Hi there-well I am still not completely diagnosed. In January the GP thought that I had PMR and was put on Prednisolone. The pain got a lot better until gradually reducing to 9mg in July. A different GP as I had complained that all the pains were coming back asked for advice from a Rheumatologist and he said he wanted me off pred and to go on naproxen so that they could assess me. Since then things have got worse and worse. The pains in my shoulders and arms come and go but the pain in my hip (buttock area) is really bad. I had previously had a steroid injection that had not made any difference so recently they sent me for a Fluoro injection under x ray. For three days I had no pain but I think it was the anaesthetic it contained because then the hip pain became a lot worse to the point that I am squealing with pain getting out of bed and very uncomfortable.
Another GP thought it was Bursitis. It continued and another GP did a referral to muscular and skeletal department. He was worried that an appointment may take a month but the very next day they had a cancellation and I went two days ago. The physio now thinks it is a ham string injury! I have been given a crutch and advised to buy a special cushion which arrived very quickly from Amazon.
I have looked up ham string injury and it talks of bruising and feeling it pop etc which has not happened to me so dubious. I see the physio in three weeks.
He is also going to have a meeting for me with the rheumatologist so I am hopeful that he will see me.
Meanwhile I take naproxen and co codamol (I am trying hard to avoid that because it makes me constipated) and my stomach tablet and vit B3
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Barnaby2
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Hi Barnaby2. What a predicament! I'm so sorry you're in such pain. What made your GP think you had PMR? Blood tests? Symptoms? What dose of Pred did he start you on? The fact that Pred initially relieved the pain does suggest PMR. What was your tapering regime? Had you done anything that might have caused hamstring injury? Sorry for so many questions.
I started on 15mg of Pred and all the pain was much better. That was in january. In March I reduced to 12.5 and 3 weeks later to 10mg. 3 weeks later down to 9 mg and that is when all the pain came back. In July I had a Depo Medrone injection which did not help and this month September I had the Fluoro injection that helped for only three days. I can't think of anything that would have caused a ham string injury. I had a nasty fall during Lockdown and injured my ribs but that was after I had the hip pain.
And anywhere else in your body besides the hamstring? I can't see that causing shoulder and arm pain - can you? Buttock pain is common with piriformis syndrome - and piriformis syndrome is not uncommon with PMR.
And hamstring pain can be due to piriformis syndrome ...
See my reply to PMRpro. In my opinion you should be back on Pred as it was that which relieved your pain initially. Nothing else will relieve PMR pain. The return of your pain at 9mg suggests you needed to go a bit higher. I would seriously consider asking GP to prescribe Prednisolone again. I've just seen your reply has come in. Will read that now.
It seems that I didn't press reply to PMRpro!! I had buttock pain before I was diagnosed which was the last symptom to appear. It felt as though I was sitting on rocks! Pain disappeared once on Pred.
It may be that your Pred was reduced too quickly and the fall later on certainly wouldn't have helped causing a rise in inflammation. Another talk to your GP is advisable and a reset of steroids. We, in this group, are told to listen to our bodies and take notice of our symptoms. A return to Pred and reduction of pain will confirm suspicion of PMR but higher than 9mg to start clearing the inflammation. I hope your GP will co-operate. Others will come along who are more experienced than me.
The other problem was that they did not do the blood test until I was already on pred and the first test the nurse forgot to do the inflammation test so no inflammation has shown up which makes GP wonder if diagnosis was correct at all. I felt so much better on Pred and I have read the book and feel that I have all the symptoms so it is very frustrating.
That's total lncompetence! You don't have to do this but I really would get another appointment asap and take a list of what you want him to do now, e.g., blood test, prescription for Prednisolone to take after blood test this time, plus a copy of any information you feel relevant. You need to be firm regarding your needs. This might be hard for you as when you're in pain and feeling worried and confused the last thing you want is confrontation. However, it's your body and your health. In the meantime, rest is paramount so no getting up on the ladder to paint the ceiling. 'Some hopes', I hear you say 🙂. Let us know how you get on.
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