Is this a flare?

[Broseley]

For the last month or so I've been getting stiff in my left hip/groin area. It doesn't get better during the day. I really noticed it last week when I couldn't lift my left leg high enough to get into a friend's SUV car and had to go round the other side.

Funny thing is my right hip was always the main problem when I was diagnosed, my left was barely any trouble at all.

I'm also feeling very tired since I went down to 5mg, 6 days ago, but that could be my adrenals.

I'm wondering if I should up my pred? I mentioned it to my rheumy and he got me to stand up with my arms across my chest, but that's no problem, and he said it needs to be a lot worse to be a flare. But it's bringing my knee up towards my hip that's the problem, not straightening it.

[SnazzyD]

From your brief description it could be a groin strain. You don’t have to be an athlete to get one. I’ll find some links. My right hip is prone to issues for various reasons, always has been. No arthritis or PMR. If it gets tight it then makes my tendons and ligaments sore which then, if I don’t get it seen to, goes to my sacral area. It’s quite complicated in that area so it need someone to do the necessary exam to work out which bit and for this reason I find regular GP’s not useful. I go to a trusted osteopath or physio.

webmd.com/fitness-exercise/...

[Broseley in reply to SnazzyD]

Thanks, it's literally just stiffness. No pain, and I don't notice anything until I try to bend my leg up.

[nissemor in reply to Broseley]

actually, that happened to me. I was reducing and told the GP I saw in New Zealand that I had trouble getting dressed ,who later phoned me and said she had been on a course that week end and hip flexión was quite common with PMR. I hope that may reassure you.

[Broseley in reply to nissemor]

Thanks, yes, it's the same symptom I had when PMR was (finally) diagnosed.

[LozzaSandstrom in reply to nissemor]

Wow thats very interesting I have a lot of pain in my right groin going down the leg and some days I literally cannot walk its like a trapped nerve and I collapse almost. So could be hip flexion thats something I have never heard of = thank you!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to nissemor]

You mean hip flexion problems? Or is flexion getting mixed up with hip effusion - which is common.

[nissemor in reply to PMRpro]

Hello PMRpro and LozzaSandstrom

I mean hip flexion, bending my knee upwards towards my tummy. It was just difficult and I had difficulty pulling my trousers on. No pain and no effusion. It’s still not that easy, but I have learnt to live with it. Pain in the groin and down the leg sounds more like osteoarthritis.

Gs

[Broseley in reply to nissemor]

Or could be sciatica.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to nissemor]

Or bursitis

[PMRpro Ambassador]

What a chump - him, not you! Everything has to start somewhere and asking a patient to stand while they cross their arms on their chest is hardly diagnostic of a flare or not!!

That said, I agree with SnazzyD - the fact it is just one side makes PMR less likely too.

[Pixix in reply to PMRpro]

To PMR…um…but he is a rheumatologist….! I’ll leave it there! S x

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Pixix]

Yeah ... There are a lot who think PMR is not worthy of their attention!

[Broseley in reply to PMRpro]

Yes mine only seems to be interested in my GCA. But since my GP referred me I haven't seen her about PMR.

[Pixix in reply to PMRpro]

wonder what is their ‘cup of tea’?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Pixix]

Anything they don't have to use pred for!

[Pixix in reply to PMRpro]

good reply…yes, that maybe the answer…!

[Broseley in reply to Pixix]

You got me interested there, so I Googled 'rheumatologist'. It seems they treat musculo-skeletal conditions specialising in those that are also inflammatory. Examples given include RA, lupus, vasculitis. PMR wasn't mentioned on any of the sites!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Broseley]

Webmd,com mentions it, the others tend to say vasculitis - it isn't joint related. It will be included under other headings like musculoskeletal pain disorders.

[Pixix in reply to Broseley]

interesting, isn’t it? I had a look the other day at the related posts, & there’s such a number of posts with the subject ‘rheumatologist’ & all of them are problems, people don’t know what to do next…lots of ‘he/she wants me off steroids asap’. Mainly issues after appointments…a few ‘before the appointment’ queries!

[piglette]

It could be osteo arthritis in your hip. Have you had an xray of the hip?

[Broseley in reply to piglette]

Yes but in 2021. Nothing found, it was said to be in tip top condition.

[piglette in reply to Broseley]

I was told my hip was fine and three years later I needed it replaced. I was told the steroids had eaten away the cartilage.

[Broseley in reply to piglette]

😲 that's awful.