Hip pain

[Kittylitter]

Hello everyone- quick resume, I have been diagnosed and taking pred for 2.5 years, currently on 5mg, up and down between 3.5 and 7mg in last year as I try to reduce and suffer flares (despite using DSNS method). My question relates to hip pain I have been experiencing and had been getting worse over the last 3 months or so. My left leg and hip feel so weak and sore I now have to manually lift my leg to cross them, get in and out of the car etc. Anyone else had this experience with PMR? I’m 52 and don’t have any other health issues. I’m going to see my GP next week but fear being told it’s all just part of the condition. I’m not due to see the rheumatologist for my annual 15 min check up, until December. Thanks for reading.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

"up and down between 3.5 and 7mg in last year as I try to reduce and suffer flares (despite using DSNS method)"

It doesn't matter what method you use - NOTHING will get you past the thing you are looking for: the lowest dose that manages the symptoms as well as the starting dose did. It sounds like 5mg - you are trying to get too low, allowing a flare to develop and needing 7mg to sort it out. Accept that 5mg is where you are meant to be - it doesn't mean you won't get lower, just not yet. Slow down - it's a very low dose and isn't doing any harm.

If it is just one side - has anyone considered trochanteric bursitis? That can make your leg weak and feeble when doing stairs or anything else that involves lifting it. And it is common in PMR. Responds well to a local steroid injection - which here my GP will give. It seems to be rather less simple in the UK though! There are also exercises that are said to help.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

As PMRpro says could be bursitis, get it checked. I had/have problems with right hip - initially thought to be bursitis, but now seems to be confirmed (!.) as osteoarthritis.

Steroid injections will help, but you might need two to clear completely - if you can find a friendly GP willing and able to do them!

If you’re like me, the exercises are too painful without the injection!

[suzy1959]

Also worth considering OA- I developed it in hip and both knees a few years in to the PMR which I got at your age. I kept asking doctors and others why my thigh was so painful and eventually realised it was my hip . An X-ray would tell you whether it is or not.

[piglette]

I had awful pain in my thigh and hip and it turned out to be osteoarthritis. The surgeon said the cartilidge could have been eaten away by the steroids. I am not sure how true that is. My GP said it was PMR. In the end I saw a surgeon privately and he diagnosed my hip in about two minutes.

[Kittylitter in reply to piglette]

Thanks everyone. I think you are right PMR Pro, I have got to 3.5mg and felt ok but not long after I seem to suffer a flare. I think remaining at 5mg for a while is the answer. I will go armed to the GP and request an X-ray and investigation. I’m hoping it isn’t anything on going but have to say, it’s feeling worse not better. Thanks for taking g time to reply. Really appreciate it.

[Valnvaughan]

I had this experience last December 2.5 years into PMR. I had been trying to reduce Pred but each time I got to 8mg per day the GP diagnosed a flare and put me back up to 15 where the hip pain eased. Eventually I asked for further investigation as hip pain was not bilateral. GP gave me a steroid injection when she saw my lack of joint mobility and referred me for XRays. The radiologist looked worried at XRays and commented "you must be in a lot of pain". GP then diagnosed osteoarthritis. I jumped over Physio exercises as cartilage was absent in right hip and breaking down in left, and went to Mucoskeletal specialist. She referred me to surgeon as I needed 1 probably 2 hip replacements. Right hip replaced May 2018 and recovering well, but left not coping, just getting worse. Surgeon trying to get funding for 2nd replacement without going thru' whole process again.

Bit the bullet last week and bought a mobility scooter so I can get about locally, and reborrowed a Red Cross wheelchair.

PMR seems OK and continuing reduction. Surgeon got me to reduce Pred to 5mg before first op and now on 3.5mg.

Good luck. Valerie

[Kittylitter in reply to Valnvaughan]

Thanks for your reply Valarie and sorry to hear it’s been such a hard toad for you. But glad to hear that you are managing your PMR. I saw my GP this morning and have been referred for an X-ray. We’ll see from there. I hope you get what you need to feel as well as you can. Best wishes. Cath

[piglette in reply to Valnvaughan]

I had a similar experience. Got down to 5mg for the op, then CRP came back at 415 afterwards, surgeon panicked a bit, put up my pred and kept me in hospital for two extra days. I felt fine which was really annoying.

[Dewdrop456]

Hello, I have been reducing since I started this journey last October.I can't remember how many mgs I had got down to at the time but it was over 7,I had hip pain too. It was just on my right side and very painful. I carried on reducing very slowly because it was only on one side and now the hip pain has disappeared . This is a strange annoying and unpredictable illness.I have learnt from the wonderful experts on here not to rush and to accept that the PMR is in charge.I got to 5.5mgs but have now generally flared again.I just wanted to tell you about my one-sided hip pain because it didn't seem to fit .very best wishes.