athritus

[Ronzy]

thats my problem now im stuck on 7.5 now get lots of pain and stifness in my arm s hands shoulder

rummi seames to put it all down to Arther. Sorrie bad speller.

[piglette]

Do painkillers help?

[Ronzy in reply to piglette]

I think so.

[Ronzy in reply to Ronzy]

But pred seems more effective

[piglette in reply to Ronzy]

You could try increasing your pred dose by say 5mg for a few days and see if that works. You can drop back to 7.5mg if it doesn’t or even if it does but perhaps in two jumps if it does work.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Ronzy]

If Pred seems to help it may not be arthritis…so try suggestion from  piglette . . If that doesn’t help then perhaps try Flexiseq - flexiseq.com

is it both sides or just one?

[Pixix]

As I reduce my pred, my arthritis gets worse & worse. Well, it doesn’t, really. Pred does help my arthritis, but that is not the answer! Pred is NOT prescribed for arthritis, I was informed! I have a lot of trouble in hands and feet. I have bought some Flexiseq (see Dorset Lady reply above). It is part of getting older, Ronzy! I think the problem of taking pred for arthritis is that you need a lot, and would never taper, as it helps! My arthritis became a lot worse at about 8mg, then progressively as I taper. Also, while taking pred you can damage your hands, as you use them too much as you don’t feel the arthritis pain, I found out. !! Sorry if this seems a negative reply, but I have not found anything that helps. Taking pred masks the arthritis so when it ‘appears’ it is bad! In my opinion! I am going to try the Flexiseq next week, as I am going to reduce my pred again on Monday! I was seen in hospital by specialist nurse for my hands, issued with supports, given exercises. Had 4 appointments then discharged as nothing else they can do. Then I saw the foot lady…podiatrist, who made casts of my feet, & given custom made insoles. I see her annually. There are forums, and an excellent charity web site. Good luck!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Pixix]

"Taking pred masks the arthritis"

But so do painkillers when they work. No difference there,

[Pixix in reply to PMRpro]

I agree! It’s very tempting to me to up the pred so my arthritis isn’t so bad, or ask why pred isn’t a treatment for OA! I thought it was the weather when it was so bad last winter, but it’s worse now & slowly my brain realised it’s the pred that helps (a bit, but a noticeable bit!) Thrn recommended tapering from 5mg & Arthritis definitely getting quite a lot worse..and dislocations increasing!! S x

[Ronzy in reply to Pixix]

Me to a tea thanks,don’t help but nice to know. I think 🥲

Problem is I have lots of pred, feel like saying Bugger it 😱

[Pixix in reply to Ronzy]

Um, well it’s your life and your health, Ronzy! I want to get off pred as I have some nasty side effects from taking it. I get a lot of stiffness with arthritis especially in the morning. But pred doesn’t help with it. Good luck with it, it’s your choice to make! I found steroid injections better than oral pred for arthritis and no side effects, but we are all different!!!!!

[Ronzy in reply to Pixix]

Pred clears my arthritis in about 30 minutes on a morning

But this morning I hung on and tried tramadoll, did the trick eventually in 1 hour just took the one.

All thevbest and thanks.

🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀

[Pixix in reply to Ronzy]

I don’t think pred should be used in that way, Ronzy, it’s just masking the problem! I take time release tramadol for mine, too. At least the tramadol working shows you that it’s not connected to PMR!! Take care, S x

[Holycow2]

I was told by my Dr that steroids make arthritis worse and also causes arthritis

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Holycow2]

Not sure that’s actually true - but if you are on steroids for long time and/or at higher doses they can mask the arthritis pain - so the arthritis may be deteriorating without you realising it.

[Holycow2 in reply to DorsetLady]

Yea that makes sense however I’ve been on them for around 2 years now…they have not helped my arthritis pain but I now have arthritis in other joints which I did not have when starting the Pred. My surgeon agreed it’s probably because of the Pred but also relying and another joint because of the arthritis

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Holycow2]

Too many steroid injections can certainly cause damage to the cartilage in joints - but if you have it in hip or knee it certainly affects your gait -and that in turn may exacerbate other joints.

Nowhere in the long list of side effects does it mention causing arthritis -although it does mention brittle bones and bone health (osteoporosis).

[Holycow2 in reply to DorsetLady]

Interesting! I have in my hip waiting hip replacement. I did have mild in one knee which did not cause issue but now in both knees moderate but very painful! Had first steroid injection in my left knee last week and appears to have helped a lot! Having one in other knee nxt week. I have been taking I think it’s called alendronic acid but as it interferes with dental issues I’ve stopped taking it. I don’t know much about it or even if I really need it

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Holycow2]

Steroid injections do help (had more than I care to recall over the years) -but are limited to 3 a year because of the long term concerns.

Unfortunately due to mis diagnosis of frozen shoulder (when it was GCA) by my then GP who gave me 3 in left shoulder which didn’t do a lot for my rotator cuff in the long term …but that’s another story😳

As for AA, do you actually need it -have you had a DEXA scan to check your bone health?

[SheffieldJane]

Hi Ronzy, I think my arthritis has got worse because I have been much less active in recent years. If I manage to overcome the “ can’t be bothered feelings” and get moving, I tend to feel better. Of course 7.5 mgs is a tricky stage because you have to start producing your own Adrenaline. I think this can make you feel pretty rough sometimes. Sorry you are suffering! X

[Ronzy]

Thanks Jane I do get very lethargic I am going for an blood test very soon.that worries me a little as I don’t think I do markers well. But she is good not rushing me and I have lots of prednisone. We ll see 🤷🏽‍♂️

Thanks again all the very best

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[Ronzy in reply to Ronzy]

Thinking about it and all that has been said I think my arthritis is not arthritis as the pred stopes the pin then comes back when pred wearing thin. 😱does that make sense.

But my rummy is convinced it is arthritis 🤷🏽‍♂️ it’s weird also comes and goes sometimes my hands fingers and wrists are so stiff and painful but no lumps bumps and deformities

Does mi heed in this pmr .got a bloody mind of its own MAYBE ITS THE DEVIL sorry don’t want to frighten enyone 😍 did you say pain killers do not help arthritis or is it the other way round.

Another thing can’t understand why do boost this time

Last time I had pmr on steroids could pedal to moon and back ,lots feel like that

Not me this time 😫🥲

Thank everyone

All the very best 🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Ronzy]

Does sound as if it’s not all arthritis - higher doses of Pred may mask it [not sure what dose you are on now] - but painkillers DO help it.

If it’s osteoarthritis you don’t necessarily get lumps, bumps and deformities- that’s usually rheumatoid arthritis - and you can be tested for that. Have you been? Or had X-rays for osteoarthritis?

Hand issues could be carpel tunnel syndrome which very often accompanies PMR.

If your PMR is playing up maybe you are just on too low a dose of Pred….