PMR pain

[Linbin1]

I am struggling with painful knees, when standing fro seated, and also painful wrists, Are these related to PMR?

[piglette]

PMR affects the muscles not joints. Is it joint pain you have? Have you been checked for anything else such as arthritis?

[Linbin1 in reply to piglette]

Thanks for responding. I haven't been able to see a doctor for many months, even though I have tried on several occasions. However, I will try again with an Econsult.

[piglette in reply to Linbin1]

You have been on steroids for quite a long time, have you had the knee problems standing up all along or has it happened more recently? Hopefully with an e-consult you should get some good feedback from your GP.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Could be, but as piglette says it could be other things… do ordinary painkillers help, if so unlikely to be PMR..

Bit more info might help us…

[PMRpro Ambassador]

They can be but not necessarily. If I flare, it often starts in my wrists and before diagnosis I had knee pain which one rheumy decided was OA, she could "feel it". However, 13 years later an x-ray found absolutely NO sign of OA in that knee despite it having been mangled in a ski accident so at risk.

It does need investigation, an x-ray at least I would say.

[paintpots]

As I have tapered down to 0 .5mg now I find my knees do ache a bit but I feel its more to do with my age 79. Than pmr. When I have flares in the past my feet and hands hurt as well as my muscles. Just knees on their own does not seem to me to be pmr.

[Lochy]

I’ve had PMR for over 7 years. In the early days I was quite typical and responded to steroids well. About 4 years ago my knees became very painful, mainly right knee. Fluid drained and steroid injection given. This happened at least twice. Two years ago my right hand and wrist became very painful. Steroid injection helped enormously, no swelling though. Had already tried hydroxychloroquine and leflunomide but neither made any difference. My rheumatologist has now put me in the ‘polymyalgic onset RA/inflammatory arthritis ‘ category. Started Etanercept, a biologic I self inject two years ago. Hand and right foot continued to niggle. They’ve now decided I should move onto a JAK inhibitor. That’s not happened yet so will wait and see. Currently on 2mg of prednisolone. Perhaps you are similar to me and not typically PMR. My rheumatologist has been very supportive and prepared to explore and listen which helps!

[winfong]

I have a lot of knee and hip pain. That said, I have extra-cranial GCA / LVV as well, so that might explain it.