Arthritis Advise please

Yes amkoffee I am 54 now and had arthritis for a few years and PMR Sjogrens and auto immune thyroiditis. My worst areas are neck spine elbows knees but have some intermittent problems in fingers and feet.

I am told it's inkeeping with age but painful!! 

Returning back to work tomorrow but can barely move this morning, my reductions on prednisolone are causing more pain but the Rheumatology doctors are adamant I continue. I'm taking azathiopine at the end of May, I hope this helps the reductions.

I hope the better weather helps our arthritis when it comes!! 

Hello Amkoffee, I also have knee and feet probs, I had these before pmr days but suspect that the pmr/steroids have speeded up the problem rather than caused it...I am now looking at foot surgery as can't walk far! I like to think that things will improve a bit after pmr but I guess some damage will be permanent. I notice my wrists/thumbs uncomfortable if I have been over doing things too. I guess keeping weight off and doing some Pilates/Yoga is our best self help option. Isn't it all a big bore...goodluck to you

 I have recently had  a very painful neck/feet/hands with out all the rest of the PMR problem areas, I see the Rheumie in 3 weeks, and fear this is what he will say it is as well.. (OA) maybe the PMR or pred has speeded up the problem.....so difficult some days to deal with it all.....and know what to do to ease it.....

​Good luck...

I've not come across the cartilage being involved in PMR - the synovium yes. Cartilage can be damaged by intraarticular injections of pred - that is why they are restricted to not more than 3 in a course. In some people they also contribute to destruction of cartilage whentaken in oral form - hence the desire to get the patient to the lowest dose or off pred altogether. Any damage already existing in joints will be exaccerbated - the same as cataract formation being speeded up.

However, I had knee, foot and hand pain with PMR and much later severe low back pain as well. A rheumatologist examined me at the start and announced the knee etc was OA, she could feel it, and intimated go away and stop bothering me. All that went within 6 months of being on 15mg pred as did the dreadful hip pain I had at the time and was afraid it was OA. It has since been diagnosed as trochanteric bursitis - and dealt with. There is no evidence of OA at all.

The severe low back pain that meant I could only walk or stand for 10 mins or so was pronounced by an orthopod to be wear and tear of the spine and I'd have to live with it. Delightful at 60 one felt. 

The pain clinic here diagnosed it correctly as being entirely muscular and treated it as such. All gone pain. There is no evidence of severe OA there either - stiffness yes, the lumbar region is flat instead of being curved. That is something else.

Are they SURE it is OA?

 

I didn't even mention my back. I've had chronic back pain for 13 years but I've also developed arthritis in my SI joint which is new. And in answer to your question Eileen all but my thumbs has been X-RAY and even I can see that there is no cushion between the bones on each of these joints. So far none of these joints are showing any swelling or deformity just a lot of pain. And none of them are in need of surgery at this point.

I don't have the neck issue so much, but I do have the thumbs and only one foot.

how would you describe your foot pain?

I have probably had OA in my feet and neck since youth, and was diagnosed with OA in hands at age 40.  Since then x-rays show I have OA in neck, hands, feet, lumbar spine, small amt in knees.  I have been taking a fairly high dose of glucosamine every day since in my forties.  I did stop for a while when undiagnosed with PMR because I thought the pain was from the OA and the glucosamine wasn't working.  The point I want to make is that although I have OA throughout my body it has progressed very slowly in the thirty years, more or less, that I've been taking glucosamine.  I take 1000 mg morning and evening.  Also I read that aspirin can contribute to arthritis damage, so I reserve it for headaches, and have never taken painkillers for arthritis.  Physiotherapy exercises have been very important - exercises for muscles supporting the spine, for example, have probably kept me upright and mobile.