Hi everyone, this is new to me. I know lower back pain related to PMR, but this might be different. The pain is on both sides of the spine --- waistline.
I can move with some discomfort once I am out of bed and I can sit without much pain.
I called my doctor and she prescribed a muscle relaxing medication which made me sleep, but getting out of bed was still VERY painful.
It could be the height of the bed and the softness of the mattress which makes getting up and out of it very difficult.
I am on 15 mg of prednisone which does not take care of the pain. I tried Aleve which helped some.
Eileen, please can you give me some advise and counsel? Thank you!
Erika
Same suggestion as usual - muscle spasm in the back muscles, possibly due to myofascial pain syndrome. If it is waistline it is maybe a bit high to be sacroiliac joint problems, that is below waistline.
The only thing that sorted mine was cortisone/muscle relaxant injections into the area. Oral muscle relaxants have a moderate effect on all muscles, injections are far more targetted. Long term I used massage/mobilisation of the area and Bowen therapy.
In the meantime try a hot water bottle (well wrapped up) against the area while you are sitting. I use it in bed too and it does help.
Eileen, thank you for your fast response. Yes, I don't think it is related to the sacroiliac joint. I had this problem, and this is different. The pain is really bad, and I think I need to go to the Emergency at the hospital to get a cortisone/muscle relaxant injection in both sides.
I wished I would have a hot water bottle....for now I will resort to a heating pad. With many thanks, Erika
Have you tried Physical Therapy yet?
No, I have not yet. It started 4 days ago. I will see my GP tomorrow and ask to prescribe Physical Therapy and Ultra Sound for this myofascial pain syndrome. Hopefully, this extreme pain can be lessened or resolved. It happens when I get up from a lying position....not chair and walking. Strange, never thought I would have to deal with this. PMR is bad enough!!!
Thanks for your message. Erika
The opinion amongst the experts here (after studies) is that u/s doesn't help and it has been withdrawn as an option - which was why it wasn't offered/used for me.
Eileen, thank you for your further consultation. It took me 15 minutes to loosen up and get out of bed.....it is such extreme pain! It is 3 a.m. in the morning, and I will need some Aleve or Ibuprofen to make it through the night. Increased prednisone would not help, would it? You don't consider it as part of PMR because of the muscle inflammation? Hopefully, my GP can be of help when I see him at 9 a.m. US time.
It might - but it probably would need a pretty high dose. I don't know whether it is part of PMR - it could be because it has happened to me before each flare but what I am saying is that it needs a more targetted approach. It is a local area that needs to be sorted out and using injections means there is less effect on the rest of the body - less trouble with side effects.
I really do know what you are going through and the last time it happened to me I didn't wait for the GP surgery - I went straight to the ED! I couldn't have sat to wait for the GPeven if I could have got there, in the ED they took one look and put me straight onto a trolley ;-)
Eileen, you know how it feels......thank you for sharing your experience. This pain has been going on since last Thursday and it is not improving.
If I would not have this appointment with my GP in the morning, I would head out the Emergency room. When I move and walk a bit, it feels better, but I cannot get out of bed and stand without almost "screaming pain".
I very much appreciate that I can talk to you about it and you can relate.
You are always of caring advise. Thank you!
Eileen, an update for you of my doctor appointment. I saw my GP yesterday because of the extreme pain on both sides near the waistline. He checked the trigger points, and he gave me 2 injection on the right, and one on the left side. Ouch!!
He said that this is a severe PMR muscle inflammation, and he prescribed 40 mg of prednisone for 3 days, than 30 mg of prednisone for 7 days, than 25 mg for 7 days, 20 mg for 2 weeks.....and then lower by 1 mg daily for a month.....or 6 weeks.
Would you think that this treatment plan is a good one?
He also said NO Physical Therapy.....the therapists tend to want to massage vigerously, and I got a big bruise on my left upper arm which they treated for a frozen shoulder, and they also want their patients to do repetative exercises which is a NO-NO for us dealing with PMR.
Aleve did not help......the 40 mg of prednisone did help soon after....and taken all in ONE around 2 am in the morning....the pain is not all gone but bearable today and I can move better.
Thought to let you know with thanks for guidance. Erika
The man sounds like a good chap to hold on to! If you get a PT who kows what they're doing in PMR it is OK but otherwise they can overdo it as he says. That's why I usually recommend Bowen if you can find a therapist (it is very good for frozen shoulder). But I wonder if you had frozen shoulder really or was it PMR?.
Sounds like you will be mobile again fairly soon and he's certainly hitting it hard with pred. At that dose I doubt you need to worry about getting up in the middle of the night to take it either.
Gute Besserung!
DANKE, Eileen. My GP would like to know your approval. I mention the Patient UK website quite often with printed information from you, like your slow version you recommend for tapering. He was open to it.
We don't have Bowen Therapy here in town. I inquired. I will just take it easy with some stretching exercises and go easy on my stationary bike which I have in my bedroom. I took strenous cycling classes still a year ago.......not possible anymore. We all had learn to slow down to avoid painful flares. Thank you again for your caring guidance. Erika