Swelling

[Robinsnest72]

On Jan. 11 I will have been off prednisone for two months. I know I have osteoarthritis but am now experiencing swelling in the wrist and on my knuckle. I have felt pretty good apart from fatigue and the aching going from sitting to standing up. However, I do not hurt when sleeping at night. Do you think this is the osteo acting up? My Rhemy dismissed me as a patient when I had finished the prednisone done totally be his directions. My blood counts are excellent but I know this is fluid as my wrist hurts. Hope this is not a PMR flare and wondering if I should take any pred. I have taken an ibuprofen daily now for three days and it does help somewhat. Thanks in advance.

[HeronNS]

I think a swollen wrist would be unusual for OA as it's not usually a weightbearing joint. Did you have problems with it before PMR struck? Do you remember doing anything which might have stressed the joint? Have you tried icing the affected area? There are other conditions which cause swelling in joints and, if it were me, after I'd done everything I could usefully do at home, I'd see a doctor. I don't think it's a good idea to self treat this with pred which is a pretty heavy duty medication, as it's not a common symptom of PMR.

On the other hand you say you still have PMR-type discomfort (standing up from a seated position) which kind of sounds like the disease is still perhaps mildly active. Was this present when the rheumatologist took you off pred or has it been building up?

[Robinsnest72 in reply to HeronNS]

Thank you HeronNS for replying. The aches from sitting to standing have been present for a long time. The Rhemy said it was arthritis. As for the wrist, I have had this before. I also get a swelling like a fluid in between my knuckles on bothe hands. Problem today with lockdown chances of seeing a doctor are limited. I am just hoping it will go away. I have had this while also on prednisone. Had thought it was possibly that.

[HeronNS in reply to Robinsnest72]

Interesting. The first PMR symptom I noticed (later I realized there had been other more subtle signs) was difficulty rising from a seated to a standing position. I do have a lot of OA but, as far as I know, according to an x-ray some years ago, none in my hips. I do not have this symptom when my PMR is under control, and its return is always a signal that my dose is too low. The reason I had the x-rays before PMR diagnosis was because I and, unfortunately, my doctor at the time, believed pain was caused by my OA getting worse.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I get slight swelling and aching in my wrists as a sign of an incipient flare. Inability to rise from a seated position is a very typical symptom of PMR.

Obviously your rheumy is of the persuasion that PMR has a definite duration. Not sure how one can deal with that. But personally I would far rather take 1 or 2mg pred than long term ibuprofen!

[Robinsnest72 in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for your reply. I have no intentions of taking long term ibuprofen as it will eat my stomach out. However, the stiffness and pain that goes away after I am moving has been there since I cannot remember. My daughter who has arthritis, not PMR also experiences this.Once we get moving it goes away.

[Bcol]

Hi there, sorry to hear of the aches and pains. I have managed OA for around 30 years now and have never experienced it in my wrists, thumb joints yes. Also as Heron says its not a normal area for OA. Having said that, even if unlikely, that's not to say it can't be the case. I've never had an OA problem with standing up, sitting down, that was purely a PMR problem sorted with Pred. Can't help much with the Ibuprofen as it has never done anything for me at all. Co-Codamol is my go to for OA when needed. Did you have the wrist problem when on the Pred, if not, that is probably suggestive and you may need to chat to your doctor again?