Polymyositis & Dermatomyositis Support Group

Polymyositis (PM) is a type of chronic inflammation of the muscles (inflammatory myopathy) related to dermatomyositis and inclusion body myositis. The inflammation is predominantly of the endomysium in polymyositis, whereas dermatomyositis is characterized by primarily perimysial inflammation.

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mccourtjs 04/10/2014

I would like to hear your comments on using pain medication on difficult days. Do any of you use pain meds? How often? I think that they are helpful if used appropriately, but doctors don't want to give them because they are abused by people who don't need them.

autumm 04/10/2014

Hi McCourjs. I am sorry you have pain. What kind of pain. I had dreadful knee pain and my doctor suggested Physiotherapy. I thought it would be useless but I worked at it for six months. I now have no knee pain at all especially at night when it kept me awake. I do the exercises every day and do not need pain Meds. I also do exercises for my thumb joint when that is painful and theses also work. Hope you feel better when you are on your Meds a bit longer. Autumm

trpt1 04/10/2014

Hi Mccourtjs, I avoid using any pain meds since I now have liver and kidney issues. I do get bad headaches on occasion. I will use an over the counter cold or hot rub for muscle pains. I have also used heating pads or ice packs for pain too. I also lay down when feeling nausea.

I hope your doctor will give you some clarity on the cause of your pains. I agree with Autumn that getting used to meds does help. If I am on the wrong dosages of my meds then I will not feel well.

lexisgirl 04/10/2014

I haven't needed pain medications yet either. I try to either rest or stretch through the pain. Luckily, no pain has lasted very long at this point.

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