New pain around knees

[Lochy]

No sooner than you think aches and pains are ‘normal’ ones something new appears.

I’m currently tapering from 11 to 10mg of Prednisolone. A few weeks ago my left knee started to feel swollen at the back of the knee only. It was as if someone had put elastic bands round my knee. Right knee now a bit similar. Eases as I move around. I’ve never had this before. Can’t decide if it’s a PMR symptom or mechanical. Or the colder weather. I am never pain free on my steroid dose but have definitely become stiffer recently.

Should I stabilise on a dose for a while or increase my dose (I did increase to 12 for a week recently as had course of treatment to deal with and 12 made no difference to my knees!) I suppose my usual panic is that it’s the start of a flare and when I’ve been doing so well I’m terrified o losing the plot again!

Any opinions welcome! Seeing my GP this week and always feel forearmed is forewarned. Thanks

[SheffieldJane]

Good point about the colder weather and the damp. All manner of symptoms will come out of hibernation. I can already feel arthritic pains pinging. My knees get swollen, particularly one of them, at the front, movable fluid and sharp pain on ascending the stairs. I have also noticed finger stiffness and quite sharp pain. I do not associate this with my PMR. As I have lowered my dose I have noticed these pains popping ( I am on 7 mgs and a bit stuck). They do respond to painkillers unlike PMR and ease in sunny climes. Take yourself off for a blast of sun if you possibly can. Otherwise it's all the usual Arthritis care supplements, keep moving, keep warm and painkillers I think.

It feels separate to my PMR control but I am prepared to be corrected as ever!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi Lockyer,

Would be inclined to agree with S/Jane that it’s more likely to be arthritic type symptoms, and of course the colder weather doesn’t help. In fact there have been discussions on here in previous winters about not reducing through the cold weather, one Rheumy suggested it, can’t remember who, might have been Rod Hughes.

I would try painkillers and/or arthritis gels first and see if they help before increasing Pred. I would also suggest, stop your taper, go back to 11mg and re-assess the situation after a couple of weeks. Even leave the tapering until after Christmas - no great shakes! As we say, there’s no rush!

[Hidden]

Hi Lochy i have been off of pred for 8 months now. i had a lor if different muscle aches and pain when i was tapering down and it was slightly worse when i finished the pred. After speaki g to my GP who is brill and to 3 friends who have had PMR i realised it is where the weak muscles are starting to strengthen. I still ha e stiff muscles at the back of my knees and id i overdo gardening or lifting the muscles in my upper arms hurt. Friends have told me this was what it was like for them and took a good 9months to a year to settle down...this is true. I have found walking and pilates so helpful and going to the gym and the instructors helping me with strengthening exercises also aqua arobics. I almost feel back to normal. Eat lots of fresh fruit and veg and as my Rheumatologist told me before he discharged me and my GP said ...listen to your body but dont over do excercise build it up slowly. As pred masks other aches and pains when tapering you can tell after a while if it is a different pain to a flareup. I hope that this helps. Good luck.

Oh i was on pred for 3 years before tapering down and finally off it.

[Lochy in reply to Hidden]

Interesting thanks. I hadn’t thought it could be positive in some way!

I’m doing Pilates and yoga and regular walking so I do challenge my muscles. It’s just finding the right balance

I think I do need more advice about strengthening exercise so may go visit my Physio again.

[Hidden in reply to Lochy]

Sometimes when I have had a busy time at work, I normally work 2 5 shifts a week but cover holidays so be up to 30 hours ...in a clothes shop.....my upper arm muscles feel like they are being pinched but this is a bit like repetitive injury using the touch screen till hanging clothes, which you forget can be heavy, but GP suggested taking ibuprofen/paracetamol and it does help. GP also suggested i took my prednesolone at night and found it helped the muscles to recover while I slept and I really found this helped. The other thing when doing strengthening core exercise like crunches your neck..shoulders..ribs.. will ache the next day as they start to get stronger

I know I could get a flare up or PMR could come back and at the moment my friends experience of coming of preds is helping especially as 2 of them are back running half marathons so I am keeping fingers crossed. When I think back to January 2014 and I couldn't get out of bed i was so weak to now i really didn't know what the future held. So be positive there is light at the end of the tunnel xx

[Sandradsn in reply to Hidden]

Hi Rosie When you came off the pred did your GP do regular blood tests?Thank you for your positive story😄

[Hidden in reply to Sandradsn]

Hi sandradsn...i thought i had replied earlier but nothing on here!!! My Dr said for me to have bloods done at 4 months but i forgot do had them checked at 7 months...3 weeks ago and everything looking good 🤞🤞

[Lochy in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Rosie for your encouraging story. I’ll be celebrating two years in January of my PMR pains starting. Commenced steroids in March 2016. It has been a rocky road at times with one flare. Feel I have a better understanding now due to this site and all the knowledge here.

It’s just the different pains that appear in different places that get me! Sometimes the slightest activity causes unexpected stiffness.

I still split my dose and know it’s best for me. Forgot my nighttime dose the other week and I was crippled by morning. Took a while to realise what I’d done but it wiped out my day. Do you take your whole dose at night? I sometimes feel that might be best for me but have no idea if correct. Last time I saw my rheumatologist he still has element of surprise that I split my dose but he does say if it works carry on.

[Hidden in reply to Lochy]

When i was on pred i took all my dise at night..it woorked for me .

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Lochy]

I know a few people who take their dose at night. Often the discomfort in the evening is relieved because you have been moving all day. Taking it at night should mean good mornings. It is a very individual thing- if it works for YOU that is what matters. Some people find they can't sleep - for others it makes no difference at all!

[Hidden]

I will also say that several people i have spoken to about PMR are convinced it is linked to stress...i was fortunate to be able to give up a stressful management job to work a few hours a week and coinidence or not that is when i started to get better!!

[Sandradsn in reply to Hidden]

I'm convinced pmr is linked to stress too!I'm giving up my stressful job in a few weeks!

[Lejazzhot]

Same issue. Always new pain. How long do you wait before you a dr? Which dr? Is it PMR or real orthopedic issue. Why does pred work on some pains but not all if it is all PMR

hi. Im a new member of PMR, 6 weeks!

These posts are life savers.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Lejazzhot]

I suggest you start a new thread to ask your question so it is seen, this is a very old thread.

It would help if you told us what sort of pain and when it appears - when yo u reduce, when you do something...

Pred works for PMR pain but may not work for other pain if it isn't due to inflammation. Pred relieves pain by suppressing the inflammation that is causing it. It wouldn't relieve mechanical pain or pain due to injury.

[marionofnorwich]

i dont have an answer for you Lochy  but i have experienced the same thing - feeling as though there is a small towel behind my left knee. Dr said just muscle but it didnt feel like that. Since April all leg muscles very stiff and lumpy but physio cant offer an answer about what it is. If arthritis is has suddenly appeared out of the