New pain- PMR

[Sunnyd7]

Hi all! First let me say this site has been a Godsend as I navigate through PMR.

Diagnosed in Sept 2017, I am currently on 8mg of prednisone.

For the last 3 weeks I have had bad knee pain, considerable hip pain and slight shoulder pain. Prior to this 8mg of prednisone has been really great at controlling pain.

These pains were all present when I was diagnosed, especially the hip pain.

I am wondering why the pain has increased? Any thoughts?

[Hidden]

Hi Sunny

First let me say how pleased l am that the Forum is of help to you.

How long were you on 8mg Pred before the pains started?

It is possible you’ve simply dropped past the dose that held the symptoms at bay.

Kind Regards

MrsN

[Sunnyd7 in reply to Hidden]

I have been taking 8 mg for the last year. I was on 7.5 mg for most of my journey thus far.

I tried to go up to 10mg for a few days. It didn't seem to make much of a difference. At 10 mg I do get heart palpitations so I don't like to take that high of a dose for too long unless I really need it. Thank you for your response.

[Hidden in reply to Sunnyd7]

As Poop has mentioned below could it be pain from OA have you tried a simple pain killer?

Have you discussed it with your GP?

[Sunnyd7 in reply to Hidden]

I have not been to the Doctor yet. I will be making an appt soon.

[Hidden]

Hi sunnyd7, some people find that existing pain from injuries/OA is masked by pred until you start to get down into the single figures. It could be the PMR still giving you a reminder or your pre-existing pain...plus 2 more years wear and tear, is starting to be exposed. Perhaps if the latter you need to get it checked by the Dr. 🌻

[piglette]

That is the problem when reducing, all the other old pains come back. Of course whatever it is could now be worse than it was before you had PMR and that is why you seem to have more pain. It may be worth asking for an X-ray.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

If you go very slightly beyond the perfect dose, it may take some time for the left over inflammation to build up to the level at which you get symptoms. Plus the underlying autoimmune illness doesn't chug along at the same level - various things can influence it to ramp up its activity and then the dose that was previously enough no longer does the job. That is possibly more likely after a year.

If the knee pain came first then it may be making you walk unevenly which will put stress on other parts of the body - and they protest. So while it resembles PMR it possibly isn't entirely that.