Leg giving out

[Luvtostitch]

I was diagnosed with PMR-GCA a year ago and am on prednisone which I have tapered down to 6 mg a day. I have been experiencing right thigh pain and my leg giving out without warning and down I go. Has this happened to anyone else. Seeing my PC on the 22nd.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Welcome!

Could the pain be sciatica? As I reduce my pred dose I get a revival of myofascial pain syndrome affecting my lower back. The piriformis muscle gets tight and can irritate or even trap the sciatic nerve. Myofascial pain syndrome is more common in PMR patients - it is caused by the same inflammatory substances but instead of being systemic (all through the body) they are found in hard knots in the large mucle groups, in pairs on either side of the spine, in the shoulders, about rib level and in the buttocks, about where the baby's dimples are. A good doctor or physiotherapist will be able to feel the hard knots, which are painful on pressure. Therapeutic massage is a good, if slow, way of dealing with them.

There are other causes of sciatica but for us I'd say a muscle problem is most likely but you should be sent for some imaging to rule out other more serious things.

spine-health.com/blog/why-d...

[Luvtostitch in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you.....never thought of sciatica. I will investigate. Love this sight!

[piglette]

I had right thigh pain and it turned out be osteoarthritis in my hip. I had to have an xray privately as my GP said it was PMR.

[Hidden]

Do you take calcium? I am just wondering if it could be Hypercalaecmia which can cause weakness and the muscle just don't respond the commands. When my previously injured leg refused to move and my toes had no tone at all the dr tested. But it as I have pretty permanent sciatic it turned out to be that. Just as a back up to sciatica. 🌻

[Janstr]

Are you sure the thigh pain isn't PMR, as my PMR started with pain in my thighs which gradually got worse. Where did your leg give out from - your thigh or somewhere else?

[Luvtostitch in reply to Janstr]

Thank you, I’m not sure if it’s PMR. The leg does seem to give out at my thigh and my pain seems to be just in my thigh.

[Janstr in reply to Luvtostitch]

My PMR pain was just in my thighs for quite a long time. However my thighs never gave out. The reason I asked is that years ago one if my knees gave out which was totally unrelated to PMR