I'm not sure how to put this but can you be under stress without knowing it. I have 6 spinal stress fractures, 3 of which are as yet unhealed.
I'm trying to taper and I reduced from 10mg to 9mg and started to feel the stiffness return in my hips. I have gone up to 9.5mg.
What I don't know is if my body is under stress because of the fractures even though I have more or less come to terms with it in my head. (Still have the odd weep though).
Stress can come in many guises … sometimes it’s because you have personal issues - at work, home or play and it’s fairly obvious to you that you are getting mentally stressed.
But, as in your case it can also be medical issues which maybe you don’t think are causing you stress in an obviously way… but are still putting stress on your body, if not your mind. Although the shedding of tears would indicate oit is[and understandably so].
Thank you, I think that is probably what my intuition was telling me. Perhaps I should delay trying to taper for a while.
Definitely…. 😊
I would put money on there being a large amount of us here that are masters of being able to use our head to block off anything from the neck down. Our capacity to dismiss our body’s calls never ceases to amaze me. We can come to terms with things intellectually but the body still has to deal with it. Not easy.
If you have unhealed spinal fractures then that alone is stress. They are the same as an injury and your body needs MORE corticosteroid to cope with that than normal - not less.
Hi Lopera. I was diagnosed with a fracture to L4 vertebra 2 weeks' ago and am definitely more fatigued and weepy, not to mention the pain. Think I'll stick to 11 mg pred till things improve physically. This conversation is really interesting, thanks.
Sorry to hear about your fracture. They are not nice especially when you have no idea why you are in pain. Be careful not to bend, lift or twist to try to avoid any more. The Royal Osteoporosis Society website has some very good info on their website and also the Bone Health and Osteoporosis forum on HealthUnlocked.
In the past I've always been on the 'chin up' side so the concept of my body having a mind of it's own is interesting and I think I will stay on 9.5mg for a little while until I think my fractures are healed.
Take care.
Thanks, Lopera. I'm now being ultra careful re physical tasks - not easy on your own! Hoping for a more thorough examination and exercises from face-to-face with physio Wednesday. XRay showed fracture & arthritis in spine.
One thing I do now to cut down on heavy lifting, is online shopping for my groceries. I pay £8 per month for unlimited deliveries from Morrisons. I usually have 2 deliveries each week and the driver has always been happy to bring the groceries into my kitchen.
I do my own shopping, because I have to being alone and there being NO online shopping for ordinary food here!! I split the shopping into smaller bags which I then transfer one at a time into a large bag on a sack trolley to take to the lift to the flat.
Unfortunately yes, as others have said. I’m in the same position. I’d been feeling great, got to 7.5mg in Nov enlisted a personal trainer to gently help me start to get back to fitness, then had surgery on my right hand. A week on pain and stiffness returned in shoulders, tops of arms and thighs and I feel dire. Increased pred by 5 mg. This is day 3, pain and stiffness not as bad but the swollen body feeling is back as is the low mood.
Good luck, I hope things resolve for you soon.
It seems we go two steps forward and one back or the other way round!
oh I can understand the weeps. It is so frustrating and the need for patience and daily gratitude is huge. I was told I have wedging in my thoracic spine which is tiny fractures. Am on 5.5/5 mg taper. About to see new rheumy to help get off Pred after 5 years. Was doing fine at 4.5 a year ago until hubby had open heart surgery and daughter started processing PTSD and disclosed about here rape ten years ago and the subsequent domestic violence relationship. Had no idea previously what she had gone through Went to 25 then 50 for fuzzy vision.
I thought I was coping fine with the stress. Saw a psych who helped enormously. Talking to a stranger can be very helpful to get to know more of your own self.
Good luck to you. We can do this especially with the help of people with lived experience and good advice. ❤️❤️🙏🙏
" About to see new rheumy to help get off Pred after 5 years"
That is only going to happen if a) the PMR is in remission and b) your adrenal function returns which it will only do with a SLOW taper with small changes in dose so the body has a chance to adapt.
The best rheumy in the world can't alter those factors! And not even the best option as a steroid sparer.
Can a foot stress fracture be caused by PMR- weakened muscles?
PMR & Stress
Stress?
