Not sure of way forward

[SanG55]

At present I am having hip pain (both, but more in left) and can’t raise my right arm above shoulder height. I also have a painful wrist and a thumb that keeps locking and swollen fingers in my right hand. I am currently living with my sister and have a new GP who I haven’t met yet. I have upped my steroid dose by 5mg for 3days now but not seen an improvement, in fact it seems worse. Should I continue with the increase, see the GP, anything else? Thanks in advance.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Usual advice for dealing with a flare is 7-10 days at increased dose, so perhaps you need a bit longer…. Obviously if no improvement after that time then you need to see GP to rule out other issues.,

[SanG55 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you for your prompt reply. 😊

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Since it is predominantly in the right arm - as I understand what you say at least - I'd suspect a neck or shoulder problem which is causing the symptoms, possibly through nerve entrapment, and I think you need to see the GP. If it is shoulder/upper back then it can affect all of your back and refer to the hips as well.

[SanG55 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you, I’ll see if I can get an appointment 😊

[yogabonnie]

I have a trigger thumb and terrible wrist pain which was diagnosed through and EMG and another test as carpal tunnel. the surgeon made appt for surgery... and gave me a shot for the trigger thumb.. the trigger thumb did not go away but the WRIST pain did so I cancelled the surgery!!! hoping to keep it all at bay. I have heard that Many people have wrist pain when they get under 5mg on prednisone. dont know why... but now doing some YouTube exercises and alternating hot and cold on my wrist and it all is helping... course probably the cortisone. also telling my brain that it is just remembering old pain..but the wrist is fine..and to carry on. The pain goes away when I am distracted. so there must be something in the brain memory of pain stuff. Anyway. all this to say.. can you get a cortisone shot for the thumb?

[SanG55 in reply to yogabonnie]

Thanks for your reply yogabonnie. I have had two carpal tunnel ops on each wrist, but the thumb is a new thing. I have GP appt next Friday, so fingers crossed. Have a lovely weekend 😊

[SusieW2]

Do try to keep moving. Somehow I feel it is essential. I do mild yoga twice a week and feel clearly worse when I skip one. I've done chiropractic and P.T. with some success. But a few years ago I found the Feldenkreis Method. It includes slow, gentle movement often lying on the back or sitting targeting areas with restricted movement. There are a few practitioners who offer group session online for a very reasonable cost. It is had to describe so please look it up. But it connects you to your para-sympathetic nervous system to activate your body and can bring relief to people who've suffered pain for many years. It has been used for a lot of different maladies. It has helped me enormously! I'll give you m y connection if you'd like.