colds and cold etc

[Jbobby]

just wondering…🤔. The whole of Jan and half of Feb I was suffering with intense stiffness and pain which I put down to PMR symptoms being exacerbated by extreme cold weather. And indeed symptoms went into retreat about 5 days ago as soon as temperature went up here in the U.K. which was a huge relief. However, yesterday I came down with a cold virus - albeit mild so far - and my body today feels stiff etc all over again. I’m on 7mg Pred and don’t want to increase unless necessary especially as the increase during cold weather did nothing to help. A) Is it normal to get increased stiffness with colds etc? And b) is the effect on the body caused by cold weather typical and is it related to steroids making it difficult to consume cold food such as ice cream without it causing pain in teeth?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Cold weather has an effect on the body with or without PMR - which is why we often suggest you think carefully about reducing during winter months.

Just one article about subject -

agecymru.wales/our-work/pro....

If you have a cold [as in virus] then plenty of TLC, keep hydrated, warm and paracetamol is as good as anything, but make sure you aren’t overdosing if taking drinks like Lemsip as well as tablets… and yes it can make you stiff and achy.

[Jbobby in reply to DorsetLady]

Great. Thank you DL. This all helps and makes sense.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Yes and yes. But not really related to pred - more the nature of weather and physiology and aging. Nor is it really the same as increased sensitivity of teeth - which may or may not be due to pred. I had it because of PMR, long before I started pred. My dentist gave me a few samples of toothpaste for sensitive teeth, some were useless, Sensodyne worked well despite the vile taste! Now my preferred toothpaste is Pronamel and I never have problems.

[Maryis80 in reply to PMRpro]

My dentist recommended Pronamel several years ago. It's expensive but Boots, Superdrug and supermarkets regularly have special offers and I stock up then.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Maryis80]

It used to be much cheaper here in Italy at the local Big Spar supermarket but the last couple of years they stopped stocking it so that meant the pharmacy which was eye-wateringly expensive! But last summer in the UK it was on offer in Asda I think and I bought loads!! Pleased to hear that is a regular event!!!

[Jbobby in reply to Maryis80]

Thank you Maryis80

[Jbobby in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you PMR pro… I thought I’d replied to you yesterday but probably - knowing me - sent it to wrong place! Anyway, as ever , v grateful for Pronamel rec. My teeth sensitivity deflated to Pred coz it started just a few weeks after first taking it. But interested to know PMR alone can produce this effect. I’m also interested in what it is that Pred does to increase sensitivity but that’s another story!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Jbobby]

Here is a study that confirms that it IS a pred-effect - you will find a lot of doctors poo-poo the idea -

sciencedirect.com/science/a...

and they postulate possible reasons for it.

Another discussion

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

but it doesn't seem to have been particularly throughly looked at yet!

[Jbobby in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you so much PMRpro. Really interesting even though, as you say, they still seem so bc what at sea as to definitive reasons! But it’s interesting what they say and lots to be followed up on so thank you…