swollen and painful hip joint and ankle (tendon?)

[Mstiles]

I’ve been stuck on 9 mg of pred for 9 months due to two cataract surgeries that kept being moved ahead, and unrelenting family and weather stress, ( I live in California).

I have severe osteoarthritis in my right knee and also some in both shoulders. My GCA was In my right occipital area when originally diagnosed 3 years ago.

Last week I suddenly developed pain and swelling in my left hip and pain near my right ankle, not the joint, feels more like a tendon, also a little pain in that right occipital area that comes and goes I have moderate scoliosis that has sometimes caused pain from out of balance muscles in that area.

I’m without a rheumatologist, my GP prescribes my pred without any questions which has worked out so far as I’ve had problems with rheumies in the past with too fast reductions.

The hip swelling is new, does this happen with a flare?

Trying to decide if I should raise my pred or call my GP. They are swamped like doctors everywhere. It’s o painful to walk.

Thank you.

[HeronNS]

It's a new symptom of unknown cause. Call your GP, that's what they're there for.

Hope you get this sorted soon!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Where is the swelling in the hip? But as HeronNS says - new pains need clarifying.

[Mstiles in reply to PMRpro]

it’s right over the joint on the outside. Very painful to walk. Left side

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Mstiles]

Very trochanteric bursitis-ish.

[Pixix]

I have a pain like that…went to doctor for something else, but mentioned it, & it’s trochanteric bursitis. No big deal, but I find all my PMR issues are bilateral, & this wasn’t so a clue to me that something else is ‘going on’! Personally, I wouldn’t just raise my pred…but probably because I’d really like to get off them by tapering slowly & im on my second ‘go’ at reducing from 10mg to 2mg (due to big flare up)! Suggest you ask a doctor as this is only my experience & you coukd have something completely different!

[Mstiles in reply to Pixix]

thank you Pixix. Yes it’s different from any PMR pain I’ve had. The guessing game….PMR, arthritis, bursitis, some new affliction??

What did you doctor do for bursitis!

[Mstiles in reply to Mstiles]

bursitis?

Not bursitis !

[Pixix in reply to Mstiles]

I’m due to have a steroid injection in a week’s time! I’ve had about ten, in various parts of my body, over about ten years, they’ve all helped, some lasted longer than others!