Why after 2 years with PMR have I now gone from muscle discomfort to knee and shoulder pain?

Posted , 11 users are following.

I have had PMR for 2 years now and been on Prednisone for the usual muscle discomfort and stiffness but the last few months have developed sore knees and shoulders that are waking me up during the night.  It's now very painful at times to get down on my knees!  Can any of you offer some explanations for what is causing this and suggestions for relief?  Is mild stretching to keep the muscles toned for these areas still a good idea or opposed to none?

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  • Posted

    Hi Leonard,you do not give your age.It is possible to have arthritis alongside PMR.It might be worth mentioning it to GP (I have PMR,RA and OS)so know where you're coming fromGood luck and have a peaceful and relatively pain free Christmas
  • Posted

    It is also the nature of pmr symptoms to manifest differently, in different parts of the body, over the course of the affliction.

    Mine stsrted with shoulders, neck and hips.  Neck pain resolved quickly, but kness became involved at 3-4 months along.

    At 8 months, the soles of my feet became very sore for a few months, then it was my thumb joints and wrists that became painful.

    Lastly, I developed a painful ribcage area at 1-1/2 years along, made sneezing a painful experience. As I taper down to 5mg or so, the various symptoms re-awaken and force me to take a higher dose.  Hours spent exercising (cycling) allow me to use a smaller dose. I am at 2 years along now. Eating less carbohydrate also seems to help.

    PMR-caused issues tend to be symmetric, i.e. both shoulders, both feet, etc.

    Blood tests can determine if there is osteo-arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis involvement.

    • Posted

      "Blood tests can determine if there is osteo-arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis involvement."

      Not necessarily at all. There is no blood test for osteoarthritis - it is a clinical diagnosis with maybe backing with x-rays or MRI scans to see if the cartilage is worn away.

      Theoretically, there is a blood test for RA, however you can have what is called sero-negative RA where the level is normal but there is joint damage. Also quite a high proportion of perfectly healthy people have a positive rheumatoid factor. There are other tests but they are also more specific.

  • Posted

    Oh, if it wakes you up during the night it is really a good size problem but you will look for professional help!

    Stretching may be good of course- try it carefully.

    With my Temporal Arteritis hopefully no pain associated with, I started having since the beginning, a lack of balance- called ATAXIA.

    I do stretching a leg at a time as I sit on my comfortable arm chair and stretch my legs on a stool the same height as my arm chair! Very comfortable regardless and good for the circulation, too.

    I have a long neck vibrator with a round puffy pad on the other extremity, called Acuvibe bought here in Atlanta at Brookstone time ago.

    This electric vibrator is much more effective than any manual massage, believe me!

    As I said I don't have any pain however

    those same kind of massages and the stretching may help you, too, Leonard.

  • Posted

    Read, please, my reply sent right now.

    Get help, get better as soon as you can!

    Take care

  • Posted

    Could it be a result of muscle weakness caused by longterm prednisone use?  If the muscles are weaker it would cause extra stress on joints, wouldn't it?
    • Posted

      Confirm the muscle wasting, even if you attempt to try minimal exercise. I was informed by my GP this is the cause of most of the 'problems' with my aches and pains associated with getting up or down.  Mr Fred for 18 months!!
    • Posted

      Funny that - I DID have visible muscle wasting due to the Medrol. I hated it from the first day I took it but the rheumy would have it was so much better - not that there was much choice, it is the approved corticosteroid here and you can't get prednisolone/prednisone excpet in the form of Lodotra. Then they gave me a statin and I was unable to walk after a week. The day I was discharged from hospital I was not too bad despite mega back problems at the time.

      Anyway - the pain clinic used steroid and muscle relaxant shots into the back muscles and we got it pretty well sorted. Then I found a Bowen therapist locally, even better. No sign of any of the muscle wasting from the Medrol - and all the physical problems went too. Despite over 6 years on pred. Just saying - doctor blame far too many things on pred. Sometimes it is - but sometimes it isn't.

    • Posted

      I am not sure what else to blame, considering how many different things I've been doing to improve and maintain my health.  And no other medications.

       sad

  • Posted

    Hi Leonard.

    I had knee pain and lower leg discomfort as one of the last of the symptoms of PMR before I was diagnosed. For me, the symptoms started with a Bakers Cyst behind the knee and a slight fever and then stiff shoulders, neck, ribs and upper thighs (groin area) and pain. The stiffness and the pain got worse and worse and after 4 months, the wrists started hurting and selling, and a finger got so bad I couldn't bend it at all and then finally, the pain got to the knees with a feeling of thickness and heaviness in the calves. Thank God I got diagnosed at that point and the 20 mg Prednisone took care of all within a few days.

    Now, 2 years later and down to 4 mgs, I experienced a sort of mini flare yesterday, with aching in knees, lower legs, neck and extreme fatigue. I was very very tired from an excess of pre-Christmas activity lack of sleep. The symptoms are gone today after a rest in the afternoon, yesterday and a good night's sleep. I still have some aching in the back of the neck, but only on the left side, so probably a pull of some kind and not PMR. (I freak out when any aches happen ). I also have an ongoing pain at the base of my right thumb, but attribute it to OA, as it clicks with certain movements.

    Exercise is helpful to me. I have always exercised and my rheumy tells me to keep doing it to maintain strength and bone density. Here is my exercise routine: Yoga daily (at home) for about 1/2 an hour, which consists of mostly stretching, balance and strength building.  I walk every day for about 30-40 minutes, do a lot standing up activity (cooking, painting, etc.) and use a Concept II Rower and row about 3 kilometers every other day.

    I took yoga classes for a number of years (beginning at age 50) at a specific yoga center that teaches the poses in such a way as to not hurt oneself. I can contact you with the name of the type of yoga. The schools are all over the world and teach by level, so that you learn the basics in Level 1 and move on to Level II and then as you get stronger, you might move to a higher level. Most people stay at Level II. The basic concept is to learn a pose within your own physical limitations and using props, such as wall, chairs, blocks and straps, if necessary. For yoga, I would caution anybody to not push the body or involve the ego. As with anything, moderation, correct alignment and gentleness is key.

    Otherwise, I sleep 7-8 hours a night, with occasional nights of insomnia. Try to drink 64 oz of water daily, in addition to coffee, tea and some wine.

    I am 69 years old and retired November 13 (finally and happily).

    Good luck to you,

    Paula

     

    • Posted

      Paula, thanks for sharing so much.  I can see you are really working at trying to get things under control.  I do some yoga stretches daily and a little weight lifting but always trying to not overdo it.  It just seems new symptoms keep coming up and I have to ask, 'where did this come from'.  It sounds from what people here say I shouldn't be surprised to experience knee and shoulder discomfort something that really surprises me.  I guess I'll just keep up doing what I am along with trying to walk daily for now and see how things settle down.
    • Posted

      I know we shouldn't envy people, but I do envy you.  Bless you for posting what you are doing.  Though I hate to hear how long the PMR keeps going. 

      Is the anti inflammatory diet really helpful?  I miss eating so many things that taste good. Dairy, grains, bread, wine, ... I want off this Prednisone so bad. 

      I finally got the PA at Rheumy to refer me to a dietician to hopefully get a food sensitivity test done.  Want to see if that helps.  Those with Fibromyalgia seem to get results from finding out what foods they are sensitive to.

      i wish we could all be in same location to be active with. Ha, ha. 

    • Posted

      Is that Iyengha yoga? I did one session a week of that during much of the 5 years I had PMR without pred - it and the Pilates classes I went to, having already done an aqua aerobics class in a warm pool plus Bowen therapy every 6 months or so, kept me upright all that time until I had a major flare of the PMR. At about the same time I moved to Italy - no such facilities here without spending a small fortune that I don't have - and I really notice the difference!
    • Posted

      Hi Paula, I want to congratulate you for your great workout schedule!!

      Thank you for sharing!

      Having Temporal Arteritis I do my daily workout, the same I have been doing for years, before I got this health  condition.

      I follow my diet, I cook from scratch avoinding sodium, sweets and going slowly on carbs. Love salmon, eat chicken, lots of veggies, greens, eggs, yogurt, etc

      Well, Paula, wish you all the very best for the New Year!

      Take care.

      xxx

    • Posted

      Hi Iellen!

      Congratulations to you, also! I think we follow the same diet, although I do love salty things like potato chips. Sometimes, I just can't help myself!

      Happy New Year and Good Health to al!!

    • Posted

      I am with you on this need for spicy food !!!!

      We get tired of the tasteless diet we must follow inspite using all the seasonings, dried herbs, etc

      Cheers to the New Year with the best health possible!

      xxx

    • Posted

      After following this "paleo" diet since October I went completely over to the dark side and had Chinese takeout. No it didn't reduce my aches but it made me feel somewhat normal. After the holidays I am going to be partnering with a nutritionist/herbalist and seeing an orthopod. All things must wait for Christmas. Hang in there.
    • Posted

      "We get tired of the tasteless diet we must follow"

      There is no diet that anyone MUST follow. There is no diet that will make a significant difference to the illness causing the symptoms. A lot of us can identify that certain things don't agree with us but it is different for everyone so no particular diet will make much difference. One of the important antiinflammatory substances in diet is turmeric - I have no doubt there are other spices. In fact - isn't cinnamon antiinflammatory?

      However - there is nothing tasteless about my diet! In fact - the best I've felt for ages was while on holiday in China where the diet for over 2 weeks was: Chinese!!!!!!!!

      You will find all sorts of stuff from various sites that claim that eating this or not eating that will "cure" PMR. That taking this supplement or the other will perform a miracle. The only miracle will be for their bank balance!

    • Posted

      Hi I will follow your results!

      Thank you for sharing

      xxx

    • Posted

      That 's true!

      We must use our brain to analyze certai advoces as this one for a rigid diet in order to 'cure' an illness!

      Recently I started using my senses on the selection of the food I eat.

      Nothing bad happened so far.

      Thank you.

      xxx

    • Posted

      I'm with you Eileen!  Since I've been on the antiinflammatory diet, almost a year now, I do not notice any difference other than losing 20 lbs. 

      Though now with acid reflux I am avoiding acid foods. The acid reflux is the Pred, I don't eat that many acid producing stuff and even water affects my esophagus. Plus I had stopped probiotics because I didn't know pill form available. FYI.

      But am sick of missing comfort foods!  

      Lately I just say to heck with it and take a bite of something cheesy, warm, gewy, and even sweet! Of course if I have a big flare I might change my story! wink 

      The only thing I notice is my hands will ache if I've had more sugar than I should perhaps. 

      I do hope to have a food sensitivity test early next year because I miss bell peppers! I've stopped those recently just to see if I feel any different.

      I'll report if this test report helps or not.

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