Knee Joints

[Ormesby13]

Hi , I'M NEW ON HERE , JUST WANTED TO KNOW DOES PMR AFFECT YOUR KNEE JOINTS AS AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEM . THANKS .

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

PMR affects the muscles surrounding your knees, making them weaker, so that might feel more like the joints themselves are affected.....but many patients have osteoarthritis as well - has that been considered?

I had OA long before GCA, during and after!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It can cause synovitis, inflammation of the lining of the joints but doesn't damage the joints. I had intermittent knee pain.

[Hidden]

I've had painful knees for about 18 months. X-ray results showed little wear ,will never need new knees. Rheumy said once the PMR goes and I'm off pred it will go along with my painful foot, itm use a pad when kneeling down. I said kneel down, far too painful to kneel and anyway I wouldn't be able to get up!

[Hidden]

It certainly does not to worry though my experience is that from excruciating to pain free once you have enough PRED in your system I have tapered from 15 to 4.5 in 8 months and no problems so far good luck

[choirsinger1986 in reply to Hidden]

Your tapering is working well - do you take steroid sparing agent also such as Methotrexate or similar ?

[Hidden in reply to choirsinger1986]

Apologies for the delay in responding I don't check my email regularly I don't take take ànything else regards

[Lochy]

I’ve had ongoing problems with my knees since my PMR diagnosis in March 2016. First year or so all ok. Then left knee became swollen. Couple of steroid injections and fluid drained did the job eventually. By January 20 it was fine. Then in March last year my right knee became swollen and very painful. Far more swollen than left knee had ever been. MRI showed no particular damage that would need treatment it was the synovitis causing the problem. It was depressingly debilitating. Gradually in June it started to improve very slightly. I didn’t change my steroid dose too much as I was feeling well otherwise. Had increased to 10mg and it made no difference. A steroid injection also has little effect. Very frustrating as this was all happening through lockdown. Improvement continued and my knees have been great until Friday! After a walk right knee has swollen significantly again. I’m very down about it. I’ve increased my prednisolone from 6 to 10.5 this morning and will just have to wait see. My rheumatologist originally said she had rarely seen knee involvement in PMR but since meeting me has changed her mind although I don’t think she’s convinced I have PMR but equally doesn’t have another diagnosis. It’s hugely frustrating as well as painful as struggling to walk etc is pretty depressing. I’m keeping everything crossed the knee settles this week otherwise it’ll be a call to the hotline looking for help........ and we’ve just locked down again!

Good luck with your knees.

[pegpowell]

Both my knees became swollen during my first year of PMR. Both were drained a couple of times. The right knee cap was damaged and replaced and I had no trouble with the other knee after that. It is feeling fragile now in my fifth year but no swelling.