Michelle

[Healthliving]

I started off with PMR 9 years ago and then developed GCA, I'm sure I still have PMR, but Doctor begs to differ, I came off steroids 2 years ago, because I was going up and down, and I had a bone scan, and osteoarthritis was everywhere, I had an MRI on lumbar spine, MRI on Cervical spine and MRI on Thigh and XRAY on hips I have bulging discs, upper spine and lower spine, and Gluteus medius tendinitis on right hip, continues pain in my neck,

And while wslkingvup a hill, I got cramp pain in back of thigh, that was 2 months ago, I can't lift leg, hard to go up stairs or get into a car, feels like a cramp when you try to lift unbearable, thought it would have got better. Could tendinitis in hip be causing this? Thanks

[jessiem]

Hi - you may want to post this on the PMR forum.

[Fruitandnutcase]

What were you told in the follow up from your scans and X-rays? I’d say you need to have a discussion with the doctor who ordered all of them.

I’m not medically qualified but from experience if you have bulging discs then they could be pressing on a nerve somewhere causing sciatica which could be causing the leg problems, I get a lot of nerve pain that also causes neck pain but I think it’s all related to the bulging discs and the rest of my messy lumbar spine. I imagine tendinitis could cause that sort of pain as well.

If you’ve been taking steroids for a long time have they done a DEXA scan to check you for osteoporosis?

I think you really need to speak with your doctor/s or maybe a physiotherapist.

[Healthliving in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Thank you I asked for MRIs but Doctor sent me for Xray and he said he could arrange injection, but he said its just age I did have DEXA scan and I'm osteopenia.

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to Healthliving]

Let’s hope when your doctor gets to your age and aches like you do some9ne tells him ‘It’s just age’.

I’m glad you’re still just in osteopenia, how I wish is was! If you want information about bone health and how to help keep it that way with diet and exercise have a look at the Royal Osteoporosis Society website theros.org.uk - you will find masses of information on there and they have a site on Healthunlocked. It used to be called Bone Health but they have just changed the name to add something else to it

[Healthliving in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Thanks for the information on bone health I will have a look at website on bone health care.

[Gottarelax]

I had tendonitis in my hips which was debilitating. I couldn't rise from sitting, sit comfortably, I could only shuffle to walk and could not climb stairs. I thought I had PMR as it's in the family and the onset was almost identical. Seropositive for RA and MRI showed tendonitis in the hips. I would describe it like being in a heavy suit of armour.

Edited to add, oral steroids 20mg 1 month course with weekly reductions worked wonders for me. I had to courses and then the RA drugs started to kick in.

[Healthliving in reply to Gottarelax]

Thanks for your reply, you describe me to a T, so you say steroids cured it, and is it completely gone? I would fo anything for this to be gone, I can't sit down, go up stairs, I shuffle along when I walk, can't get into a car, never mind drive, or get in or out of bed, do you have RA? Do you have PMR as well?

[Gottarelax in reply to Healthliving]

I still get achy hip joints but I do have my life back. I have RA not PMR. Family members were diagnosed with PMR and to be honest I can't tell much difference except that they are on long term steroids and I'm on methotrexate now. If I stop the methotrexate, the symptoms return. I can't say whether without the initial boosts of steroids the methotrexate would have worked but if it did, it would have been a lot slower. My mum was diagnosed PMR in her 40s and so was my sister. Both of them were on long term steroids. Both had GCA. Now they are both being considered as inflammatory arthritis / RA. It is possible that you can develop inflammatory arthritis after PMR has resolved. Have you had screening for RA...anti-CCP and/or RF?

[Healthliving in reply to Gottarelax]

I was on steroids for a long time, and feel that's what's brought on this osteoarthritis, no I haven't been screened for RA what's-CCP or RF? Yes I think PMR or any autoimmune diseases run in families, thanks for your help.

[Gottarelax in reply to Healthliving]

Anti-CCP is an antibody that is produced in a lot of RA patients in response to joint damage. RF is rheumatoid factor which is also an antibody found in most RA patients. If seropositive with either CCP or RF and have joint problems, RA is usually diagnosed but you can also be diagnosed with seronegative RA. Anti-CCP can appear before the onset of RA symptoms and so can be predictive. I think that Anti-CCP is considered more reliable these days. If seropositive with both, the prognosis is usually not so good. I was fortunate that my GP screened for Anti-CCP immediately I contacted them. I think that it should be included in any new work-up for stiff, painful joints.

[Healthliving in reply to Gottarelax]

Thanks for your reply and information.