Is one foot inflamed part of PMR?

[Janstr]

I saw in a post a few days ago that foot problems on both sides can be part of PMR. I have had swelling issues in one foot only for several months, initially near the big toe joint & also about an inch up from there towards my ankle. Originally the whole foot was quite swollen, but this has gone down a lot. I now have a soft spongy lump where my foot joins my leg. All of this is on the top of my foot. All of the areas mentioned ache a bit. My CRP has been normal for some time. Is this likely to be part of PMR

[Shelly62]

Well what you have just described, is the exact same problem I have. My right big toe joint, and ankle are in constant pain. On accasions my ankle has just given out on me. I have had a few fall because of this.

[Janstr in reply to Shelly62]

It's not really my ankle but on the front where my leg joins my foot. It's interesting that you have a similar issue

[Marijo1951]

I had badly swollen feet and ankles for some months (more so on the right), but I thought it was a side effect of pred. Since I reduced to 12.5 mg and now 10, the swelling has gone right down and they are almost normal size.

[Janstr in reply to Marijo1951]

Originally my whole foot was swollen, but this has reduced. I hadn't thought about it being a side effect of pred. I'm now on 11.5

The lump however has been there for only a couple of weeks

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It doesn't sound very PMR-ish - it really is mostly both sides and the localised swelling isn't typical either. Have you asked your GP to send you for an ultrasound of your foot? I now have a fairly discrete bump on the top of my foot that was much more generally swollen at first - it is a ganglion of some sort but I did have it checked to be sure. The generalised swelling lasted a couple of months and since then has gone down.

[kulina in reply to PMRpro]

I have a question for you. My doctor doesn't know what to say. Yes, swollen foot can be gout or other issues but isn't it possible to have tendinitis from PMR even if it's only one sided? PMR is inflammation of the tendons after all. I've had more issues/pain on my right side than the left and was told that because I depend/use my right side more. I've had swollen right hand (tendinitis) and swollen right foot at different times. I have no other health issues so I think this might be related to PMR. What do you think PMRpro?

[Hidden in reply to kulina]

I can tell you I have had a swollen left ankle for months. It was very painful. Tendonitis according to doc. I do RICE it and pain largely went, but it is still slightly swollen. My right achilles is inflamed at the moment (7mg). I have had housemaids knee (previously injured knee) and golfers elbow in my right arm over the past 2 years at higher doses. So yes you can get swelling and tendon issues on either side as one of the add ons to pmr and pred. 😮🤔🌻

[kulina in reply to Hidden]

I really feel your pain Poopadoops. I find RICE helps sometimes. My hand swelled even more when I used a compression glove, taping didn't work either. A cortisone injection finally did the trick after a couple of painful months when I convinced my doctor and I couldn't stand it anymore. For my swollen top right foot, taping, compression and ice seemed to work. I'm so afraid the swelling will come back... Taping also worked wonders for my right knee. I had a painful right knee for 3 years and it went away when my physio taped it. Tape works for me sometimes but not always. I hope you are doing better.

[Hidden in reply to kulina]

I used kinesiology tape on a shoulder injury a few years ago pre pmr. I made a massive difference to movement but as I am allergic to elastoplast, I found I was allergic to tape. Even micropore seems to irritate me these days. I do have braces mDe of neoprene and velcro that help too when tendons get floppy again. 🤞 For both of us

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to kulina]

Depends a bit on the sort of swelling - the one I wrote about there was a ganglion and it is gone. I did have generallised swelling in both feet which originally appeared to be PMR-related maybe RS3PE syndrome, but have had worse swelling of the right than left ankle since. Now there is now swelling - since I had a pacemaker fitted to improve cardiac problems related to atrial fibrillation with tachy and bradycardiac episodes. It may not be a simple problem.

Have you ever tried manual lymph drainage? That helped me a lot.

[kulina in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you for your answer. I did massage my swollen hand (from fingers to the wrist) and it did help a bit. It seemed to reduce the inflammation. I will look into manual lymph drainage, sounds interesting.

[Janstr]

Thankyou & no I haven't asked re an ultra sound. I will get an appointment with her this week.

[Janstr in reply to Janstr]

You are on the ball PMRpro. I have just come back from a visit to my GP who has confirmed your thoughts of a ganglion, in my case possibly caused by synovitis in that area several months ago. It's a relief that it's not cancerous. Thanks again.