Pains

[Pusph]

Hi I was diagnosed in April 22 and put on 15mg Prednisone. I have managed to taper down to 5mg twice and this time thought it had been successful. Have been on 5mg since 29th July and it seemed OK, just the odd niggling pain really, but in the last couple of weeks I have had pain in both my hands - base of thumb where it joins wrist. I was told a while ago that I have arthritis there and have the bony lumps there and on my knuckles. My question is could the higher doses of Pred have masked this pain up until now and it's reappeared as I've got lower - the rest of the niggles don't really feel like the original pain - or should I be thinking it's a flare and be increasing? As any increase/decrease seems to exacerbate my SVT palpitations I'm loathe to unless I really have to! I can't of course get an appointment with my doctor until next week. Thanks for any input.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Could be carpel tunnel syndrome [ most severe symptom of carpal tunnel is muscle loss at the base of your thumb] and it’s very often associated with PMR - have a look at this-

nhsinform.scot/illnesses-an...

Yes higher dose of Pred may mask many things, and as you reduce the pains of osteoarthritis [in my case] and just the normal aches and pains of life surface.

Have you tried painkillers - paracetamol is okay - but not Ibruprofen as suggested in link.

[Bcol]

My CTS developed end got really grumpy during my earlier days of PMR, when I had got down to 5.0mg. As this was in the middle of the pandemic surgery was not an option so with the docs agreement I went back to 10mg which kept it under total control until I got back down to 2.0mgish. On list for surgery on both hands/wrists now, should be happening soon. So your Pred may well have masked the earlier symptoms.

[Pixix]

Exactly what I was told! I have much worse, & worsening, hand arthritis,especially the thumb joint. I had it mildly before PMR, but it was suddenly worse around the time ibtapered from 10 to 8mg. They said the steroids had masked the trouble, & 5hat the OA had been worsening. I saw a rheumy (don’t see one for PMR) and then a specially trained nurse for hand exercises & other stuff, & orthotics as my feet are bad, too. I have had carpal tunnel syndrome as well, but, for me, the OA was obvious & I knew I had it mildly. I had my thumbs injected for 3 years before PMR, then didn’t need it done for two years. Now I have other body parts which need the steroid injections & are worse, so can’t get thumbs done…it’s a choice!

[Suffererc]

sounds like Carpel Tunal. I have just had mine operated on.

I have been free os Prednisolone since February. And the CT started just after that so think the Pred was masking the pain a bit.

Hope you feel better soon and get it sorted 😊

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Suffererc]

Not so much masking pain but suppressing the inflammation that leads to the swelling that pinches the nerve in the tunnel.