biceps (brachii) hurting the most
Both of my forearm biceps are the most painful for me at his time. Yes the pain moves around as does the "intensity" of the pain. Can barely tolerate it but improves after a "hot" bath or taking an inflammatory med. I do not take prednisone can't tolerate. Do you thinks TIMMs electrical stimulation might help? Any other suggestions welcomed. I'm a real crybaby when it comes to pain.
Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) Support Group.
Hi @girastancil, I'm glad to hear you found a little relief using a hot bed or taking an inflammatory med. There is another discussion on alternatives to prednisone that you might want to read through.
-- PMR: Are there treatment alternatives to Prednisone?:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/alternatives-to-prednisone/
I have not heard of TIMMs electrical stimulation. I'm not sure electrical stimulation would help inflammation but I've never tried it when my PMR was active. Do you mean a TENS device?
my apologies, that is what I meant. This PMR must be effecting my cognive abilities too haha.
My biceps are my most reliable indicator of active PMR. In the beginning, before pred and diagnosis, in one week I went from being able to pickup my 35lb western saddle and put it on my horse's back to the next week, not being able too. I knew there was something wrong. Nothing but pred helped, although I did not try TENS.
I thought I had a bicep tear a few months ago because the pain was so bad I would cry but I didn't know yet I had PRM. Had never heard of the term!
I did try TENS then and it did not help me.
My biceps are also the most active painful muscle of PMR. In the beginning I could not bend my arm back to put my arm in the sleeve of my zippered sweatshirt. With tapering, that is the area that reminds me the most frequently that I have PMR. I have gone to PT and doing the advised exercises on a regular basis seems to help.
I guess I'm the lucky one, never to have had pain while upright. My pains started in my thighs and upper arms, but only when I was in bed! As soon as I got up, the pain went away, but I had a terrible night's sleep for months until I was diagnosed after 4 months. I've had PMR for about 1.5 years now and I know it is still with me when I stop my 1 mg. dose of Prednisone. I feel it in my deltoids and it started to travel upwards toward my neck at one time. I currently take .5 mg. Prednisone in the morning and .5 at night. I'm going to try a smaller dose transition and start taking .5 mg. next.