Bad idea!

[granofthewest]

Since recent flare, going back up to 15mg initially for 4 weeks then down to 10 mg for 6 weeks and 9 mg as from yesterday, thought I could cope with 10 minute walk from supermarket into local town. How wrong I was! Got there ok with a little discomfort in right hip but bad pain in hip and leg on return, didn't think I was going to make it back to the car. What now? Do I continue on with 9mg as GP prescribed?

[SnazzyD]

Hello, were you carrying anything from the supermarket? Personally I’d drop by 0.5mg because 10-9mg is 10%. Even if you want to keep to the GP’s schedule, you can, just by smaller steps.

[piglette]

Was the pain in just one hip or both?

[granofthewest in reply to piglette]

Only the one

[piglette in reply to granofthewest]

Is it possible it is osteoarthritis?

[granofthewest in reply to piglette]

That was ruled out when first diagnosed, x-ray before then and recently have shown no sign of arthritis

[piglette in reply to granofthewest]

My hip problem started when I started taking steroids. The orthopaedic surgeon said the steroids were eating away at the cartilage. It did happen quite quickly.

[granofthewest in reply to piglette]

I've never seen a rheumatologist or an orthopaedic surgeon, only my GP. She does try to help I know but I'm well aware she's no expert.

[piglette in reply to granofthewest]

If you have had a recent xray that should be fine regarding osteoarthritis.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Difficult to say - is the hip pain really the PMR? Or is it what I have at present with EXACTLY the same problem - I can walk to the village without it being excruciating, back as well and I can really feel it and any further the last 200m is "Can I get there?"

Mine is trochanteric bursitis - I finally had a shockwave treatment last week (the local rheumies swear by it, it does work but takes time and I think I'd have preferred a steroid jab as it turned out). For a day or so it was better and then over the weekend it was horrendous despite doing nothing. Yesterday was not good despite pain relief but today I was so fed up I took 400mg ibuprofen, 500mg paracetamol and 50mg tramadol. Each alone would have done nothing - all together it has really done the job. Won't take any more before tomorrow and only then if I need it.

It needs looking at and other potential nasties ruled out - and treating, More oral pred doesn't really do it for me - you need a lot. Targeted management is far better. There are stretches that help too.

[granofthewest in reply to PMRpro]

How did you get your trochanteric bursitis diagnosis? I did have an X ray in April after flare and nothing changed much since last one 2 years ago. I have some exercises from chiropractor for hip pain before pmr diagnosis which I will start again. I was wearing sandals for first time this summer and wonder if this could have caused it. Already on 250 mg naproxen twice a day and have used Voltarol tonight. Will try the ibuprofen plus paracetamol tomorrow. Thanks for your help.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to granofthewest]

I have a few rather good rheumy trained doctors here - even my GP is rheumy trained! At some point there was a n x-ray to rule out stuff and then it was a physical exam and where I screamed loudest when the rheumy prodded.

[granofthewest in reply to PMRpro]

Have a job even getting a telephone appt with my GP!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to granofthewest]

I can see my same day - no appointment system, turn up and wait. Choose the time well and you don't wait long

[granofthewest in reply to PMRpro]

Tried the paracetamol and ibuprofen today but sadly no pain relief. Have decided to up pred dose back to 10mg today and for a few week.

[HeronNS]

If the pain is in your hip and most likely bursitis, do try an exercise called the Clamshell. It has, believe it or not, apparently cured a wonky hip on mine which has bothered me off and on for years, particularly badly a few months ago. I started very slowly because it actually hurt to do it. The idea is to hold the position for a count of ten, but at first I couldn't do that. But quite quickly things improved. I will continue to do the exercise daily to maintain my newfound strength.

I've also taken up tai chi again and one of the movements there was nearly impossible for a while (the "kicks") but now I can do them.

Scroll down for an example of the clamshell. I don't bother with the pillow under my head, but then I am used to doing all sorts of physio exercises on the floor!

myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/...

[granofthewest in reply to HeronNS]

I'm going to try it today, must pursue all avenues to alleviate this pain. Thanks so much for the help and advice. Invaluable from all who have responded.

[HeronNS in reply to granofthewest]

Good luck. Don't overdo it. I did read that some professionals think the clamshell is an exercise which shouldn't be prescribed. Fortunately I hadn't seen all that before I tried it and found it worked for me. I self-diagnosed by looking up hip pain and the symptoms for the various conditions and mine certainly fit bursitis to a T. Over the years I've blamed hip pain on osteoarthritis, but when I was having x-rays prior to PMR diagnosis I learned I had no OA in my hips. I don't know if that is still true, but it did eliminate one possible cause back then.

[granofthewest in reply to HeronNS]

Thanks again, tried it today, will keep persevering. I've recently had a 2nd x ray (first before diagnosis) and as then no arthiritis showed up.

[HeronNS in reply to granofthewest]

Before PMR diagnosis and the clear x-rays, my hip was so bad (actually the "other" one, not the one which has troubled me more recently) I thought I should get myself into the queue for a hip replacement! Although a lot of that pain was probably a result of the untreated PMR it's possible I had bursitis on that side at the time and with the physio I was getting and the starting dose of pred it got better. Certainly I was fine for several years and I was more relaxed about the issue when it occurred this year because I know it's not some dire progression of OA!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to HeronNS]

A lot of hip problems are due to gait being "off". This is relating toOA but the same applies for anything that makes you walk "funny" including PMR

medicalnewstoday.com/articl...

[HeronNS in reply to PMRpro]

Makes sense, although the hip itself was the most recent thing to make me "walk funny"! My compact treadmill helped a lot because I was able to hold onto one of the handles and maintain an upright posture. I tried the Nordic poles, but as you know those ended up making my shoulders hurt! Seemed to be all better, and now the past couple of days, one of my ankles is hurting and I have no idea why. 😠

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to HeronNS]

It's been my right ankle and left hip!!! And for a few days the right hip too!!!!!

[HeronNS in reply to PMRpro]

Well same with me (right ankle, left hip) only in sequence. Fortunately (so far) not together! Don't you just love this aging thing?!