Dreadful Pain

[jaybee58]

I have been pain free for two weeks since being diagnosed and on 20mg of Pred per day. This morning I woke up with a stiff knee which has gradually got worse during the day to the state where I am in so much pain this evening I 'know what to do with it. I have arthritis in my right knee but this pain is in my left knee radiating down into my ankle. Every now and then it catches me and literally takes my breath its so bad.

I thought I had just slept awkwardly on my knee but now I am worried its something to do with the PMR.

Any help or advice please.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Try painkillers or hot or cold therapy.

Doubt it’s PMR - if just your left knee.

[jaybee58 in reply to DorsetLady]

OK will do thank you. I just don't know enough about the pain from this. The pain Ive had in the past has either been diagnosed as tendonitis, been chronic backache or aching muscles in my legs. Apart from a couple of episodes of tendonitis in my wrists all my pain has been in my legs.

[jaybee58 in reply to jaybee58]

Can I take codydramol with prednisolone.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to jaybee58]

Yes I think do I used to take co-codamol and Pred at times . Are you sure you haven’t done something to knee to make it react?

[jaybee58 in reply to DorsetLady]

I woke up with the pain which was just an ache, so all I could think of is I slept with in bent in an awkward position. I've taken codydramol in the hope it will help.

[SheffieldJane]

I also had knee trouble during PMR, very swollen with agonising, knife - like pain sometimes, coming down stairs, in my case it was Osteoarthritis, exposed by the reduction in Prednisalone. It has completely disappeared again on a GCA dose. I also had ankle pain to a lesser extent. I will need an MOT when this is over.

[piglette]

If you take a pain killer particularly a strong one such as codydramol and it works, it is probably nothing to do with PMR.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Pain in just one joint is rarely anything to do with PMR - unless you have twisted it somehow and the soft tissues were extra-delicate because of you having been on pred which is a possibility.

Is it hot? Red? Swollen? Try RICE: Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation. If it doesn't settle down - doctor time.

[jaybee58 in reply to PMRpro]

No its not hot and a lot of the pain has gone this morning just pain behind my knee, I think I must have pulled something without knowing.

Having had no pain since starting the Pred a couple of weeks ago I think I panicked that it was coming back. Because my doctors are so busy I haven't been able to sit down and talk to them about what to expect or even really about what this PMR thing is. I have gleaned all I know, which is a miniscule amount I am sure from this website, so thank goodness it's here.

[S4ndy]

I have arthritis in both knees. If I do too much walking etc they play up but its not PMR. I have had MRIs on both knees so I know what is causing it. Painkillers help and being on 10mg Pred for a flare has also helped. My right knee was the first to develop arthritis and had an arthroscopy to smooth the damaged surface. My orthopaedic consultant thinks the left one has developed because I had been favouring that side over the painful right!

Knees are really complicated structures and if your knee pain does not ease with the use of painkillers and rest I would be seeking a medical opinion. Hope it does improve though x

[HeronNS]

Have you changed any of your exercise patterns or habits in the last little while?

Having just come through a period of time with two wonky knees I have great sympathy. Like the others I doubt it's directly anything to do with PMR. My issues were caused to some degree by the lockdown. First of all I didn't get to buy the new sneakers I needed so my feet weren't getting enough support. Then instead of being in and out of my dwelling (no stairs in my new home) several times a day I went out once, and was sedentary the rest of the time. One day I attempted a sprint downhill to catch a crosswalk light before it changed and did something to my knee. That was all part of chapter one. A virtual visit to a physiotherapist and I started some exercises which I did twice and they seemed to be helping already, then had a stupid accident and hurt the other knee! Chapter two. Three weeks later I'm finally getting back on track. The physio has really helped a great deal with the separate injuries.

[Wanne]

I had all sorts of pain down my arms .my.shoulders .ankle.and left leg when I was on 20mg .I am down to 5mg prendisalon and feeling a lot better .at 15 mg I stopped taking alondronic acid. And have been a lot better since.good luck you just have to keep on. it will get better

[jaybee58]

Thank you for all your comments, I think it is muscle pain due to sleeping in an awkward position, the pain is gradually getting better, the more I use it the less it hurts.