Hip pain

[Kritterkid]

Can PMR settle in one joint?

I am on my second time with PMR. I know those terrible bilateral joint pains. Am at 5mgs Pred and was great until the last few weeks. I have no other health issues.

Oct 2023 I had a total left hip replacement and just had my one year hip check up where everything on the xray was perfect. I'm in good shape but darn, I get this pain in my left quadricep when I put weight on my left leg while walking and just brings me to a stop. Not while standing. AND not all the time! It comes and goes. Terrible in the morning, less so in the afternoon kind of. I just can't tell what sets it off.

My question is can this be PMR? On one side only?

I hesitate to increase Pred because it may just mask something else. But I could increase...

Thank you!

[piglette]

It does not sound like PMR. Have you talked to a doctor about it?

[Nextoneplease]

I agree with piglette. It doesn’t sound like PMR to me.Sounds like you should make a doctors appointment and see where you go from there.

Hope you get some help soon 😊xx

[PMRpro Ambassador]

That doesn't sound like PMR - it could be bursitis. Where exactly is the pain? Bursitis would usually affect the outside aspect of the thigh, where you can feel the hip bone, and sometimes into the groin area. The bursae aren't usually removed in a hip replacement so can still play up. I would want a medical opinion.

[Kritterkid in reply to PMRpro]

Which: a medical opinion from Rheumatologist, or from my Orthopedic?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Kritterkid]

I'd hope either would know. What do you mean by osteo? An osteopath? My rheumy sorts me for this sort of pain because I see him regularly-ish and can get hold of him easily. But in Europe most of us would go via a GP, certainly in the UK that is who you would go to initially since they provide the gateway to secondary care.

[Kritterkid in reply to PMRpro]

The pain is in the whole left quad only when I step out on that leg. Instead of walking like a gorilla, I am walking like half a gorilla! (Rolling over on one side.)

[mtrafter]

I had a recent flare which responded well to an increase of 8mg of Pred to 14mg for a wk except for my Rt hip which was painful and limited my walking, I was unable to put weight through my right hip and experienced pain down my thigh front and back. Eve eventually realised this was not PMR and started to reduce Pred. Visited GP who referred me for a Rt hip x ray and ultrasound which showed I had Gluteus medius and minimus calcification tendinopapthy and mild trochanteric and iliopsoas bursitis, plus rt hip joint osteoarthritis. So all in all I had a bit going on. Following the diagnosis I had a cortisone injection into the Rt trochanteric bursa 10 days ago. I have had some relief but still having a little trouble walking, I am unable to walk for longer than 10mins which is very restricting but have had fun doing xmas shopping online! I have reduced Pred to 7.5 will stay there for another wk when I have bloods and telehealth appt with Rheumatologist.Our health journey has many twists and turns one never knows what further surprises we will experience. I tend to blame most of my ails on PMR and Pred but this is not always the case. Having had PMR for 5 plus years I have numerous flares and all of them different but this one was very different I should have realised earlier.

Not sure if any of this is helpful Kritterkid just my experience of a similar situation to yours. Take care and be kind to yourself.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to mtrafter]

I have similar problems - except my steroid injection worked!! However, it still niggles at times if I walk a long way and I find using a crutch makes a massive difference to how far and how much discomfort develops. It is also essential if any steps are involved!

[Kritterkid in reply to mtrafter]

Yes this is helpful to me!

[Pixix]

Ihave hip bursitis on one side only…it’s very nasty, I’m afraid! But may be something simpler!

[Kritterkid in reply to Pixix]

Have you had anything done to remedy it yet?

[Pixix in reply to Kritterkid]

I e had it for 3 years. It’s liveable with during 5he summer months, probably because I am on Tramadol & buphrenorphine pain patches. But it gets very painful as soon as aumtmn begins. I’ve had 4 depo medrone injections into the bursitis point & they have worked in varying degrees…sometime lose all pain, sometimes not, sometimes it lasts 3 months, sometimes 1month. I have 12 different health diseases so my answer may not be same as others. But I’m not sure it is…you need to see a Dr…my GP diagnosed mine, after examination. He says I roll when I walk…I hadn’t noticed it…but it could be other things…!

[posthinking01]

Hi there have you tried putting some Magnesium Oil on the joint ? Not sure if you can get it in the USA though - we have it here sold by a company called Better You.

[Kritterkid in reply to posthinking01]

I will look into that. I do take a Mag supplement. Thank you

[posthinking01 in reply to Kritterkid]

Hi Mag oil actually gets directly to the joint through the skin I feel !

[posthinking01 in reply to Kritterkid]

How much do you take by the way ?

[Kritterkid in reply to posthinking01]

I take Qunol 420 mg Magnesium. A side note is that I have had all forms of dizziness and noticed that when I started Mag I became steady. Turns out Mag can help it according to the vestibular.org people. Who knew!! I hope it is true.

[Marcy47]

I had pain in left hip and leg only after 8yrs on Prednisolone. I was sent to physio who said my hip flexor muscles were weak after so long on steroids, she sent me for X-ray which showed curvature of the lumbar spine. The exercises just made the pain worse and I was on 6 Paracetamol a day just to cope with caring for my husband.The Dr said I needed an MRI to see what the problem was, but I would need to go private to get one done ASAP. The MRI showed 2 bulging discs pressing on the nerves to the hip thigh and knee. The private consultant recommended a spinal steroid injection but warned me it doesn't always work, and guess what, it didn't. So for now I am back on painkillers Co-dydramol 20 and 10mg, up to 8 a day, and Ralvo (Lidocaine) plasters up to 3 a day for 12 hrs on 12hrs off.

My Dr tried me on Etopan (etodolac) 600mg 1 a day tablets, but they only relieved the pain after 4hrs for 10hrs, so I had to take 2 Paracetamol at 3am to get any sleep. Gone back to the previous pills, speaking to Dr on phone tomorrow, a lot of sickness at the surgery, not going there!!

The only other thing that helps is heat, hot bag from microwave or mini electric overblanket at night.

[Kritterkid in reply to Marcy47]

I am sorry to hear that and wish you relief. And yes, as it is starting to turn cold I am using a heating pad on my hip. I hope it works.

[Satya70]

I have that in my left leg. Refused to acknowledge it as PMR but after my rheumatologist AND orthopedist said it is I’ve accepted that it is (well, not 100% 🤣)

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Satya70]

I think it is fair to say it is allied with PMR although it does also exist in its own right but if you have PMR it will "feed" the bursitis so that the usual management of icing and rest never gets on top of it. But oral pred is also not enough. When I was first diagnosed with PMR, bursitis was a really awful part of it with the right hip being worse than the left. After about 4 months of oral pred it had gone. But these days if the bursitis starts up. all it does is get worse. I have had extracorporeal shockwave therapy which worked well, but slowly, the first time, less well the second time and even less well the third time. I had had 4 rather than 3 sessions and at the ideal fairly close spacing. A few weeks ago, my rheumy did 2 injections and since then the pain is almost entirely gone.

[Kritterkid in reply to PMRpro]

That is good news!

[Kritterkid]

Today, the left hip pain came on in the morning, and I took 400 mgs Tylenol and by noon it was gone. Sometimes Tylenol doesn't work at all. I just cannot get an idea of the cause and will call the doc (probably my orthopedic). I see my Rheumy in January.

Thank you all for sharing because it really helps!! If I get an answer from the doc that works should I share it on this thread or start a new one?