Knee pain - Housemaids knee, Bakers Cyst??

[Lochy]

I know I’ve mentioned this before but the discomfort is reappearing and I now have pains in both knees. Right knee feels tight in the soft fleshy area at the back of knee. Wondering if it’s a Bakers Cyst or just inflammation in the bursa? Left knee has developed an irritating sensitive area on the top of knee cap. Sore to the touch. After bit of research wondering if it’s Housemaids knee! And I know being a housemaid is not one of my strengths. 😂

Have any of you experienced same symptoms and do we just put it all down to PMR?

The irony of it is the pain in my left knee came about from kneeling in Pilates class. Wasn’t even doing anything strenuous. Pilates is one of few things I do trying to maintain some muscle strength and tone.

So what now? Do I increase my steroids? Dropping from 11 to 10 at moment by DSNS method. Finding it a bit niggly and now this has happened. Away to Madrid next week for few days so if this continues I’ll be spending most of my time in pavement cafes 😁

I feel I’m really struggling around this taper and finding it all a bit depressing. I have read a few posts this morning and I know there are lots of you feeling the same way. It’s hard to remain buoyant and upbeat every day, but I do try.

Any comments or similar experiences much appreciated. Oh and it’s misty and drizzly here in Edinburgh again which also doesn’t help!!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi,

Weather’s iffy here in Dorset as well! Bored with it now! It certainly doesn’t help how we feel either.

Have you tried ordinary painkillers for knees, might be worth a try rather than up Pred. We are apt to blame every niggle on PMR when sometimes it’s not!

Why don’t you just temporarily halt the reduction for a week if the painkillers don’t help (but give them a couple of days).

You might find a bit of Spanish sun perks you up next week, and then when you get back make a physio appointment to look at your knees.

Totally agree with you on Pilates!

[Lochy in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks Dorset Lady. Will pop a few paracetamol and hope it helps. Agree re not dropping any further for the moment.

Right knee is definitely a tight, swollen feeling as opposed to other pain which I’ve experienced in my previous active life. Feel the bursa or whatever is swollen.

Will see Physio upon my return from the sun ☀️

[Hidden]

Yes... I have something continually, niggling at me from behind my right knee. It's very tender, swollen and started about 8-10 weeks ago. I mentioned it to the GP, as I was concerned about a DVT... but it didn't fit with any of the criteria. She mentioned Baker's cyst and ordered a scan... but I'm still waiting. Most of the time it's just annoying and the pain is tolerable, but at night, when I relax it sometimes starts to throb. I just try to ignore it and carry on. You're right though, "it's hard to remain buoyant and upbeat every day," when there is always something!!!! : |

[SheffieldJane]

Hi Lochy

Poor you! mamaci had Baker’s Cysts the other week. She maybe able to help. It sounds excruciating! I would be tempted to increase my Pred dose by at least 2 mgs to cover the Madrid trip. I would certainly stop tapering until this clears up. It’s annoying that Pilates may have triggered this and particularly unfair as it’s part of your self care programme. Also annoying if it’s housemaid’s knee and you don’t even have immaculate steps.

I envy you Edinburgh, even in the drizzle and mist. I was brought up there in the West End no less.

Street Cafes in Madrid doesn’t sound too much of a hardship. I hope the sun shines for you.

Don’t worry about being buoyant on here, this is a space to rant and complain. Have a really pleasant break, it’ll buck you up.

[Lochy in reply to SheffieldJane]

Hi Sheffieldjane, Edinburgh is lovely, but I’m sure you will remember the Haar! Well that’s what we’ve got today and a nice chilly east wind.

I will stop taper until my return and take it easy when away. It’s a girls trip so one of the main stresses apart from too much eating and drinking is dealing with the ‘but you are looking so well’ syndrome that we all know so well. Anyway I am just pleased to be going on the trip so think myself lucky and I’ll just have to insist on plenty cafe stops 😂😁😁

[Hidden]

Hi

My right knee has a long standing bit of floating bone that pops against the outside ligament every so often- I manipulate that back after initial yikes exploding knee pain dissipates a bit. That was from cycle accident almost 30yrs ago.

Perhaps more relevant is the bursitis I had...or housemaids knee. There was a swelling that was warm to the touch above kneecap on same knee. I used pain killers and bought a doughnut shaped knee iced from the internet. It worked better than ice because it strapped to.my knee and didn't wet clothes. It took about 3 to 4 weeks to stop really hurting. The swelling is still there a little bit. At the time it felt like a balloon of fluid.

In sum....ice and painkillers with a bit of rest but keep mobile without straining.

[Lochy in reply to Hidden]

Thanks poopadoop I’ve just ordered an ice pack off Amazon so will take it away with me.

I assume bursitis is one of the joys of PMR. Is it made worse by the steroids or is it just the inflammation?

[Hidden in reply to Lochy]

I think I have read that it's the one but could be a combination. Hope you have a good time.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Lochy]

Bursitis is part of PMR - and if a particular joint is being affected due to the PMR, just resting/ice won't always do the job. If anything the steroids will help - my PMR bursitis faded over a period of about 5 months while on doses at 15mg and working down. However, oral pred doesn't do a brilliant job (blood supply to the joints isn't good enough and the pred has to diffuse in via the joint fluid) so injections often do a far better job. Not into the joint necessarily, local i.m. also can make a big difference.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I CANNOT kneel - my Pilates classes were adapted to leave out pressure on the knees.

Bakers cyst does seem to happen a lot in people with PMR.

[Rosedail]

I have been off the prednisone for over a year and I can not kneel...ever. I had both knees drained by my Rheumatologist last fall and she could not believe how much fluid had accumulated...I had been icing, seeing a physical therapist and using ibuprofen for 5-6 months prior. Until I had my knees drained and added the shots of cortisone into the knees...nothing much helped. Since then, my knees were ok until about a month ago when I kneeled in a stretching class....just for a minute. Silly me! Swelling was back within 24 hours and now weeks later I need to get them drained again☹️. Alas, although I am VERY grateful to no longer have the PMR, it “did a number” on some of my joints that I am coming to accept Will be with me for the rest of my life. I do most of my aerobic exercise on a bike now on the advice of the physical therapist...she said it’s better on the knees.

[Lochy in reply to Rosedail]

Hi Rosedail, thanks for reply but it does depress me a bit! Just when you think you are doing things eg yoga and Pilates to help yourself it all goes wrong. I have complained a couple of times of knee discomfort to GP and Rheumatologist but none have mentioned bursitis. Rheumy suggested osteoarthritis but I know it’s a different pain. I was checked out for OA in my knee a few years ago pre-PMR and all was well and the pain I complained of then was very different. From some of the comments and stuff I’ve read bursitis makes more sense. I’ve bought an ice pack which I’ll give a try. Will remain on my current dose until home from my holiday and then reassess.

[Rosedail in reply to Lochy]

Sounds like a good plan. Don’t give up on the yoga and Pilates...just try and modify so you never kneel. I do the Miranda Esmund White videos because she never kneels...so far anyway

[Grants148]

The weather here in Dunstable has been very dull and wet all week Lochy,l do not think the cold damp weather helps with knee and leg problems.l also suffer from a tight feeling in the back of both my knees,it feels like there is a piece of tight elastic stretching right down the back of each leg.l have had this problem before l was diagnosed with PMR,but hospital tests did not prove any reason for this. I also often have swelling above my knees,l intend to see my GP about this.l did find that on a high dose of preds l did not have any problem,my legs felt oK.lt is difficult to say if PMR caused the problem in the first place.lhope you manage to get some relief from your symptoms,some sunshine in Madrid should help,l hope you have a lovely time, l absolutely love Scotland and Edinburgh is a fantastic city,and l love going over the Forth bridge.l cannot wait to visit again.All the best,Patricia xx

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Grants148]

Have you seen the new road bridge yet? The three of them are fabulous!

[Lochy in reply to PMRpro]

The three Bridges are stunning. I get a fabulous view of them as I walk my dog on the Braid Hills in Edinburgh.

Progress on my knees. Went for my myofascial massage today and it has helped so much. May build up again but at least I know the treatment helped without increasing my drugs!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Lochy]

I get to travel over the new one in a couple of weeks - my daughter lives at the other end!

[Lochy in reply to PMRpro]

Hope it has warmed up by then! East wind making it very cold at moment.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Lochy]

So do I - but dry will do!!!!

[Grants148]

I only saw the new bridge while it was being constructed..l am pleased that the massage helped your knees Lochy.