PMR - pain relief - cold sprays

[moggie 939]

I have managed to control my shoulder and upper arm (muscle) pain a little with Ibuprofen/paracetamol in reasonably large doses. I am no way going down the 'prednisilone road' as I know so many people who had bad reactions.

Have had blood and urine tests and am otherwise healthy 70 yr old except for the shoulder pains and some general arthritis in leg (which pain is nothing compared to the shoulders)

Worse at night, but have reduced it a little by sleeping more upright on more pillows. If I fall aslep in chair pains are bad in shoulder and upper arms when I wake, but after walking around for 10 minutes they reduce considerably. Seems like pain comes from presure on shoulders?

During day when active I get only about 10% of the night pain - so wonder if it is PMR! It did come on suddenly a month ago.

I use an Ibuprofen gel which does not do a lot , but I do get transient relief for about 15 min or so when the pain is worse by using a cold freeze spray.

Does anyone know of a really effective cold spray I can buy? Also any other hints to make my life more comfortable.
GP keeps saying try the Pred...., but I am not convinced!

Thanks

Moggie

[yogasun]

Hi Maggie

Just seen this post. Mr. ys has had PMR for 7 years. Believe me, we are a family that would only take medication as a last resort but he has been on prednisone now continually and when he drops below a certain level it flares up to the point of making his life a misery (hip and shoulders). He is an active man and for quality of life allowing him to walk on Dartmoor, etc. all the things he loves doing he takes it. The alternative would be a life confined to bed. At the moment there just is no other treatment. Believe me I've looked into it at length over the years and he has communication with support groups. It burns out in eighteen months for some, but not so for him......we live in hopes. Good luck.