stopped Pred but pain & stiffness came in knees. GP says it isn’t PMR

[HalleysComet]

I stopped Pred about 3 months ago. My knees & hands have started being very painful- I could hardly walk & couldn’t play my musical instruments. Sent for X rays of hands. Some osteoarthritis.

Took 5mg Pred for a day. Pain went away. Have carried on with Pred, assuming PMR still grumbling away. Intend to taper off gradually over next weeks.

GP insists it is OA and suggests ibuprofen or paracetamol orally for pain. Wants me off steroids sharpish.

What do others think? Is knee and hand pain usual in PMR?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Both are, so it could be a combination of that and OA.

And 3 months is plenty of time for PMR inflammation to build up again... your very small dose before dropping to zero was probably enough to keep things at bay.. and you nay find that reduce you will find out what the sweet dose is! I'll wager 1mg or even 0.5mg.

Then you may have negotiate with GP again... but don't take ibuprofen with the Pred...

[HalleysComet in reply to DorsetLady]

I am very prone to indigestion and acid reflux. I have told her straight - Ibuprofen is never crossing my lips. She did suggest Paracetamol, but it can affet the kidneys AND it doesn't work for me.

The Pred does work. I shall reduce til I am at 1mg. I probably have enough to be going on with for a very long time even if she won't prescribe any more.

She did say she would pass my concerns on to a GP whom I have seen in the past and who sees a bit less terrified of Pred.

I will keep you updated. Many thanks everyone for your replies.

[piglette]

If the steroids help the symptoms, it could very well be the PMR raising its ugly head again. This can happen, particularly in the first three months of stopping. Does the Ibuprofen work well? If not I would go back to your doctor and say steroids work and painkillers don’t.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Very possibly both - I have hand and wrist pain and knees were part of my PMR originally. Like DL, I bet a very low dose of pred makes life worth living again and will be a darn sight safer than long term NSAIDs. Whatever your GP thinks.

Very clever your GP - another possessor of a crystal ball ...

[Pixix]

sounds like OA, I can no longer play the piano! The steroids were masking how bad my OA had become (but steroids are not a drug used to treat OA). But then it could be PMR! Or both.