Flare

[September17]

Hi, has anybody had a flare after total hip replacement surgery? Had been down to 1mg pred before surgery 9 weeks ago and was making excellent progress......but have now all the symptoms of pmr again. Many thanks.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

There are plenty of people who found that surgery of any sort, not necessarily hip replacement, triggered a flare. On the other hand - there are people who sailed through it on 1mg with no trouble.

However - are you sure it is the PMR? Remember that while mobilising using a zimmer frame or crutches you are really overloading your shoulders and arms - that will hurt just like PMR. You are also now walking totally differently - and that can put stress on your back and cause muscle pain.

If it were me, I would try a higher dose for a couple of days to see if it helps - that would confirm if it is likely to be the PMR. If it doesn't then you can drop quickly back to where you are - at this it is adrenal function that causes the major need for slow reduction and you have already shown your adrenal function is pretty good, a few days at a higher dose won't hurt.

[September17 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you PMRpro for your very helpful reply. I have been off my crutches for 3 weeks and physio very pleased with my progress, then quite suddenly, just like the first time I got PMR it hit me and I was unable to get up from a chair, get dressed without help and the horrible aching in thighs, shoulders and this time hands added in too. Just back from Dr, who says it is a flare ...... did bloods and put me on 15mg pred. Hope this will work, Thank you again.