Hip pain

[PickleballWetheral]

I have been on steroids only 5 days 15mg. At first it was great but the last two days I have hip pain also my stomach is not good, very uncomfortable. I would like to ask if the longer I take the steroids the pain will go. Thank you anyone.

[piglette]

Are you taking the enteric coated tablets or the ordinary white ones? If the white ones it is advisable to take something to coat the stomach. Is your hip pain in both hips?

[PickleballWetheral in reply to piglette]

I am on the white ones. My hip pain is on my right side where it first started. I am talking to my doctor on Monday but there is so much to take in. Thanks

[piglette in reply to PickleballWetheral]

It could be osteo arthritis in your hip of course, but probably not. Is there groin pain? Have you been prescribed a PPI to take with the steroids such as Lansoprazole or Omeprazole for example to protect your stomach? Some people find that yogurt helps. I think the real thing to take in is that you have an illness and by taking steroids it is not made better, the pain is just suppressed. The mantra is rest, rest, rest. You have PMR and you cannot carry on as if nothing has happened.

[PickleballWetheral in reply to piglette]

Thank you I will take you advice.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

May find that 15mg is not quite enough if pain has returned (it isn’t for everyone) , so do contact doctor next week, but as piglette says you are poorly so treat yourself as such……you have a serious illness, cannot pop a few pills and be back to normal…sorry but it doesn’t work like that.

Maybe re-read the info link I sent in reply to your first post.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

As soon as you felt better - did you try to go back to previous activity levels? That could be contributing to the hip pain is you had it before. But the idea is not that pred lets you go straight back to "normal" - you are still ill, the actual disease is still active and you need to bear that in mind.

Always take your pred with a meal, some people get away with just yoghurt but not everybody. Many doctors automatically prescribe "stomach protection" in the form of a PPI (omeprazole is common) which should help with the stomach pain.

The hip pain may go with time - my hip pain took some weeks to go altogether although there was a 70% improvement overall in under 6 hours. Or trying 20mg may work faster and more effectively.

[PickleballWetheral in reply to PMRpro]

I did go a little daft as it was the first time for years I had no pain. I have learnt my lesson and will be careful. Doctor ringing me tomorrow so we will see. Thanks

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PickleballWetheral]

“I did go a little daft ..”Therein probably lies your answer -you aren’t the first, and most certainly won’t be the last to do that! 😉

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to PickleballWetheral]

Ah well - like DL, I suspect that is your answer!!

[Broseley]

My problems also started with my right hip. I was initially referred to physio where it was assumed to be arthritis and the exercises just made it so much worse that I could hardly move without severe pain. I was then referred for an x Ray, no arthritis found, then an MRI which revealed inflammation. I was referred to a different physio at the local hospital and the new exercises did help quite a bit. I was also offered a cortisone injection which I turned down as we were in lockdown at the time and i was too worried about covid risks. Then 3 months later, after the pain and stiffness had spread to my knees, back, neck, jaw and finally my left hip, I was diagnosed with PMR and GCA and put on 40mg pred. The almost immediate effect was relief of all pain and stiffness except for still some minor pain in my right hip. This has continued during my taper - I'm now down to 9mg. I have continued with my exercises though was discharged from physio. The important thing I have found is to not do too much. Walking is the main issue for me, so I limit this to no more than 10 minutes, less if there are hills (down is actually worse than up) or steps involved. Know your limitations and accept them.

[granofthewest in reply to Broseley]

What you have experienced it just like me I did get down to 1mg by following Dorset Lady's slow tapering plan. Sadly pain then came back in my right hip but increasing the dose of pred hasn't given the same pain relief second time round. Rest and low carb diet can help too. Best of luck with your journey.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to granofthewest]

You do have to differentiate between general PMR pain responding to pred and more specific bursitis, especially in hips or shoulders, which isn;t so responsive to oral pred.