Pain in hips and pelvis area on waking

[tangocharlie]

I thought my PMR had mainly gone after nearly 7 years, but the last couple of months I've been waking up with severe pain in the hips and particularly the frontal pelvis area. As soon as I get out of bed and start to move around it wears off. I don't think I had this when I first started PMR, it was mainly stiff neck, shoulders, arms, legs and lower back. Does this sound like PMR coming back or something new eg arthritis?

[Grants148]

I had this when l first had PMR,and again when l had a flare.

[tangocharlie in reply to Grants148]

Oh no. I took 10 Pred yesterday and this morning it was a bit better than yesterday so it seems responsive to Pred, which could indicate a PMR flare rather than arthritis. I didn't have it first time round. What did you do about it? Dreading having to go back on steroids.

[Blearyeyed in reply to tangocharlie]

Being responsive to Pred doesn't necessarily mean it isn't something else.

Pred is used as the steroid of choice for many different issues apart from PMR.

So , although the Pred worked it doesn't necessarily mean that it isn't something that requires further investigation , especially if your Pred pain had been under control for some time at your previous dose and you can't think of anything that might have triggered a flare.

I would definitely suggest that you arrange an appointment with your GP to discuss it and tell them exactly what happened. Don't let them fob you off with the easy route either, yes it could just be a flare and it's easier forcthe to brush it off.

But it could be another arthritic or rheumatic condition that needs monitoring and will cause less trouble for you if caught early on , so ask for checks to be done anyway.

Take care and let us know how you get on , hugs , bee xx

[tangocharlie in reply to Blearyeyed]

Thank you, I will mention it to the rheumy on Friday. I came off Preds two years ago but the docs want me to go back on. I'm reluctant because I put on so much weight and got the Cushingooid moon face last time, it was horrible.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to tangocharlie]

It isn't inevitable - I gained a lot of weight with one form of steroid and lost it by cutting carbs. First place it went from was face and midriff. I had been in hospital and at the top of the diagnosis list was "Cushingoid" - all my doctors now say there is no sign I am on steroids and I am back to the same dose I was at then. It is possible - but you do have to be fairly disciplined.

[tangocharlie in reply to PMRpro]

I've lost about a stone and a half by low carb eating but it's very slow progress, it's taken a year and a half so far and another 4 stone to go (I put on 3 stone when on steroids). I just can't shift the slab of flab on my stomach it's like the proverbial spare tyre. The face went back to normal quite quickly, about 3 months I think

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to tangocharlie]

It is slow - I'd had a good week if I lost 1/2lb ...

[Mary63]

When I first had PMR it affected neck, shoulders and lower back. When I had a flare last autumn it went to pelvis. I went up 5mgfor 3 days and then back to dosage where I had felt fine.

[tangocharlie in reply to Mary63]

Thank you for the info, I hope a few days back on Pred might sort me out

[SheffieldJane]

It could be arthritis, mine has been doing some developing since PMR and is showing itself painfully in this damp weather. My first PMR pains were in the groin, that was very disabling. I do hope that’s not it. Perhaps X Rays or an MRI Scan would let you know what you are dealing with. I could never “ walk off” PMR pain, arthritis is different.

[Blearyeyed in reply to SheffieldJane]

Totally agree it needs checking. xx

[Purplecrow]

My recent new pain was diagnosed as sacroiliac joint problem. Ive been using acupuncture, Chiropractic treatment, chinese massage, and steroid injections. About 75% improvement at this time, hoping to get to 100 soon.Regards, Jerri

[tangocharlie in reply to Purplecrow]

Thank you. I do get sacroilliac problems from time to time and treat it with exercises that I got from a book called Treat your own back by Robin McKenzie that a physiotherapist recommended to me. My current pain is more pelvis and groin

[PMRnewbie2017]

Please don't immediately jump onto the Pred bandwagon. We're you off the Pred or have you just increased the dose? Why don't you try pain killers in a controlled way. Perhaps paracetamol 2 tabs 4times a day for 24 hours and note what happens. If no relief at all stop paracetamol and try ibuprofen 400mg three times a day. If nothing helps then that would point to the pain not being prostaglandin mediated and perhaps your pmr is active. Remember that Pred will help all sorts of inflammation so you could mask the real cause.

I'm currently suffering a dreadful fluey type virus and I ache. Would be so tempting to increase my pred dose. I haven't because paracetamol sorts it out, therefore it's the virus not my PMR/ GCA.

[Purplecrow in reply to PMRnewbie2017]

Wise words...

[Blearyeyed in reply to PMRnewbie2017]

Definitely agree when it's a virus use the standard pain relief and care advice before increasing the Pred , and only do it when you feel it's definitely a flare of PMR pain.

In this case , as other arthritic or joint issues can occur separate to PMR , rather than any extra meds a trip to the GP to get it on record and get x-rays and other tests is the best route to get help for any new developments quickly. xx

[tangocharlie in reply to PMRnewbie2017]

Unfortunately pain killers don't do anything and I get a bad reaction from them too. I'll ask for a scan, that seems a good idea.

[Grants148]

Hi Charlie,l had to increase my pred dose from 3 mg up to 5 mg.lt did stop the pain.l am currently stuck on 5 mg.l presume the pain was caused by PMR.l hope that if you have to increase your dose it will not have to be increased too much.l hope that the pred is not masking any other cause for the pelvic pain l had,but l have had PMR for nearly three years now and presume that was the cause in the beginning.Please let us know how you get on,l know how unpleasant the pain can be .

[Suet3942]

I’ve had the same problem. When I first had pmr it was shoulders, hips, etc. I have been flaring lately but it’s now my groin/pelvic area. Very odd.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It could be low back muscle-related discomfort. When my low back is playing up I do notice hip/groin pain - usually because of the tightness of the muscles making the joints rather tighter than they should be, even to causing sacroiliac joint problems. The early morning pain is because of lack of movement overnight rather than inflammatory substances. And myofascial pain syndrome does involve inflammation in the fascia and trigger points so pred does help in higher doses.

[SusanEleven]

My rheumatologist sent me for hip x-rays. Osteoarthritis in both hips. I have OA in my hands too.

My PMR pains had always been focused on my arms, neck, and groin. Plus the hip pains settle down after moving around for 15-30 minutes, unless the day is damp or a storm is coming.

[Purplecrow in reply to SusanEleven]

Day is damp or storm coming...sounds like where I live...its snowing right now!

[lilredhen]

Hi tango charlie, I have similar pain in the mornings, and I have always put it down to osteoarthritis. It has been cold and wet here which always exacerbates that. However my rheumatologist told me that prednisone can mask other things that are going on. I would check it out with your doctor just to be sure.