I have had PMR for 14months. Started on 15 mgms prednisilone pain free since then. I had a flare a month ago and had to increase dose to 10mgms from the 5mgms I had reduced to. My main problem is poor balance. I do walk every day.
My other problem is driving...I have always been a confident driver
now I am not so keen , and sometimes have a panic attack. I
just pull in when this happens. Don't know if this is caused by
PMR or a side effect from the steroids. Anyone else have similar experience?
Thank-you for reading
Poor balance is common in PMR. Some people have found that Nordic walking has improved that - when you start you have the walking poles to help balance and the walking increases muscle tone and fitness, both of which suffer with PMR and pred. Nordic walking has special poles with hand straps but even using a pair of ordinary walking poles - not an ordinary walking stick - will help your balance a lot.
Loss of confidence is also a feature I've heard people mention - and I certainly found I was less happy driving down our local not very wide motorway alongside the heavy lorries in the other lane! I don't think I've had a panic attack as such while driving - but I do remember getting very stressed when I had difficult telephone calls to negotiate. That happened with PMR when I wasn't on pred
By the way - did you reduce in 5mg steps? While that is a normal thing when pred is used in other illnesses, it doesn't work too well in PMR so when you head down from 10mg back to 5mg 1mg at a time might be better.
Caroline, my balance was also badly affected, and I was one of the people for whom Nordic walking got it back on track! I also joined a Tai Chi class and found this also helped with my balance, my concentration levels and my general movement/posture, which all went out of the window with PMR/GCA.
As for driving, after a year of being unable to even think about getting my legs into a car and behind the wheel(4 months were spent undiagnosed and in bed), I remember feeling like a learner driver the first time I ventured out alone! PMR can certainly affect one's confidence but I didn't experience any panic attacks as such - perhaps your attacks are a steroid side effect of which there are many and various. However, if they continue, you would be wise to mention it to your GP.
Thank-you for your interest. I did reduce by 1mg at a time , and will again
my esr had risen to 42 but it has reduced to 9. My GP wants this repeated next week and if happy with the result will recommence the reduction.
I live in the country, so roads are not very busy and easy to pull in if I become nervous. It is essential for me to drive ,if only to get to the surgery.
kind regards
Having read your text I don't know why I am complaining!!
I have told my GP
He assures me that it will probably settle as suddenly as it began.....wish I could believe him.
I have been following this forum for some time. Find it such support. Nice to know you are not alone
Regards
Like Mrs O I took up Tai Chi, and now researching Qigong, to help with balance and gentle exercise as well as reducing stress - worth a try? I ride a push bike and had to stop during the initial period before and after starting preds , I found it difficult to get back on but 'forced' myself to do it in short rides. I still have problems with the 'dead legs' but still get about howbeit slower and with the aid of an electric motor now!! Managed the other week to cycle 4+ miles to meet up with 5 of the ladies from the PMR group in the New Forest for a chat over a cup of coffee and cycle back.
Caroline, believe your GP on this one - it WILL settle, I promise.
John, I should have mentioned Qi Gong in my reply to Caroline - that was the part of Tai Chi that I believe helped me the most.
Well done on the 4+ mile cycle ride - excellent if you didn't have any payback. I know 2 or 3 of the ladies in the New Forest group - one really well.....bet the cycle ride was well worth while in all respects!
My word, one gets so much useful information and advice on this forum! Have ordered my Nordic Poles straight away, but I don't think I'm ready for Tai Chi just yet!
One advantage of the electric bike especially when you come to the uphill bits, a bit like a gentle push in the back but still have to pedal. No ill effects, in fact it was a good trip out, in nice weather, and to compare notes - some have been on a longer journey than me and one is 'off' preds so was a good incentive and to hear and learn from others - Rosemary, Trudy, Emma, Vanesa and Liz. It was a rest of over two hours, with a nice cup of coffee, between cycling in and back again. Interesting site qigong15 with some short videos.
Not having much luck in finding Tai Chi classes nearby ,but have found body balance classes. Anyone tried these?
I have also begun Qi Gong, but I find disciplining (is there such a word?) my mind far more difficult than disciplining my body.😕
It's difficuilt to do from a book or even a video, try the usual method to search. Or try Qigong. There are loads of videos at you tube?
It's difficuilt to do from a book or even a video, try the usual method to search. Or try Qigong. There are loads of videos at you tube?
The body balance classes at my gym were fairly demanding - including downward dog from yoga and other moves that were way beyond my physical ability with PMR. It is a combo of Pilates, Tai chi and yoga and most people who do it are the gym bunnies. It is usually a continuous choreographed, registered format and I think it would be too much for most PMR people. I did do both Pilates and Iyengha yoga with PMR pre-pred but the classes were run by lovely girls who adapted any moves I couldn't manage and they weren't the continuous set of movements BB usually is.
Google Les Mills Body Balance video Nestle for an example class
Have looked on you tube and, do you know, I would feel quite a twit even doing some of those exercise alone!!!!
You feel less of a twit when there are another dozen or more people being twits too...
You need a higher fence in the back yard!!
Looks far too energitic! Qigong is very basic and easy for PMR sufferers - I'm no gym bunny!
Absolutely John! Me neither...