Recently upped the intensity of exercise and added in a bit of running to my walks. Bad idea - have been left with pain on the inside of my knees. I associated this with tight hamstrings, I have been resting up, but no improvement after 10 days. Now finding it difficult to walk downstairs. I've never had knee pain before and am unsure if this is part of a flare. Would increasing my dose of pred help? I'm currently at 4.5 mg about to reduce to 4. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Knees!: Recently upped the intensity of exercise... - PMRGCAuk
Knees!
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artisam
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Hi artisam, I am not an expert on flares, but it seems to me that you have already connected the dots on the link between your recent running and your current pain. Seeing someone who can order a knee x-ray would be a good way to start examining what could be going on. I have experienced a flare scare myself and it felt very different from anything I experienced either with PMR or as a result of steroid withdrawal. In the end, it turned out to be a neck injury which took 5 weeks to resolve and slowed down my taper but I am glad I didn't increase the steroids. Good luck.
Thank you. It's because resting has made no difference that I wondered about a flare but I am so reluctant to increase my dose as I have got so low. I think you're right, I need to see someone mmm wonder how long that will take?😂
You could try recommended action for a flare - described in this post - obviously adjusting to your dose-
healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...
But you aren’t that far into your PMR to have got so low, and although you don’t want to lose your athleticism, you may need to balance activities a bit better as you reduce…much less Pred to mop up excess inflammation.
But do try and arrange X-rays to check for other issues.
Yes, I know I overdid it, enjoying the fresh air and good weather I just got over excited! I will be more sensible in future. I believe the muscles repair much more slowly with PMR - is that correct? Perhaps I should be a bit more patient with my body and rest up a bit more before taking action. I Wii seek an X ray however if there is no improvement soon. Thank you for your advice.
Yes you are right about muscles and PMR/Pred….but 2 weeks is a long time for DOMS….so maybe a bit more going on than you’d like.
Mmm, point taken👍
As a matter of interest, I know you can't take oral NSAIDs with PMR, but what about the topics gels? ..and any data to support that Flexiseq is any good? Paracetamol helps, but I'm not keen on taking pain killers too often.
Yes l’ve tried the Flexiseq & it’s quite good - l have a prescribed Anti Inflammatory because my knees were so damaged by Chemo in the winter it is much, much worse!My GP gave me an anti inflammatory gel to try before l had the tablets from my Consultant.
Gels are okay. Flexiseq did not a lot for my OA,,,but that’s just me , it helps a lot. Now I’m using a CBD cream - but no long on Pred.
Thank you, I'm going to give the Flexiseq a go I think and see what happens. 🙂
Anything worth a go, not cheap though - but what is? 😊
I have used it since the day Arc released it and bought it direct from ARC. Then it was just for one knee, now both knees and one hip - it works fine for me, but we are all different. What I like about it is it works like WD40 and it is not a drug.
Chortle - I've got WD40, perhaps I'll try that! I'm liking the idea that it is not a drug, I seriously think I'll give it a try.Thank you😊
I've been using Flexiseq and it has helped. It can take up to two weeks to have a real effect, but I found it helpful within a couple of days. Also ppl mentioned hips can lead to knee problems - so can feet. Make sure your shoes are supportive. If your knees hurt a lot when you walk consider using an elastic brace (cheap from the pharmacy) until you heal. The other thing is to strengthen muscles, the thigh muscles are especially important for protecting knees from injury.
I pronate quite badly and usually wear orthotics in my running shoes. Just had new trainers and didn't put them in. I wonder if that was part of the problem! I really shouldn't be let out😂. I'm on the muscle strengthening regime now, sure things will improve now I've learned a few crucial lessons! Thank you for your advice xx
I've posted quite a bit about my knees in the last year!
My pain is like yours - coming down stairs & if it’s a hard surface such as stone or marble l could cry.
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Pain on the inside of your knees sounds like a possible unhappy medial cruciate ligament.
Icing and NSAID gel should help - and not too much as it is absorbed and still has systemic effects. Flexiseq is for arthritic joints - not soft tissue injury. And long term pred doesn't do soft tissues including ligaments a lot of good, makes them prone to injury.
Oh no! Teach me to think I'm still young and fit won't it? I'll have a read and re assess. Thank you🙂
Flexiseq is for joints, the extra strength is for arthritis and that's what I use, but I think the regular version helps people who run or otherwise use their knees a lot and get pain. My son has ordered some as he doesn't want to keep using diclofenac (Voltaren). I will ask him to let me know how it works. It takes a while to get it as we have to import it from the UK.
I looked at it in the pharmacy today, but it seemed all to be for arthritis which I don't have. Be interested to hear what your son thinks however, as anything drug free had to be worth a try.
You could check their website. The demand probably is mostly for the extra strength but likely you can find out where you can buy the other. Unfortunately we have to order it through A....n as it isn't licensed for sale in Canada, or really anywhere in North America.
Any problem with your hips can really affect your knees. Two of my favourites are tight ileotibial band and the Dormant Butt syndrome involving the piriformis in the bottom. webmd.com/pain-management/i...
noyeskneeinstitute.com/dorm...
Wow I am learning so much today. I think generally over the last few months I have become deeply inactive and my muscles have weakened much more than I had imagined. After reading a link from PMR Pro I went for a short cycle today and already my knees are much relieved. I need to revisit my exercises again at a steady pace to rebuild muscle strength including my butt!Thank you for that link, I will add it to my ever increasing exercise plan - but steady as she goes this time, I'm not the woman I was, mores the pity,🥴
At the behest of my physiotherapist I got a pedal exerciser (quite a good one, some are very flimsy and probably not worth it) and although I'm now walking quite well again after a year of dealing with two separate and very different knee injuries I find half an hour or more on the exerciser every day is really good for strengthening muscles. Time passes quickly with a book or tv.
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