Hip surgery and pmr

Posted , 6 users are following.

Hi all, I wrote on here a few weeks ago about having had a hip replacement in August. After the surgery I was on 10 mg prednisalone.  For the past four/five weeks I have been in terrible pain with the muscles in my leg I had surgery on.  I put my pred up to 10 mg then 11mg and it did get rid of the flare, but after about three days the pains came back. I up'd it to 15 mg and again the pains went away.  I was having physio on my leg so I asked the physio if it could be the surgery causing the problems and he said he didn't think so as the leg seemed to be progressing as it should. I then visited the consultant who performed my hip surgery and explained to him.  I also had X-rays and he checked them out and said it wasn't the hip causing the pain and that it was probably a flare of the pmr.  

In the last week I have had terrible pains again in the hips and knees. The problem is I am not seeing my Rheumy until January and I am very tempted to put my pred up a little bit more as it gets rid of the pains.  I am not keeping and am having night sweats.  I feel so miserable.  The pain goes away after I have taken the pred early hours of the morning but come back around 6.00 pm to 7.00pm every night.  Could anyone please give advice.   

2 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • Posted

    Did you have anterior (frontal approach) or posterior (butt approach)? If it was anterior they stretch your leg was at out of the joint to put the new hip in. When I had my right hip done (pre PMR) , my quads hurt for weeks. Are you on any pain meds?

    Sorry you are having problems after your surgery. I still have my left hip to go.

    Best to you,

    Judy

    • Posted

      Hi Judy,  I don't know, my scar is about 21 " long on the side if my leg.  It was actually done in November 2014 to begin with but I got a deep bone infection due to my immune system being down.  They took the hip back out and put met on IV antibiotics for 6 weeks and left me without a hip joint until August of this year, so it has been through a lot.  I am on taking paracetamol for the pain but it doesn't seem to work anymore.  

      Sorry to you still have your other hip to go, hope it all goes well for you. 

      Best wishes 

      Sue

  • Posted

    I would suggest calling your Rhumy for a weekly steroid pack. It starts high then gradually drops each day. I was put on this for a flare, then after I finished that 5 day pack I was put in 10 mg. this worked for me.

    I have female surgery in a week, so I guess I'll see how the surgery and PMR affect me after that.

    • Posted

      Hello Pam,

      what is a weekly steroid pack I've not heard about that.

      hope your surgery goes well

      Sue

    • Posted

      It's the same one they give you for poison ivy or a bad rash.

      I'm thinking it started with 6-4mg tablets the first day, then 5 the next day, and so on.

      I've taken them before when I had poison ivy years ago.

      I must say it handled my flare quite well.

      I'm now at 7.5, back to my normal dose.

    • Posted

      Not something that exists in the UK! Neither the poison ivy or the "pack"! 

      Crystalcave - can't remember, are you in the UK? Have you got a specialist rheumy nurse you can contact? Or go to your GP because it does sound a if the autoimmune part of PMR is flaring and causing increased inflammation. If it isn't that then it needs investigating in case it is something else - I'm going by the "unwellness" and night sweats.

    • Posted

      Hello Eileen, yes I am in the UK, Staffordshire. I have seen a Rheumy nurse in the past but haven't seen her for about 2 ears, I tend just to see the Rheumy himself.  I will however contact the rhemy department and see if I can get to talk to someone on Monday.

      Only got 3 hours of sleep last night and the pain has been there most of today.  

      Regards Sue

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.