swollen knee part of a flare up?

[Trulyscrumpious]

l think l am having a flare up. I’ve never had one before . Yesterday l had a very exhausting day. Last night l slept very badly and began to ache all over like l did when first woke up with PMR 7 years ago.. l’ve been on a maintenance dose of 5mg of Pred. So l’ve gone up to 15 mg today. The ahing is better but l still have a swollen, very painful knee. It won’t take any weight. I’m staying with my son, and he is having to help lift me off the toilet. Could the knee be part of the flare up? I haven’t injured it and it appeared out of the blue. I’d be grateful for any comments.

[SnazzyD]

Oh dear! Why was the day exhausting? What did you do?

[marionofnorwich in reply to SnazzyD]

I had a very bad knee and flare up when i got Covid in April 2022. I think my body produced a load of inflammation and a ligament in my knee got badly inflamed and my whole knee was very swollen. It is settling down now but i still cant walk far. I found that ultra sound helped. Hope that yours settles down soon

[Trulyscrumpious in reply to marionofnorwich]

Thanks, that is very helpful. After 1 day on 15mg it is already less swollen so here’s hoping.

[Trulyscrumpious in reply to SnazzyD]

Travelling to see my son dropped off by son 2, and waiting all day at their chaotic house. Waiting to go to play which my granddaughter was in so didn’t leave for the holday house till 9pm, having to wait till my suitcase etc ,was upstairs. No downstairs toilet. IAs l am nearly 87 l didn’t cope well. They are lovely family and l love them dearly and they have been so kind . This morning l am a bit better. Got off the toilet using my walker so that is progress!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Trulyscrumpious]

Good to hear you are feeling a bit better today- this link contain usual advice given for dealing with a flare [as you can see you maybe didn’t need to go up as much as 15mg, so maybe stay there for a couple more days and then back to 10mg for about a week] -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[Trulyscrumpious in reply to DorsetLady]

Thankd for advice. I have started tapering. Sorry for delay in replying but am staying at a place very intermittent Wi-Fi.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Trulyscrumpious]

No problem at all and glad to see from replies you are feeling better…

[Trulyscrumpious in reply to DorsetLady]

Sorry l didn’t reply earlier- very poor wifi but l had half an hour to reply to everyone and then lost the signal. Hope you get this and thanks again

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Trulyscrumpious]

I did!

[SnazzyD in reply to Trulyscrumpious]

Sounds really stressful even if it was all well intentioned. I’m not surprised you feel wiped out. Any chance you tweaked your knee doing extra walking or stairs etc? Any inflammation from that would be helped by Pred.

[Trulyscrumpious in reply to SnazzyD]

Yes , it was exhaust it l increased Pred and it is almost back to normal. I didn’t tweake the knee. I think it came with the start of a flare because l ached everywhere. But the extra Pred has worked marvels and l am almost back to normal. Sorry for the delay in replying but hardly any Wi-Fi here. Just making use of a good patch!

[43tripandskip]

I had similar knee problems to you. It was a long time before I found out I have osteo-arthritis. in both knees. I hope the swelling goes down and you are able to get around again.

[Trulyscrumpious in reply to 43tripandskip]

Thanks for replying. I have had both my knee joints replaced , and can recommend it.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Just a single swollen knee would be unusual in a PMR flare so I think it needs looking at by a doctor - which I appreciate is unlikely to happen where you are. Oral pred isn't ideal for something like that as the blood supply to the soft tissues around the knee isn't that good.

At your age and on 5mg I suspect your adrenal function when overexerted probably isn't that good so that might well account for the other feelings.

Try ice on the knee - about 20 mins at a time with a towel between the ice and your skin so it doesn't damage the skin. A bag of peas or the like works if you haven't got ice handy and you can reuse it for the knee! And sit with it up and supported.

[Trulyscrumpious in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks so much. Actually the swelling has gone down quickly With 15mg- probably unnecessarily high but l’m tapering now and feel almost back to normal. Sorry l didn’t reply earlier but l’ with my son and family and the Wi-Fi is very poor and would not send. Tried again this evening and hope you get it.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Trulyscrumpious]

Don't worry - I get loads of replies days later!

[herdysheep]

I sometimes find if I have had a difficult day, I sleep fitfully and perhaps with limbs at a less then good angle. Usually affects my shoulders the most but also the right knee. Often feels like it will give way but better after very gentle weight bearing testing with something to hang on to.

[Trulyscrumpious in reply to herdysheep]

Thanks for helpful comment.

[Trulyscrumpious in reply to herdysheep]

Thanks for replying. It’s a crazy condition and it sees to take all sorts of forms. I’m happy to say my high dose of predator has sorted it all out and l’m almost back to normal.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Trulyscrumpious]

Love the predictive text - predator ...

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro]

Yes my thought too 😂🤣

[Trulyscrumpious in reply to Trulyscrumpious]

Thanks again. We all value your experience and knowledge and are so lucky to have you.

Yes predictive texting can produce some very funny results. I sometimes forget to proof read.

[Trulyscrumpious in reply to herdysheep]

Thanks . I think mine was art of a flare and has responded well to the higher dose, so now l can taper.

[sidra1968]

Once in a while my knee does that out of the blue, I ice it and rest it. I can find no other reason than a weird PMR connection..just my theory though. Hope it settles soon.

[Evamollie in reply to sidra1968]

Hi I always get a swollen knee on one side when I am beginning a flare. It does settle but I think it is part of my PMR.

[Trulyscrumpious in reply to Evamollie]

Thanks Evamollie, that’s very interesting. There’s so much to learn from this puzzling condition. The higher dose of Pred has worked wonders and l’m almost back to normal and tapering.

[Trulyscrumpious in reply to sidra1968]

Thanks- it has responded very well with 25mg for 2 days and now l’m tapering

[Trulyscrumpious in reply to Trulyscrumpious]

I’m sorry l meant 15mg !

[Trulyscrumpious in reply to sidra1968]

Thanks for interesting comment- l think my knee was part of a flare because ached all over. I’m glad to say the increase in pred has worked well and nowI’ almost back to normal.

[Trulyscrumpious in reply to sidra1968]

Thanks sidra, it almost back to normal with higher dose of Pred and now l’m tapering.

[Trulyscrumpious in reply to sidra1968]

Thanks . Yes it is a puzzling condition but thankfully it has responded very well to higher dose of Pred.

[Trulyscrumpious in reply to sidra1968]

yes it’s a puzzling condition. Taking more Pred has worked wonders and l’ve started tapering.

[Thelmarina]

As I sleep on my side a physio recommended me to slip a pillow between my knees. This reduces pressure on the knees. It’s also quite comforting! I do hope you feel better soon. 😀

[Trulyscrumpious in reply to Thelmarina]

Thanks Thelmarina.l don’t have trouble at night but the higher dose of Pred has worked wonders and l am almost back to normal and tapering.

[Thelmarina in reply to Trulyscrumpious]

Oh I am glad! Phew!

[KCRoyals]

Hi, similar episode a couple of years ago. Turned out to be osteo-arthritis, maybe brought on by years on Prednisone and overuse of my knee. I try to keep it functioning but after about 2/3000 steps the pain hits and I can't bend my knee. Using a physiotherapist but no great improvement. Guess I'll have to grin and bear it or take my osteo's advice and have a new knee. Down to 1/2mgs and await my next ESR test. My greatest wish is one day there will be a straightforward test that says "yes you have PMR" 0r "no you don't".

[Trulyscrumpious in reply to KCRoyals]

You seem to be doing well to get down to

1/2. I’ve got stuck at 5. I hope you consider having a replacement-it made a huge difference to me.

[Trulyscrumpious]

l agree , it is the uncertainty that is so annoying. I have had both my knees replaced and this swelling came out of the blue along with aching all over so l think it was part of the flare up. It’ been good to so many repliesz. It’s a great forum.