Advice welcome PMR

[Holycow2]

After bing diagnosed with PMR in September 2021 I was started on Presdone 15mg. Tapered down slowly to 1mg. Then I started to get terrible pain in my thighs then the shoulder pain started again. I thought the pain in my thighs is due to having severe arthritis in my hip and waiting a hip replacement. I then wondered if the pain in my thighs could be down to PMR? Yesterday I went for 1mg to starting to take 7mg? Should this be ok or should I start back in the 15mg?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi, and welcome

To get from 15mg to 1mg within a year is very quick, so yes a flare of PMR, and no you don’t need to go back to 15mg, the 7mg should suffice. Here is info on dealing with a flare -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

And this is just general info -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[Holycow2 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you!

[Holycow2 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Hi and welcome.

It is very unlikely after barely over a year that the PMR is gone but it is at a low level of activity and with a bit of luck 7mg should be plenty to get things under control - depends a bit on how long you left it to build up and how much inflammation there is to clear it out.

DL's given your the rest - just ask if you have any questions.

[piglette]

It sounds very like PMR creeping up on you. Hips tend to cause groin pain rather than thigh pain normally, although you never know.

[Holycow2 in reply to piglette]

Thank you! The pain in my thighs and legs in general have now all but disappeared (apart from the arthritic hip) The pain was so bad I was also put on Morphine to take alongside the Tramadol that I’ve been on for over 10 years. It’s so much better I think I can stop the morphine as I don’t think it helped with the pain. My ferritin levels are twice what they should be also. Would this be down to having PMR?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Holycow2]

Like ESR and CRP, ferritin is also an acute response marker - it rises with inflammation

[Holycow2 in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks Yea I thought so but I don’t seem to be able to get it confirmed if it’s down to the PMR

[piglette in reply to Holycow2]

Have you thought of a hip replacement? Taking Tramadol for ten years is quite a long time to be on opiates.

[Holycow2 in reply to piglette]

Yes I am on the waiting list which does take a long time

[piglette in reply to Holycow2]

Good luck. I hope that you get to the top of the list soon. It will make a world of difference to your life.

[Holycow2 in reply to piglette]

Thank you! I’m very scared but hopefully will be worth it as this pain is awful

[piglette in reply to Holycow2]

It is always worrying waiting beforehand. I have had two hip replacements and when I walk along and think back to the pain, I cannot believe how I put up with it.

[Holycow2 in reply to piglette]

Thank you so much!! What’s the pain like straight after the op?

[piglette in reply to Holycow2]

I did not seem to have any pain and did not need pain killers, although I did have a couple of paracetamol to keep them happy. I may have just been lucky I suppose. I was able to walk around with a zimmer when I first got out of bed and then sticks after that, I am hopeless with crutches so did not use them. The ohysio was not very happy as he caught me going to the loo without the sticks either!

[Holycow2 in reply to piglette]

Wow! That’s so good! As I’ve been on Tramadol for such a long time the idea is after the Op I can get weaned off when no longer needed so that will be a relief!

[piglette in reply to Holycow2]

Have you any idea when you might get your hip replacement?

[Holycow2 in reply to piglette]

They have told me hopefully by April but the surgeon has said he will try and push it through faster….. here’s hoping

[piglette in reply to Holycow2]

That is good news. I remember struggling through waiting for my hip op.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Holycow2]

Have a look at this -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk....

[Holycow2 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you soooo much! Really appreciate it!