FOLLOW UP ON STEROID PRESCRIPTION

Bones, joints and muscles
1

I spoke a week or so ago about my GP giving me a short-term steroid prescription for the acute muscle pain I had had for over a month. 

Got some good responses from my fellow "fibro friends" here so thank you lovelies!!

I had Pain Pain Pain in shoulders, neck, thighs, buttocks, hips, pelvis etc....and had been knocking back tramadol and pregabalin which brought no real relief.

I could hardly walk and this was witnessed by my GP.  She gave me a blood test to look for inflammation, which came back very high.

It was put to me that although I have fibromyalgia but this was an attack of POLYMYALGIA RHEUMATICA (which I had never heard of before).

Steroids would prove effective pretty quickly for this and boy was she right!!! However steroids have no effect on fibromyalgia.

The pain went within 24 hours and I was elated but concerned about steroid medication, as I know they are not very pleasant to take in the long term. Also polymyalgia rheumatica is rare in women under 55 so I wanted to know how the hell I had got this on top of everything else.

So you can have both fibro and poly at the same time but nobody can tell me why I have developed both!

When the pain went and I was full of beans and did lots of housework that I had let slide. However the chronic fatigue bit of fibromyalgia kicked in and I laid on the sofa and slept through for 36 hours. Body now wrecked with everything. I even missed follow up blood tests and GP appointment, as I was spark out on the sofa. I live alone so there was nobody at home to rouse me.

What a pickle I am in....plus the pain is coming back to my pelvis and thighs and I am still on steroids. Plus I am knackered.

So there you go.........has any body else been given the run-around with these two Fibro and Poly running in tandem on their poor bodies??  And I still didn't erase the back log of chores.....

happy days xx

ps. sorry for the long rant.

2

How terrible, you must feel so down! I had something that sounds similar Reactive Arthroscopy, it attacks your body whenever you get an infection, the pain is everywhere, the only way to stop it is lying down or walking round and round, you can't sit or even stand still. Luckily antibiotics knock it out!

gentle hugs x

3

 GONE GIRL !  You are not alone, and a couple of months further down the track from you, my  life on steroids does not seem as daunting as it did initially. I am older (65) and was diagnosed approx 2 months ago with Poly (Fibro for 18 years).  I was really reluctant to go on steroids, but the possibility of going blind if I had GCA as well, was an instant decider for me. Prednisone had an effect withing 24 hours - days later I had 3 euphoric days without Fibro pain as well  (on 20mg at time). I went mad, moved tons of soil relandscaping my garden - Fibro meltdown - then Predisone drop too quickly so life got complicated. Then I found this site for Polymyalgia and it has been a wonderful, supportive site for the new situation I find myself in. Getting used to and balancing the steroid dose, requires some help and the 'patients' who have been through it  have more knowledge than my Dr. at the moment. They have learnt by experience. I am much more relaxed now I can communicate on here, and get advice when I am not sure what is happening to me. Balance might not happen over night, but I am dealing with it. The pred may not help our Fibro, but I definitely have had a clearer head on some days than I have had for years - a big plus. Hang in there - don't let those myalgias get you down confused

4

Your allowed to rant, grizzle and even moan!....lol....  It is our release valve for relieving the mental tension and stress.  To communicate what is ailing us beyond the normal realms is a huge game changer, and personality kicker.  So it is really much better to release that valve!!   Plenty folk know and understand how it is.  Sadly not all Doctors or Specialists do though..   Given the Fibro  and the likes are not  real fully studied and understood condition/s. 

I find personally myself that when I am in the Normal pain zone or in one of those very, very exceptional days of not much pain, I try and get things done to, always to my disadvantage.  Even if I don't do much, it still kicks back hard and bites!   Barometric pressure has a part to play also in our flare ups, even simple gravity.  

I also live on my own, I have sympathy, and real understanding of just how it is..  To have a craft, hobby or some kind of interest on our mid crisis days especially at least can help keep us 'doing something'...  Sleeping when fatigue takes over.  Housework, in very small increments of a day or over bits here and there over a day, helps to keep us motivated, even when in pain.  But keep it all minor efforts.  Learn not to expect to much of yourself and learn to live with a little extra dust or fluff on the carpet.  Lawns and garden may have to wait a few days after due date to get done... even in small stages.

I also find that using a Ninja or juicer of some sorts, breaking down fruit, nut and veg to drink or cook as a soup is so much better for me, especially when my flareups are bad, because my bowel and bladder become affected to.  

Fresh Fruit and Raw Veg is a great step toward keeping healthy in those flareups..  as flareups for me are so horrendous on my immune system.  I break out in ulcers and become so lethargic and fatigued.  So I found that forcing myself to down my juices, milk mixes and soups, I am at least feeling better within myself for all the nutrients without the bulk in my bowl and intestine, putting added pressure on my spine adding to the stomach and back pain.  

My last bout made my legs, feet, and ankles so swollen I was actually worried, as I only have one kidney to process all this extra fluid....   My Kidney is fine and working well, that has been checked.  

I developed my issues approx c42yrs of age.  Been years now, and doctors don't do anything to help, only insist I can work 15 - 30 hrs per week!  That is joke.  After working hard at the one job for 17yrs, which the last 5 years were pure hell trying to cope, and I wasn't coping at all.  Lucky for me I had amazing boses, who totally supported me with my 'physical/and head trauma issues. 

Hope your recovering 'Gone Girl'..  all the best..