Ow, ow, ow! Feeling stupidly pleased at reduction to 7.5 then bam! osteoarthritic hip worse than ever. Waking me up at night when I try to turn over, barely hobbling this morning. Paracetamol not hitting it. Feeling exhausted and most sorry for myself.
I think I’ve read that Pred can mask arthritis? Would raising the dose make it go away ? (Pretty please) Or would that just delay the evil day?
Help from lovely PMR friends most muchly appreciated.
Hi enfin.... Oh dear. Not pleasant but I suspect the recent humid weather isn't helping. My hands and neck have been playing up. To be honest I would rather blast it with some ibuprofen. Its been discussed a few times and several of us do risk a 800mg blast of it on day 1 and often that can work. I have taken it at normal does thereafter but usual protect my tummy. I usually use ranitidine or similar. I am at 7.5mg at the moment and don't think more would help my hands. If you don't like the dea of that then try try the gel form directly to the area for a few days. Hope the pain eases. 🌻
Thank you Poopadoopy and MrsNails,
I’m on Celecoxib too which is an anti-inflammatory... spoke to GP (seeing about sleep apnea whoop!whoop!) who recommends upping my Gabapentin as only on 200 pd.... worth a try. Bit concerned about paracetamol availability if people panic buying - have been taking it regularly. Most help seems to be heat and rest - if I can get comfortable.
But hey, it could be worse😊, I’ve an excuse to binge watch ER!
I have slept better with increased gaba. Don't try ibuprofen then! Have you tried cocodamol. I use for breakthrough pain.... You can take 1 plain and 1 with codeine and build up to see if it works.,, 🌻
It’s weird but when I have breakthrough pain it often starts first with my OA right knee!
I take 30/500 codamol for pain and it definitely will take the edge off and for some reason I just take the one dose before bed and it seems to make the night better and the pain on waking is also reduced. You’ll need a prescription for the 30/500 dosage the 8/500 dose you can get over the counter did nothing at all and I can’t take NSAIDs because of gastric issues.
I wish my gp would realise that 30/500 for breakthrough pain at night does help sleep and morning pain. It's my lower back in one place that it starts. 8/500...pft.
I am blessed in that my GP realises that I’m pretty clued up on most of my medical issues and so she will think about anything I ask for and then we discuss. To be honest the co codamol was a no brainer place to start! Hope you can get somewhere with it.
The gabapentin is helping niw thd dose is creeping up. I do take tramadol but a couple of times a week need a help if I Want to keep mobile. They basically accused me of drug seeking behaviour as I was getting sciatica in both legs. Ifinally after years I got referred for mri and it showed bulging discs and trapped nerves. I haven't had the cocodamol discussion but they instantly gave me 28days worth of tramadol instead of making me go there every 2 weeks!
An apology was forthcoming I trust?
I haven't raised it yet as not seen the main Dr who accused me of trying to get oramorph next... I like to wait while something is sorted a bit then can try and avoid sour grapes and get a proper point across.
Oh and I am still too 😡
When was the hip last x-rayed? It could be something other or the OA has suddenly got worse. Either way - it needs to be checked.
It was probably two or three years ago... GP suggested wait a bit and see how this flare settles. Symptoms are pretty classic for OA which may well have got worse in the last year ☹️ Higher Gabapentin helping a bit (knocking me out!)
GP reckons any referral likely to be delayed by 3 months till all this Coronavirus through. Hohum. Can’t tell you how much the support from here helps, even when no magic wands just people who take the time, who care enough to read and reply with sound advice. Thank you.
No you’re right... it was the time for a referral . I think he was content with an OA diagnosis being a good fit and if I asked
I’m sure I could have one... I’m just getting by the day at the moment - contemplating
my wiped out pension and possibly holiday too .
Prednisolone Taper Advice Please
Prednisolone and cancer
? Prednisolone withdrawal 
Fast taper and struggling 
