues in both shoulders for a long time finally decided to get them done took about 5 months to get back to normal , best thing I ever did , rehab was hard work and painful but that’s the secret to good recovery to push on through it . I’ve also had both my clavicles resurfaced since, that only took about 5 weeks to recover. Pred is a savour and a curse all in one , I hope you get sorted soon , it really does grind you down , wishing you well 🙏

[daisylazy in reply to Gaz227]

Thanks Gaz .I know people get great relief from surgery but for a near eighty year old with arthritic shoulders into the bargain that's a daunting prospect

[Gaz227 in reply to daisylazy]

Completely understand daisylazy, the older we get the harder the recovery period if at all . Good luck on your journey 👍🙏

[TandemTime]

I have had a torn rotator cuff twice due to a bone spur ( they can re grow) . I would suggest a good physio checks it and then if the exercises do not help a steriod injection might well settle it.

I can not give advice in other respects as I do not know enough.

I would be looking at the shoulder as a separate issue at the same time. Do not leave it too long as I nearly ended up with a dropped shoulder. I had 2 different operations and the second time was worse as I tried to ignore it. An xray will find a spur if they are looking for it. Get one from your GP.

[daisylazy in reply to TandemTime]

Thanks Tandem .Have had injection and no relief .Getting result of an MRI at ortho on 19th so I suppose he will be suggesting some procedure so will have to see .

[TandemTime]

I feel I was a bit negative! Apologies my first op to remove a spur did make my shoulder and neck better within 24 hours. It was done without a big scar with key hole surgery. A wonderful relief even at your age....I imagine. Good luck .

[daisylazy in reply to TandemTime]

Not at all negative ,thank you for the encouragement .Going to Ortho 19 Nov so will see what he says about my chances .As regards the PMR still waiting for steroids to kick in a bit more .

[TandemTime]

Good luck, not long to wait now...