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PMR and Sciatica with Back Pain
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Jun 8, 2023 | Replies (37)Comment receiving replies
Hi all, I also suffer from left leg sciatica, which started about the same time that I experienced PMR pain in my thighs and arms (March 2020). BTW, my PMR pains began shortly after my second COVID vaccination, which my physician doesn't think is a coincidence. Is there anyone else who contracted PMR following a COVID vaccination?
It took 4 months to diagnose my PMR since my pain was only experienced while lying down. I started taking Prednisone (10 mg) in July 2020 and my leg pain flared up in August, so much so, that I had to sleep in a Lazy-Boy to find any comfortable position at all. I also used a walking stick at one point, but can now walk without much discomfort, especially in the morning. As the day wears on, my pain usually gets worse. I was very active prior to my PMR (cardio dancing, yoga, and walking about 5 miles/day). Now I'm currently walking about 4 to 5 miles per day and using a stationary bike, just in case this pain is related to my osteoarthritis (as visible on my x-ray). My prior physician thought I had sciatica emanating from my L4 -L5 vertebrae, so I went to PT to get the appropriate stretches/exercises for this. These exercises/stretches seemed to make my pain worse, so I eventually stopped. My current physician thinks it could be pyriformis syndrome, so I've tried stretches and exercises for this, but my pain at night gets worse when I do them. I am still taking 1 mg. prednisone since July 2020 and when I recently tried to stop it, my shoulders starting aching again while in bed.
Replies to "Hi all, I also suffer from left leg sciatica, which started about the same time that..."
Also have lower disc issues at the moment, sometimes going down my right leg. Yes....my PMR started a few days after my first Pfizer vax in May 2021, but was not aware of what it was. Neck and shoulder pain all summer. Fast forward to August 4, 2021, second Pfizer vax. Ten days later, tried to get up out of bed. Could not move. Got into the tub and my daughter had to help me out. It progressed to right hand (like carpel tunnel) except my hand looked like a claw and was going numb. Progressed to my hips and upper thighs. Finally, now-retired GP referred me for bloodwork in December 2021. Showed CRP at 42. Previously he'd blamed all this on old age. He retired in December, but managed to refer me to a Neurologist. Diagnosed with PMR in Jan. 2022, after 6 months of agony, still trying to work part time until I could no longer do that. Pyriformis exercises make everything worse, in my case. I have managed to get from 20mg Prednisone to 11.5 (just this week). Slowly tapering, but felt the difference on awakening this morning: neck and shoulders. Back to work part time. I will persevere to see if it levels off. If not, back up to 12 mg. 1 mg. is my goal for now and ultimately to be off it completely. All the best to you my friend.
I developed PMR after a live vaccine for cholera for a trip to Africa. I was very sick the day after the vaccine and never felt good after that. The PMR came on four months later. That was four years ago. I still suffer from it. Both a doctor at Mayo and a doctor at the University of Iowa believe it may have been the cause.
Best wishes to you!
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Welcome @janiceem, I know that tapering can be difficult and overdoing exercises can sometimes make it worse. Here are a couple of related discussions that you might find helpful:
-- Tapering off of Prednisone: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/prednisone/
-- sciatica pain and exercise: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/sciatica-pain-and-exercise/
It sounds like you've seen a couple of doctors and the diagnosis changed. Was the PMR diagnosed by a rheumatologist?