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New to PMR with questions about diet, yoga and magnesium

Posted by elizabethjoan @elizabethjoan, Jul 21, 2022

I am newly diagnosed and have found lots of great information here in just a couple of days. I do have a couple of specific questions and not sure if I post them here or start new discussions for each.
Some questions include:
1. Is there a way we can connect to a nutrionist to get specific information regarding diet?
2. Yoga….is there some specific yoga programs people like? I would have to be doing chair yoga for now.
3. Still with yoga….should I try to do yoga first thing in the morning when at my stiffest and sorest or wait until the prednisone ‘kicks in’?
4. Magnesium…what dose? And why is this recommended?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) Support Group.

Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Jul 21, 2022

Welcome @elizabethjoan, You have some great questions and I wished I had been asking them when I had my first round with PMR. I think there are some existing discussions in the Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) group where others have shared their experience and what has helped them for the questions you have asked.

1. Is there a way we can connect to a nutrionist to get specific information regarding diet?
-- PMR Diet: Foods to eat and avoid: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/diet-and-pmr/

2. Yoga….is there some specific yoga programs people like? I would have to be doing chair yoga for now.
-- PMR and exercise: What helps you?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/pmr-and-exercise/

3. Still with yoga….should I try to do yoga first thing in the morning when at my stiffest and sorest or wait until the prednisone ‘kicks in’?
-- @tsc has mentioned doing Yoga and may have some thoughts to share with you on your question.

4. Magnesium…what dose? And why is this recommended?
-- Supplements to reduce inflammation: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/supplements-to-reduce-inflammation/
-- PMR and herbs, dietary supplements: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/pmr-and-herbs-dietary-supplements/

From what I've read, I'm not sure the magnesium helps the PMR itself but being on prednisone can lead to our bodies losing too much magnesium and calcium. Low levels of either can lead to muscle cramps from PMR - magnesium supplements help. As with all supplements, you should run them by your doctor or pharmacist.

I've found it helpful to keep a daily pain and dosage log. Do you keep a daily pain level log along with prednisone dosage you are at on that day?

REPLY
2 replies
elizabethjoan | @elizabethjoan | Jul 21, 2022
In reply to @johnbishop "Welcome @elizabethjoan, You have some great questions and I wished I had been asking them when..." + (show)
@johnbishop

Welcome @elizabethjoan, You have some great questions and I wished I had been asking them when I had my first round with PMR. I think there are some existing discussions in the Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) group where others have shared their experience and what has helped them for the questions you have asked.

1. Is there a way we can connect to a nutrionist to get specific information regarding diet?
-- PMR Diet: Foods to eat and avoid: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/diet-and-pmr/

2. Yoga….is there some specific yoga programs people like? I would have to be doing chair yoga for now.
-- PMR and exercise: What helps you?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/pmr-and-exercise/

3. Still with yoga….should I try to do yoga first thing in the morning when at my stiffest and sorest or wait until the prednisone ‘kicks in’?
-- @tsc has mentioned doing Yoga and may have some thoughts to share with you on your question.

4. Magnesium…what dose? And why is this recommended?
-- Supplements to reduce inflammation: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/supplements-to-reduce-inflammation/
-- PMR and herbs, dietary supplements: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/pmr-and-herbs-dietary-supplements/

From what I've read, I'm not sure the magnesium helps the PMR itself but being on prednisone can lead to our bodies losing too much magnesium and calcium. Low levels of either can lead to muscle cramps from PMR - magnesium supplements help. As with all supplements, you should run them by your doctor or pharmacist.

I've found it helpful to keep a daily pain and dosage log. Do you keep a daily pain level log along with prednisone dosage you are at on that day?

Jump to this post

Well thank you for this quick response. I am so glad I have found this group. It has been so helpful already and I was only diagnosed a week ago.
I will read the information you sent. Yes, I have been keeping a journal.

REPLY
Teri | @tsc | Jul 21, 2022
In reply to @johnbishop "Welcome @elizabethjoan, You have some great questions and I wished I had been asking them when..." + (show)
@johnbishop

Welcome @elizabethjoan, You have some great questions and I wished I had been asking them when I had my first round with PMR. I think there are some existing discussions in the Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) group where others have shared their experience and what has helped them for the questions you have asked.

1. Is there a way we can connect to a nutrionist to get specific information regarding diet?
-- PMR Diet: Foods to eat and avoid: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/diet-and-pmr/

2. Yoga….is there some specific yoga programs people like? I would have to be doing chair yoga for now.
-- PMR and exercise: What helps you?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/pmr-and-exercise/

3. Still with yoga….should I try to do yoga first thing in the morning when at my stiffest and sorest or wait until the prednisone ‘kicks in’?
-- @tsc has mentioned doing Yoga and may have some thoughts to share with you on your question.

4. Magnesium…what dose? And why is this recommended?
-- Supplements to reduce inflammation: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/supplements-to-reduce-inflammation/
-- PMR and herbs, dietary supplements: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/pmr-and-herbs-dietary-supplements/

From what I've read, I'm not sure the magnesium helps the PMR itself but being on prednisone can lead to our bodies losing too much magnesium and calcium. Low levels of either can lead to muscle cramps from PMR - magnesium supplements help. As with all supplements, you should run them by your doctor or pharmacist.

I've found it helpful to keep a daily pain and dosage log. Do you keep a daily pain level log along with prednisone dosage you are at on that day?

Jump to this post

Hi @elizabethjoan,
Welcome to the wonderful world of PMR and GCA (Giant Cell Arteritis).
I had PMR, then GCA for about a year, undiagnosed. I kept up my daily walk of at least an hour during that time. It had no effect whatsoever on loosening me up, making the pain or stiffness go away. I mentioned this to a doctor, who said, "Of course your stiffness didn't go away, you couldn't get blood flow to the area." I remember trying to use a foam roller on the floor to loosen my muscles and it was so difficult, mainly because I couldn't move without extreme pain.
With prednisone, a high dosage for Giant Cell Arteritis, my pain went away and I was able to resume exercising comfortanbly.
I don't know if doing yoga while in the throes of pain and stiffness is good or bad. Maybe you can run that by your doctor or a physical therapist. But consider this, maybe doing it when you are in less pain would result in better form. Maybe some other kind of moving around, a gentle warmup, would be better in the morning.
I also have osteoporosis, and found a yoga routine that strengthens bones. It's Dr. Loren Fishman's "12 Poses vs Osteoporosis." There is a video on YouTube with three versions - two modified for osteoporosis and one, the regular poses. Algaecal also has three videos online posted individually. They are longer (slower) than Dr. Fishman's routine. You can find them by Googling Algaecal, 12 Poses vs. Osteoporosis, if interested.
Wishing you the best,
Teri

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