Cathyp,
You asked about exercising and whether it will make things better? I'm not really sure. At the worst of my PMR, I was like you - if I didn't exercise I felt worse. However, if I exercised too much, I felt worse. There's a fine balance, I guess, and much of the time I couldn't find the right balance. I figured I was going to be hurting anyway, so I did SOME exercise, just not the point that I had before PMR. When I did overdo, I paid for it for a day or so afterwards. It seems I got so deconditioned from the PMR, I am having a tough time now getting back to pre-PMR status strengthwise. Some days I feel like I still have the PMR; most days I don't. I'm having another sed rate done the 14th of this month. Last one was 47 and the rheumy didn't seem to be concerned. So, yes, if you can, do some exercise. They say the PMR is not damaging the joints, so even if you hurt, your body is not being damaged. ??? I never did understnad that part.
Let us know how you are doing.
Reni
Reni, I know I need to exercise but I hurt so much I never seem to do it. I work 3 nights per week and I must say I do feel better at work when I am moving around more. I feel like I am 83 instead of 43. I should probably get back on prednisone but I am seeing what happens using alot of motrin. I was on prednisone for 9 months and I hate to get back on it because of all the possible side effects. When I was on higher doses-60mg-20mg I had a really wet cough for months. Sometimes I felt like I was drowning. My doctor said it couldn't be from the prednisone but I know it was. Take care, I hope you're doing well. cathyp.
Cathy,
Be careful of the Motrin as well. Is that Ibuprofin?
I remember a few years ago of taking it and it didn't take long to give me an ulcer.
I think some of those NSAID's are made of battery acid!
Are you taking something to help prevent that?
~KewaneeReni,
I wonder just what it is affecting. Blood vessels? Muscles? I have really sore muscles from trying to get up on a kitchen chair the other day to reach something.
What a project. My body does not like what I did.
~KewaneeCathy and Kewanee,
From what I understand, PMR is an inflammation of the blood vessels in the muscles. Maybe causing them to swell, which causes the pain??? I don't think it is really very well understood by the medical profession, so how are we supposed to understand, other than knowing what it feels like to our bodies? Yes, please be careful of taking too much of any NSAID. You might want to check with your dr. and see if you need more frequent blood tests to check for any possible damage the NSAID might cause (liver or whatever, in addition to eating up the stomach!!). I never had much problem with NSAIDS other than piroxicam (Feldene). That is the one that gave me ulcer-like symptoms after only 10 days, so that was the end of Piroxicam for me. I never really found any of the other meds that would help when I had PMR. Only prednisone, and I gained 36 lbs. in less than a year. That, and the moon face/buffalo hump were the only symptoms I got from the prednisone. The weight gain was bad enough and I'm still battling losing it, but know I will conquer. Hope you all are doing better.
Reni
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