I knocked my foot and as usual the bruising was very colourful to say the least. Three days later, swelling(very pink) and painful.
Off to GP, X-ray result - tissue damage - antibiotics - usual problems with them and three weeks later - still swollen, not as painful (can now put foot to ground.
Has anyone else had this and if so, how long did it take to go away?
GP advises one more week then ultrasound/scan. Anyone out there - a long term user of steroids able to help?
Hi mrs k and so sorry to hear that your foot is still causing problems. At least the GP got in quickly with the antibiotics to prevent infection (so essential when steroids are depleting the immune system), and I expect you have been wearing one of those elasticated dressings to help with the swelling. The good news is that although very slow there is improvement in that you can now put your foot to the ground.
I do wish I could offer some help especially to you who has helped so many of us over recent years - what I can say is that when I had a burst blood vessel in my eye recently, whereas it is believed that they normally take about a week to resolve, mine took 3 weeks! Also, any insect bites that I get these days (the mossies absolutely love me!) seem to result in a very long lasting little red mark on the skin - the latest one has been there for about 5 weeks! So, hopefully, if you do have an ultrasound scan it will reveal nothing and it will just be a case of the steroids causing a very lengthy resolution albeit yet another hurdle to climb over!
Lots of love, hugs and good luck wishes, and hope to hear from you again shortly that you are back to your normal 'bouncy' self!
Hi MrsK!
You really should take a bit more gin with that tonic - helps you fall more comfortably :lol: !!
For some reason I've always healed quite slowly and had bruises appear out of nowhere and cuts look quite disgusting for a while - but strangely it doesn't seem any worse on steroids!
The slow healing is due to the catabolic effect of corticosteroids (i.e. the negative metabolic effect). It's an oxymoron - it's the inflammatory effect that causes the damage in the bruise and you would think that the steroids would help there (and some doctors do use them in athletes to speed healing but it's thought the longterm result is not helpful). Most of the advice is aimed at the early stages - RICE, rest (in your case at least 48 hours not the usual 24) ice, compression and elevation - but also arnica and comfrey poultices topically are good.
As far as diet is concerned, extra protein is indicated to help the healing process and there is evidence that extra VitC and bioflavinoids also help. In the literature, ALA (alpha lipoic acid) has been shown to improve healing but I'm not sure about it being used with steroids (I think the Germans are quite keen on it). Taking steroids doesn't do your B vitamin stocks any good and magnesium may also be low - and that has an effect on the muscles (I get cramps if I don't take some on a fairly regular basis) and, by extension, is also said to affect their healing - those as dietary supplements or extra of the right foods might help.
One thing I can vouch for is arnica! When I had surgery to remove a metal plate from my leg I used homeopathic arnica beforehand and through the surgery/post surgery period. I didn't have a single bruise or any pain - no painkillers at all - and was up and walking within 24 hours. The hospital staff were amazed - they said post-op after taking a plate out is often worse than after putting it in!
**BTW - do your posts with the PMR/GCA website address get blocked and vetted? Any time I've tried to put it in for someone the post has disappeared for ages, been rejected or had the address removed. Which seems nuts for a site about PMR!! That's why I end up writing a long post with the details so the person has access to it quickly and painlessly!
Best wishes to the foot (and its owner of course)
EileenH
** http://www.pmrandgca.org.uk/
Hi Have added the website address for you, its automatic that the website is alerted for approval - we do try and see the alerts and put them back in asap, thanks, Patient Admin Team
Eileen
I could kick myself, I complete forgot about Arnica.
I too used it when I snapped a tendon in the foot and had to have major surgery for it and took arnica internally beforehand and afterwards externally. Like you the surgeon was amazed. Off to get the arnica out.
CRAFT(s) (Can't remember a flipping thing) disease is certainly a complication in my case. grrrrrrrrr
Hello Mrs K,
Sorry to hear about your foot. It sounds painful!!
Since I have been on steroids, I am a mass of bruises. No idea why but thanks to Eileen as I am going in search of a tube of arnica that is lurking somewhere.
I haven't posted for a while as I am struggling to keep up with a full time job, coping with PMS and trying to reduce the steroids. I went to work this morning, couldn't find a parking slot within my walking capability (having a bad day!) so had to come home and will work from home today.
It set me thinking . . . anyone managed to get a Blue Badge whilst they have PMR? Some days I am OK but others I can hardly put one foot in front of the other.
Best wishes to all. I do pop in regularly to see how you are all getting on and to learn a bit more about PMR.
Tilly
Hi Tills!
Bruising easily is one of the side-effects of steroids but I also bruised easily pre-diagnosis and it seems better since I've been taking steroids - I wonder if it is also part of the autoimmune/vasculitis aspect of PMR. BTW - I think the systemic version of arnica in the form of homeopathic drops is even better, I won't get into the pros and contras of homeopathy but the annecdotal evidence is that it has worked for me and worked for the friend who suggested it to me. One of my flatmates at Uni qualified as a traditional doctor and then later trained in homeopathy - her husband, a civil engineer, and one of the most sceptical people I've ever come across swore by it. There are things I absolutely wouldn't use it for but for others - bring it on!
However - have you read the adjacent thread \"never a day's illness...\"? Both I and MrsK have mentioned the disability aspects of PMR there. It is almost certainly covered by the Disability Discrimination Act as, untreated, it fulfils the requirements in terms of time it can be expected to last so that extends to you even with treatment. I suspect you may have a few hoops to jump through to get a badge but I would say don't give up as many of these things seem to be rejected the first time but are given out on appeal. Your employer should also be able to help if you push the Disability Discrimination bit - it's a brownie point for them if they have disabled employees on their books!
I can sympathise with you going home to work when you couldn't find a parking space as if I couldn't park near where I wanted to go, I simply didn't go! The final straw was being stopped from driving by a consultant because she got something into her head - totally unnecessarily - and I could do nothing, not even go to the gym for some aqua gymnastics which helped the pain and stiffness as I couldn't get there. Indirectly, though, that led to the diagnosis being reached and treatment so it wasn't all bad.
Good to hear from you - sorry you've been so busy, but I hope you haven't been too busy to keep up your reading on the forum as there have been a few discussions about reducing steroid dose. Don't go down for the sake of going down and end up being ill again - there is some evidence that the end result is that you end up taking MORE steroid in total in the long run because the PMR flares up and you have to back to a higher dose and it is more difficult to reduce the next time. The right dose is the one that controls your PMR, not what someone else is on or thinks you should be trying to get to. Nor is there evidence that there is a 100% link between the ESR and CRP levels (the inflammatory markers) and the steroid dose, an above normal level does not necessarily mean you need a higher steroid dose if you are free from symptoms and the converse also applies.
Keep in touch,
EileenH
Tills
I have a Blue Badge.
Asked my GP, as I could not walk more than two car lengths.
Applied to Council, Council checked with GP - result Badge within one week.
Most Councils have a website - go to yours and fill in the Blue Badge form.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Eileen has I already had the arnica tablets and the cream in - using them. Maybe try drops when I run out and need to replace.
Hi Eileen and Mrs K,
Thank you so much for all your advice.
Eileen, I am reducing the steroids gradually. This month, I am doing 10mg one day and then 12.5 for two days. So far so good. In July, I will reverse that and see how I do.
Mrs K, it is interesting that you have a Blue Badge. I can walk more than two cars lenghths but it hurts! My biggest problem is the walk up a steep hill if I have to park at the bottom! Just can't manage it, even on a good day.
I will have a go at getting a Blue Badge but I do know of someone who is worse than I am who has been refused. However, as you say, nothing ventured, nothing gained.
I will let you know how I get on.
Tilly
Hi Tills
Apply I know of people who walk very well 90% of the time but still have blue badges !!
The bruising I have always bruised easily and healed badly so havent noticed any change Very annoyed when I managed to produce a cut on my face last week with my nail by just brushing an insect away !!
Will get some Arnica
Hope everything improves for you Mrs K and also Tilly that you manage to reduce your steroids without any problems I feel more relaxed about my reductions now What will be will be !! I have been going down from10 to 7.5 over 2 months Now entering the 7.5 daily phase If this works I am thinking about 0.5 reduction every 2-3 weeks Not sure yet ?? but due to see Dr in 2 weeks so blood tests will be interesting as have certainly felt more ( normal ??) !! lately I would like summer all year round !
Best wishes to all
Mrs G
Hi Tilly and good to hear from you again. Oh those infernal bruises - I only had to slightly bump something and would end up all colours of the rainbow! Happily I think you can look forward to the bruising reducing as you get lower on the steroids if my experience is anything to go by.
I have a Blue Badge Tilly and would definitely recommend you apply for one especially as you have to work and face the difficulties of finding a parking space. I do so sympathise with all of you people who have to work whilst suffering from PMR and all its symptoms and steroid side effects. I applied to Social Services as they had previously offered me a badge when I was initially bedbound with undiagnosed PMR. I didn't apply at that time as I couldn't get out let alone get in a car! However, once I was starting to get out and about I felt it was necessary to be able to get back to the car quickly if the pain took hold and more importantly I could not open the car door enough to climb in and out in some of those tight parking spaces and did get marooned a couple of times, on one occasion asking someone if they could drive the car out for me - my husband panicked, thinking that one day he would hear that the car had been stolen! Mainly for me it has given me the confidence to go out when otherwise I would have stayed home!
So apply for that Badge - nothing ventured nothing gained. Remember if they ask you to go along to see them, they cannot feel your pain so you really have to tell them how bad it can be on a bad day, how many flare ups you can have necessitating increasing the meds, and how no-one knows how long it will last, and that without steroids you would possibly not be able to walk at all.
Best of luck with that Tilly and also with your present reduction.
MrsO
Hi All
Foot Saga
Well - used the arnica both internal and external - bruising slowly vanished.
Did the red swelling and lump - nope - if anything worse.
Went back to GP - try another dose of anti-biotics - big fight - eventually caved in.
Got prescription - took them one day - next day - sat on bog all day with basin. Get the picture. Threw anti-biotics out the window.
Susan comes (bestest mate of all) gets make up mirror out and scours the lump - runs finger over the top - we decide something in there - get needle, (excuse to light fag, as we need flame to sterilise the needle). Poke a bit - it hurts - but drag on fag and persevere.
Result: Piece of metal, so tiny we need the microscope to see it.
Redness vanishes - NO PAIN - can put foot to ground without wincing.
7 days later, still got a lump, but no redness and swelling is reducing.
Wait till next visit to GP, complete with spec and ask how x-ray missed a piece of metal!!!!!
Had great time in Scotland, managed to get a ride on the Falkirk Wheel
(google it).
And dropped to 4mg - no problems so far. And not using walking stick or zimmer (oh should I have said that - a ten ton truck is bound to come round the corner).
And somewhere on the site someone posted about Metho - know two people who have managed to get off the steroids using the metho. But they are not off the Metho.
And Yes, some people with GCA do eventually come off steroids and have no recurrence. Others are on a 1mg day regime. I hope to get to the 1mg regime on day.
Hi MrsK!
Mmmm - doesn't say much for your GPs clinical and physical examination skills does it!!!! However - glad to hear there's an improvement at last! If the bit of metal is that small I imagine the X-ray may have detected it but the human who read the X-ray didn't, perhaps the radiographer needs glasses.
all the best for avoiding the next truck,
EileenH