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PMR and Hip, Back Pain
I’m new to this group but not new to PMR. I was diagnosed
May 2020. The past few years have been challenging, to say
the least. Recently my shoulder pain was off the charts, so my
Dr agreed to reboot my prednisone dosage. I went from 5mg daily
up to 20mg daily. Reducing 2.5mg every week. I’m now back down
to 5mg. My shoulder activity has reduced significantly. I barely notice
it anymore. What’s happening now is my lower back and hips are hurting. At first I thought my back was out. I was having trouble walking, and standing up straight. The pain moved from one hip to the
other. Then both hips. It’s not a constant pain like the shoulders, it’s more like very painful muscle spasms.
I’ve seen my primary physician, and had a trip to the ER last week, thinking this was a pulled back issue. Was given muscle relaxers that
did nothing. Now I’m wondering if this new development could be
PMR.
Has anyone had PMR in their hips or lower back? What’s it like?
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I’m contemplating a hip replacement. How did yours go? How was recovery?
Yes, started in hip and butt muscles…bouncing back and forth and down alternating legs..but rarely below the knee joints…apparently a classic symptom of pmr.
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1 ReactionI am writing here as a physical therapist. There is no question PMR can affect the joint capsule, buttocks and hip musculature/tendons both on the surface and deep resulting in weakness. Low back pain, especially in woman, is often associated with pelvic obliquity secondary to muscle imbalance/weakness of the hip and buttocks as well as the abdominals. Spinal muscle spasms from mal-alignment and poor core strength, regardless of degenerative changes can be addressed by a good physical therapist, skilled in manual therapy. Inflammation, of course, complicates the issue. Now the question is which came first, or is it a combined problem. As time passes with PMR and people are on the mend, they must redevelop the strength that PMR had robbed them of. Restoring the strength will not happen on its own. We all must be diligent and address the weaknesses that PMR laid upon us. You may have spasms and back pain from a combination of factors and changes evolve over time. Stay on top of the biomechanics...that we have more control over than PMR... as everyone who reads in these comments well knows.
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3 ReactionsSounds similar to my experience. Suggestions- slower withdrawal of Prednisone(3-4 weeks) then drop- find an exercise to help with back strength. Withdrawal from good ole Prednisone can have similar pain elements. I'm closing into my 3rd year, ups/downs, down to 1 mg!