Lots of people find they have balance problems with PMR - and for some people the pred makes their muscles not so strong. I used to fall so easily in the 5 years I had PMR before pred - and it did improve later once I was well enough to be able to walk more.
Some years ago some ladies in the north of England attended a Nordic Walking course aimed at seniors - from AgeUK I think - and found using the pair of poles helped their balance a lot. One even was able to stop using her zimmer/rollator altogether after a few months. Tai chi is also said by quite a few to help with balance.
If you are more tired after a reduction at this stage it may be your adrenal glands aren't quite keeping up with the lower dose of pred. And being tired doesn't help balance. Now you are at such a low dose consider slowing even my reduction down even further - and stay at each dose for a few months in between reduction. These are really low doses, there is no rush.
Hi Barb, Yes,I do have a minor balance problem which seems more exacerbated since PMR recently, and when I walk it does feel a little "funny" sometimes. Since I'm feeling so good since treatment (30Mg. for 3 months, until March 30), I don't let these things bother me. Happy Holidays to you! Elinor
Nordic trekking poles are the greatest! On good days you get some excellent upper body involvement and on wobbly days, they are there to support you. Sometimes, I used one, sometimes both. You also don't look like an invalid but more like an athlete!!
I'd love to join a class - but I doubt I could keep up even with beginners here! You see loads of older people out for a walk even in the middle of town using a pair of walking poles - so much less "old" than a walking stick!
Hi Barb, I too have balance problems, I am20 months into steroid treatment
started at 15mgms, now on 8mgms . The strange sensation I have is that I feel I am walking on a trampoline. This improves as the day progresses. I do get tired and then balance is worse. However I am sure that I am generally improving with a little light at the end of the tunnel.
That's interesting - I felt as if I was walking on sharp pebbles or broken glass for a long time but even once that faded after months of 15mg pred or near to, I still found I disliked walking on an uneven surface, I just didn't feel safe. But thinking about it, it must be a similar sensation.
The other day I passd a woman walking with poles and I stopped to ask her "Is that Nordic walking" - which of course it was. She explained that she used them because she has a balance problem! I thought I could use them the way she does, because she didn't look silly. A project for next spring, perhaps.
You get 2 different sorts of walking poles - ordinary ones are really like ski poles with just a loop around your wrist and you hold the hand grip all the time. For Nordic Walking they have a glove-like bit that velcros round your hand to stop you losing them as you aren't actually gripping the hand piece firmly all the time. NW poles are - logically enough - more expensive! But either sort will help you feel less wobbly.
I had the feeling of walking on pebbles and unnerving balance problems when walking. Both went fairly quickly after starting steroids. I didn't realise they were connected in any way. This is a very strange condition!
Isn't it just! I collect all these things at the back of my mind - every so often I get the chance to put this into the research field. They have no idea what things PMR can do! They have, however, discovered that you can have PMR in feet and hands. And when I said that many patients have bladder problems one rheumy started asking her patients. Guess what?
The idea of going back to exercise, as a regular routine sounds like a good start.
I have played sports, all my life, and the lack of good balance concerns me.
First things first!!
Interesting, Eileen, that you mention bladder problems. I just saw rheumatologist, this afternoon and he claims bladder problems and balance problems are 'probably not related to PMR but did admit hair loss could be connected.
I will slow down on pred reduction and keep putting one foot in front of the other.
I do have very frequent urgency since I've been on pred, its quite a pain in the xxx. I bellieve I saw it as one of the side effects of the pred. I'm getting up several times a night, like every 2 hours mostly. When you go out, you have to be prepared! By the way, what did that rheumy say about it?
Well - sorry, but he's wrong, it doesn't have to be the pred! One of the very good things about having had PMR for 5 years without being on pred is that I gathered a lot of info about what PMR can do and there are several things that doctors will ALWAYS say are "the pred" - but they happen in PMR too.
Overnight frequency (as opposed to urgency) probably IS due to pred, that is something I have never had any bother with. I would wake about 4am, if I lay there hoping to go back to sleep - I wouldn't. If I summoned up the enthusiasm to get up and go to the toilet even if I wasn't really sure I needed to, I would fall back to sleep in minutes! But during the day if I needed to go, I needed to go - whichever reason.
Balance - of course it can be related to PMR. Your muscles are severely affected by PMR and it is your muscles in coordination that keep you upright! My legs didn't always do what I wanted them to do - same with hands sometimes. They just didn't seem to be working properly! Silly things like changing bedding or trying to open something. When I'm on a higher dose of pred it is much better, when I get below 4mg it returns and has always been the sign of a flare for me.
I have that wobble too...I fall slightly to the side, and often get told...take more water with it!...I wish...haven`t had alcohol for nearly 30 years....and don`t miss it....have my two squares of dark chocolate in the evening..that`s my treat......
Oh dear, sorry to have troubled you...pred head! Have been very drained and having dreadful sweats lately...never had so many while on 11mg...just hoping things will ease soon! You`re right, I won`t be messaging myself....I curse instead thank you...