Flare or not!?

[grannyouch]

Hi, everyone. Fingers crossed were moving towards a safer world!

I'm puzzled about increased pain in knees (didn't have that with early PMR) and shoulders feeling like they're almost dislocated sometimes and hip/groin pain. I've been on Pred for over 4 years and have tried numerous times to decrease my dose without success. At the moment I'm on 61/2 to 6 MGS a day but wondering whether I'm having a flare up or is something like o/a or even fibromyalgia hitting me? Had 3 very unhelpful chats on phone with different rheumies one of whom said I should be put on Dmards to help wean off the Pred.

I simply don't know where else to turn!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It COULD be a PMR flare - going by the bilateral and areas that sound as if you have developed bursitis. If your hips are making you walk "funny", that can really mess up your knees as well. Your GP should be considering imaging for the hips and shoulder joints - I might be wrong but I don't think fibro would target the joints as you describe.

But there is also a resurgence in interest in the concept that seronegative RA is a sort of form of PMR - and it can cause joint pain even if there is no erosion of the joint linings as in normal RA.

[grannyouch in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks. PMRPro! That makes sense. I had a recent blood test and my ESR was fine of course. I haven't seen a doctor in she's but will try to get an appointment. The hip thing is definitely one - that hasn't changed except w when I was on a much higher dose. I do a lot of walking! And learning piano had given me all sorts of trouble in my back and fingers. I took an extra 1 mg of Pred so will see if that helps. And this is weird but too boring to mention really- I've got burning pain right on the tip of my elbows butt no mark there. 🤷‍♂️

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to grannyouch]

How strange - no tingling fingers?

[grannyouch in reply to PMRpro]

No tingling fingers! I've googled it but nothing and it's definitely NOT tennis elbow!😆

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to grannyouch]

wondered if it might be ulnar nerve entrapment ....