Joint instability

[Beccasmum]

Does anyone else feel that their joints are unstable with PMR? My right hip particularly feels as if it might dislocate at any moment, especially when I turn.

[SheffieldJane]

My balance has not been great but your symptom is so specific, I would ask for an X Ray.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Like SJ I think I would ask for an x-ray. But instability can be due to soft-tissue problems too so an MRI might be more informative. Pred doesn't help soft tissue so that might be a factor and I have a suspicion that some of us with PMR had hypermobile joints previously.

[Beccasmum in reply to PMRpro]

I’m pretty sure I had hypermoibility as a child. I’ve always and still am pretty flexible!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Beccasmum]

I can still touch my toes, before I could put my hands flat on the floor - and was once told by a "musculoskeletal specialist" (for that read a not very good physio with an extra bit of paper, probably gained through an online course) that there was nothing wrong with my back if I could do that, he couldn't. If he couldn't it was probably hamstrings but hey-ho. Better physios and doctors have identified the scoliosis and loss of lordosis (flat lumbar region) that is the probable source of at least some of my back problems. I'm just starting on the process of getting it sorted again - we nearly get there and I run out of physio entitlement! But yesterday I saw a rheumy who did recognise it (and me) - and, bless him, told me I don't have to join the long queue for an appointment, just turn up to reception and say "return of symptoms" and he will pull my notes forward to approve physio!!!! Maybe he's hoping to have enough time to practise his English as we did in the past!

[Koalajane in reply to PMRpro]

I am intrigued by scoliosis as my dexa scan showed that I have mild scoliosis but no significant vertebral deformities. Should I be worried about it?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Koalajane]

In the past I was told about it by an orthopaedic guy in Germany, even I could see it on the x-ray - this was just a few years after I was categorically assured by a very elderly locum in Scotland there was nothing at all wrong with my back! Several months of therapy on the very tight back muscles and the pain was pretty much gone, not quite so I asked on my return to the UK for more physio to get it fully sorted and was laughed at. I managed to keep it all fairly much in check until I moved again and not that long afterwards PMR appeared. With the help of my Bowen therapist and my osteopath and aquafit I kept upright - and I could manage Pilates and Iyengha yoga which, over time, helped a lot. So much so that the scoliosis could barely be identified. Now it is back - and I am sure that the state of my back muscles has a lot to do with it.

This is quite good

healthline.com/health/scoli...

and does say that mild scoliosis rarely needs treatment but exercises may be worth investigating. I'm just looking at what they suggest and going, Yeah, okaaaaaay ... 😂

[Koalajane in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for that