Does anyone suffer fron osteoarthritis in the hip as well as PMR?
Posted , 10 users are following.
I was diagnosed with ostearthritis in the hip 3 years ago - but because I developed PMR around that time I have never experienced any pain from the hip due to it being masked by the steroids. However, 2 weeks ago my Prednisolone strength was reduced to 10mg daily from 15mg. I am now experiencing terrible pain in my hip and leg ( due to the arthritis which I was totally free from before.) I am sorely tempted to up the dose!. I am due to see my doctor next week about this. Cannot take any other anti inflammatory drug whilkst on the steroids. Would be interested to know if anyone alse has had this trouble?
0 likes, 19 replies
Anhaga gillian82551
Posted
Are you sure it's not mostly PMR caused by that very large drop of 1/3, 15 mg to 10 mg? Recommendation is never to drop by more than 10%. You've dropped three times that amount.
You probably should increase your dose, not because of possible OA pain, but because it's most likely your PMR infalmmation is no longer properly controlled.
Ouzel gillian82551
Posted
You need to consider that the PMR is what was causing you hip pain to begin with as it can cause significant hip pain (unilaterally or bilaterally), because you said the diagnosis came about the same time as you developed PMR. Lots of people have significant degenrative changes on x-ray and don't necesarily have much in the way of symptoms. Anyway, I agree with Anhaga that you've cut your prednisone way to fast or too far (or both) so I'd go back to the dose you were pain free and go from there. The "terrible pain in my hip and leg" doesn't sound so much like arthirits anyway as it would be a dull ache, exacerbated by walking, etc. (I'm an orthopedic surgeon BTW).
Loulie Ouzel
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Ouzel Loulie
Posted
Sorry Loulie... sounds like you're having some real issues. Perhaps when you get the PMR more under control (lower prednisone doses) maybe your risk for complications after spinal surgery would be lower as well? I'm not familair with UK referral patterns but I would suggest you consult another well thought of spinal surgeon for a second opinion. And if the answer is the same then perhaps they'll have suggestions on how to make your life more tolerable. Good luck!
Loulie Ouzel
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EileenH Loulie
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10mg isn't a barrier - I know a few people who've had hip replacements on pred, at least one was on 10mg and subsequently was able to reduce and get off pred once the hip pain was gone. It was almost as if the hip pain fed the PMR.
If one surgeon won't agree - shop around because it is their individual preferences and prejudices that are important. One may not - another will.
ptolemy EileenH
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EileenH ptolemy
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ptolemy EileenH
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adette01750 gillian82551
Posted
Hi Gillian,
yes I have polyarthritis and bursitis of the hip as well as PMR so have had excessive pain to, and since steroids 4weeks into them I have had no pain in my hip either.
You may have dropped too much, I think it's 10% drops only from 15mg so I would go up to 15 and when settled and pain free do a 1.5 mg drop and see how it goes. There is a slow reduction regime others follow on this forum and most people find that works for them. Good luck.
ronald39523 gillian82551
Posted
Hi. I have not had hip problems bur I can't help thinking that a reduction from 15 to10 in one move is far too much too fast. I am obviously no expert but I would have thought a 1mg per day reduction over a period of weeks would be better. R
Loulie gillian82551
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ptolemy gillian82551
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dan38655 gillian82551
Posted
I'm going on almost thre years with PMR, and I can say that the bursitis pain in my left hip can be quite severe, enough to prevent normal walking.
The occurrance of this pain is quite sensitive to my pred dosage level.
I'm currently at 4mg/day. The bursitis, when it occurs, usually sets in late in the day. It gets better over night, while most of my other symptoms worsen!
I take the 4mg of pred first thing in the morning, which seems to be the most effective at reducing my daytime fatigue symptoms.
EileenH gillian82551
Posted
That drop was far too big for a PMR patient - never more than 10% of the current dose is recommended and even that can be too much for some people. It is also possible there is an element of bursitis - the pain can be very similar to OA in the hip.
If it were me I'd go back to the 15mg and then reduce 1mg at a time. Particulalry if, as you imply, you have been on 15mg for the last 3 years. Even so, a 33% drop is ridiculous - it may work for a patient who has only been on pred for a couple of weeks. After more than a few months on any dose of pred you will struggle with large drops.