unexplained bruising on arms and hands plus swelling

[Pommygranny]

I am 77 and male. i was diagnosed with PMR 2019. Am currently reducing, for second time, from 15 mg pred now down to 6.5 using dsns. I have been out today in the sun and I noticed on getting home my hands were swollen and I have purple bruises on my hands and arms. I generally feel well. Should I be concerned. I don’t think I have knocked myself.

[SheffieldJane]

Bruising is a pretty common side effect of Pred. There is usually some minor injury or exertion to explain it if you think back.

[Bringonthemusic]

Hello, I also have bruises that come up for no apparent reason. I do think it is just part of the side effects of the pred. Occasionally, my fingers swell too.

[Koalajane]

my arms are awful at the moment!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I could bruise just by carrying a shopping bag over my arm!

[pata63]

Yes, I get bruises for no apparent reason, and for one reason I figured out related to shopping. I carry a bit of shopping in my rucksack and when I put the straps on I tend to generate bruises on my left arm as I put it into the strap when the other strap is already over my right shoulder.

My mother had this "bruising for no reason" business going on for years and she never went anywhere near Pred. It can be other factors at work. Old age is sometimes mentioned, as if that actually explains anything on its own. *sigh*

Now that you have posted  Pommygranny have a look at the related posts section and you will find this is asked frequently. Both the bruising and the hands swelling. The related posts section is over on the right on my computer screen, but if you use one of those newfangled smart phones it might be towards the bottom of the screen.

[Pommygranny in reply to pata63]

thank you. The swelling in my hands is going down now and has revealed two puncture marks from what looks like insect stings, A bit of Savlon has done the trick.

[Missus835]

Hallooo. I bruise very easily. In fact, I bruise where I can't remember bumping the area. If the blood technicians don't know what they're doing, I bruise the size and colour of plums. I had a trainee one day at the ER. He and the trainer took 5 jabs to get an I.V. in. My arms were a purple mess. Finally, a nurse did it. She said "I can hit a vein from across the room." She was very good.