Hi All! I've been plodding along quite well over the passed few months, reducing successfully to 8mg of pred! I get a little bit of stiffness in the mornings, but I whether it and walk it off. However over the passed few days I've been having stabbing pains in one of my thigh bones (femur) it's quite alarming as I've never experienced this story of feeling, not polymyalgia pain at all!! Has anyone else had the same??
many thanks
Andrea
I don't want to sound alarmist but please go and check with your doctor as soon as is reasonable. I don't know if you are on a bisphosphonate (so-called bone protection medication) but both they and pred on their own can lead to something called avascular necrosis and bisphosphonates can cause spontaneous fractures, either of which can cause bone pain.
It may be nothing - but I would rather think you had got the all clear than had ignored it and it was something like that. All such pain needs to be investigated.
Thank you Eileen, if it's still there in the morning I'll check it out, it's gone to a dull ache now, however I have been up and down a step ladder over the last few days hanging curtains!!! When I feel good I do far too much, maybe it's something to do with that!
Andrea
Ah-ha! No - I have a lady who comes every couple of months or so to do the cleaning I can't/won't - and curtains comes under that heading! Otherwise dust is very patient - it will always wait!
I do hope it is nothing but your specific mention of femur is what concerns me. Had you said "hip" it wouldn't have triggered the same post. Fingers crossed it's too many stepladders!
Dear Andrea,
I also encourage you to check it out. I am one of the unfortunates who developed AVN in both hip joints. Whether or not it is caused by the Prednisone we will never know but my symptoms of stabbing pain different from PMR are not unlike yours. (I was at 2 mg. Pred and never over 10 when this happened-- 19 mos. into the dx)
Anyway, AVN is risk factor with Pred. One of the three causes. So, I just had my right hip joint replaced Nov. 30 and will have to have the left one done in spring. There ws no cartilage left and the femoral head was flat. Horrible pain. I am doing well post op but still on 4 mg of Pred and scared to death because I sure as hell don't want this to develop in shoulders, knees, ankles, etc. which it can.
I will be honest. I loved my Prednisone. 3 mos. before PMR dx the pain and stiffness had left me with no quality of life. When I went on 10 mg. within 5 hours I did everything I had ever done- walking, swimming, gym 3-4 x week, etc. I really had no other side effects from the Prednisone that I recognized.
My point is that is far from a benign drug. and developing Avascular Necrosis, while more common with higher doses than I was ever on, is not limited to that. It is in fact dose non-specific. My hope at this point is that fixing the hip will allow the PMR to settle down. I am only 2 wks post op. I do not want to stay on Pred. For me the risk is too high. But i am also not going to reduce in a tear and risk triggering a flare up.
In a classic piece of bad timing, my rheumatologist has quit his practice and I have to scout out a new one. Bottom line is I have had lots of pain the past 6 month and bone pain and PMR do not to me feel the same. Don't ignore it. Get an x ray or MRI done if it continues.
I will be thinking of you and hoping it self limits and that you continue to flourish. My intent is not to be scary at all but just to remind of some of the more negative outcomes--and yes, even at low doses.