Hi, I suffer with painful worn out shoulders, after working 30yrs underground in coal seams 3ft high, I have been on 15mg preds, I have been prescribed tramadol for my painful shoulders. Like everyone else with PMR I wake up with pain in the normal places, by chance I took a tramadol just before I went to bed, when I woke the following morning I was PAIN FREE, I have carried on with this practice and have been able to reduce my preds by 5mg, hope this helps others.
That suggests to me that maybe not all the pain is due to PMR since few people find other pain-killers don't do much for the inflammation which is what causes the pain and stiffness.
I'm glad it has worked for you - but do be careful with Tramadol, it is a narcotic painkiller and long term use may well lead to patients becoming addicted to it. It isn't because you are weak - it is because over time it becomes less effective and you need a higher dose to get the same result - and eventually you are stuck, unable to live without it.
Mind you, I think it is unlikely that most UK GPs would prescribe it - but things seem to be changing there too.
I am newly diagnosed with PMR and am taking 20 mg of pred. I like you suffer from intense shoulder pain and my family doctor will not give me anything g for pain I'm going to lose my freaking mind with this pain.
Hi Eileen, thanks for your reply, as I said the tramadol is for pain in the shoulders, and I am taking 1 a day and reducing my preds, my reasoning is there is more side effects with preds then tramadol, so if I can reduce the preds all the better.
Sorry to hear about your plight, I have had accupuncture, physio, cortisone injections, and was on 8 cocodamil a day, now 1 tramadol keeps me pain free all day, hope you can get maybe get the same relief.
Thanks,doesn't hurt to ask my GP for it. Going to try acupuncture too.
I did think you might mean for the shoulders - but wasn't sure.
However - now you say it: can I suggest you look for a Bowen therapist locally and try a few sessions. A lot of people with PMR, in the UK in particular but also in the US, have tried it for what I tend to think of as "PMR add-ons" . They can often stem from muscle problems which often Bowen is able to help with. It has particulalry been recommended for what is often identified as "frozen shoulder" so if you have dodgy shoulders it could really be a help - and it is side-effect-free!
Kimberly - do read my post to mr flydog. Bowen might well help your shoulder pain - it isn't always just PMR. And you don't have to get the GP onside, no prescription required.
The other thing that might help, if Bowen doesn't, is a cortisone injection into the shoulder area as the shoulder and hip pain is often due to bursitis which will often fade in time with the oral pred. Unfortunately, joints and tendons don't have a good blood supply so it is just the pred diffusing into the space around them that has the antiinflammatory effect so it takes much longer than the muscles which have a good blood supply..
Hi Eileen, I'm not familiar with Bowen, is this a herbal medication? I live in Canada so do you think I can get it at a health food store? Thanks
Hi Eileen, THanks for your reply, I had a frozen shoulder back in 1984, I was refered to a physio, and he cured it but I went through a lot of pain with the exersises, 8 yrs ago I was refered to a shoulder clinic, I was diagnosed with a spur on the shoulders and a lot of debris in the cavities I had an operation on both shoulders and this cured the pain, maybe the spurs are forming again
Hi Eileen,my GP prescribed Tramadol as because of kidneys can not take NSAID's.Know all about addiction potential with opiates.Luckily have taken them when needed for >6years and touch wood have never had to increase dosage(except during a major flare and reduced again when subsided)and touch wood have not become addicted.To be honest people can become addicted to most forms of painkiller in the same way that anyone can develop side effects at any time-not just on first starting although that is the most common time
No - it's a technique, a physical therapy technique which is very gentle, sort of chiropractic for soft tissues/muscles. Personally I'd say it is far better than acupuncture and totally non-invasive - you don't even have take your clothes off! The first time you try you will think "How can this help?". Lodger on here walked out after her first session and left her walking stick behind - she could only get about with a zimmer frame before! It doesn't always work that fast but you would know in 3 sessions if it can make any difference. Others have said how uplifting and relaxing they find it even if there isn't a dramatic improvement in pain - it's gentle so you can use it in PMR where massage isn't always a good idea. It is probably a similar price to acupuncture maybe.
Google bowendirectory or bowen therapy lists canada will bring up the site that lists therapists by region. Where in Canada are you?
Searching Mitchell Mosher Bowen therapy video should give you a link to a video so you can see how it is done - looks crazy, definitely isn't.
Look for Bowen4Life, Mitchell Moser's site.
Presumably though "I took them when needed" meant you had periods with less and even none? That breaks the addiction/habituation potential. It's when you get into apattern of taking them every day to get the result that the effect reduces.
Have just had second Bowen teatment, first was remarkable, VERY relaxing! Helped back and shoulders.... Can you tell me please how many is the average, or do you go for a top-up perhaps once a month? Thank You....
Tom Bowen himself reckoned that if you didn't get benefit in up to 3 sessions done realtively close together, usually a week apart, it wasn't going to do much. On the other hand, while most of what needs to be sorted can usually be done in 3 sessions, if you have a chronic or longstanding problem you may need more sessions at first and then follow-up sessions at intervals. Once a month seems a bit often to me - but I suppose everyone is different and if you can afford it it would be very nice ;-)
I go for 2 or 3 sessions every 5 or 6 months I suppose. Others I know had 3 or 4 sessions to get things well sorted out at the beginning and now go every couple of months to keep them happy. As you say, it's very relaxing - and in that sense as good as a massage session or a spa treat with a lot less effort!
I'd be surprised if GP had heard of it and even more surprised if one would refer a patient - but I'd be equally delighted if they had and would!
Ah, maybe brain not in gear - you meant tramadol didn't you!!!!!!! Whereas I meant Bowen - no side effects!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for that..will go for my third, and then perhaps every 6 weeks for top-up, will play it by ear, I`m also lowering .5mg very slowly, so Bowen will help with that also....well, that`s my reasoning anyway, I just find it such a treat! Thanks again.....
So do I! And let's face it - if you can have a treat that makes living with PMR less of a pain I'm all for it.