Flare question

[Darcy2000]

Before I jump the gun and assume it’s a flare as I have just dropped from 9 mg to 8 mg wondering what others on this site’s thoughts are on this question .Can PMR be one sided ? One knee is Really bothering me feels like a wrench and Hopefully not a flare . Just one knee. Before I check with the Rheumy any thoughts on this question

[SheffieldJane]

With me, this one sided symptom would be more likely to trace back to an activity like gardening or an injury, like a wrench on the stairs, it might be osteoarthritis, which I have in my knees. Any swelling visible?

[Crazy_cat_lady in reply to SheffieldJane]

As osteoarthritis is a wear and tear thing and often not the same bilaterally, would it be logical to assume that during a flare, the pain/ inflammation may be worse on the area/ side that is ‘already worse’?Just a thought

[SheffieldJane in reply to Crazy_cat_lady]

Makes sense. I definitely had a worse knee..

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Have you done any activity that might have caused it? Maybe try ordinary painkillers and/or topical gel before assuming it’s a flare.

Unilateral pain unlikely to be flare.

[Darcy2000 in reply to DorsetLady]

Probably just an excessive amount of walking ... I call it my sanity walks... mandatory during Covid.. it’s a toss up continue my walking regimen and deal with consequences or go batty😳

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Darcy2000]

You need to get out I agree. On the subject of possible OA - I found doses below 15mg did nothing for mine. I had been on much higher for GCA - and then all pain masked. Plus as PMRpro rightly says if you have OA knees or hips you are likely to walk “differently” - and that on its own can cause other niggles....particularly if terrain is not dead flat!

Bit of a Catch 22 situation we all find ourselves in at times.

[Darcy2000 in reply to DorsetLady]

Yes I agree thanks for post

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It can be one-sided - especially at the start of a flare, PMR goes for the weak spots. But usually you would think first of an injury - or even an injury/back problem that is apparently unrelated but leading to you walking "funny" and putting strain on the sore region.

[Darcy2000 in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks so much ..love all your educated responses

[Darcy2000]

One more thing.. before PMR ... I had some mild osteo in various part of my body. I guess there is no way to determine if this is related to that or PMR as I am tapering . Normally CRP and SED Rate could be indicative but as I am on Actemra those bloods are nullified

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Darcy2000]

Osteoarthritis you mean? It rarely raises the ESR/CRP significantly though they are raised. Most people feel that if the pain eases with ordinary painkillers it is more likely to be OA than PMR.

[nuigini]

I've been gimping along with a sore right knee for a few weeks and am pretty confident its mild osteoarthritis, which I have in both knees. It's not at all unusual for me, although it's usually my other knee! Moving from our home in Panama with no stairs to our son's home and having to go up and down a set of stairs about five or six times a day for the last two weeks hasn't helped. It's getting better now after using a neoprene knee brace and a cane for the last little while.

[Darcy2000]

When I sit down it stiffens up so much ... better to be a bit more mobile but that can get tiring.. it also is tender to the touch and I am not sure if PMR would feel that way.. and I have had painful foot for a few mo the and wonder if PMR could affect the feet..boy I am whining today

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Darcy2000]

It does - my feet and hands were probably the most inconvenient pain with PMR. Tenosynovitis - and RS3PE syndrome go for them