Hi. I've been diagnosed with PMR since sept 2016. Started at 15 mg prednisilone now down to 6 mg. Over the last few months have had terrible pain in one hip and sciatica. I have mild arthritis in that hip. I am having private osteopath treatment Dr referring me for HSBC physio but said it could be months before I'm seen. He says I have Pitformus syndrome and sciatica and bursitus. Treatment is working. ...slowly. my question is. has anybody else had this and do you think it is connected to PMR. Should I up my pred to see if it helps. Any advice please
I had hip bursitis--bad. I went to physical therapy a few times and got great relief...the exercises really helped. I never increased the pred. It was rough going until I got relief--almost impossible to sleep, but it did get better. Yes, in my humble opinion (from reading this forum) it does seem to be a common complaint with fellow PMR-ers. Best wishes to you, and keep us posted.
Yes I have had sciatica problems a couple of times. Pain killers were useless, but a physiotherapist worked wonders. I did buy a TENS machine too. I am not sure how good that was as I only used it once and the sciatica went away.
Hi there, sorry to put the dampers on things but i have had bursitus for over a year now and in my shoulder affecting my neck. i have had lots of physio, done lots of exercises, got sent to the gym, had 2 steroid injections and upped my steroids all to no avail, i wish someone would come up with an answer im really fed up with it. Ive had PMR for nearly 4yrs been off steroids for 2months. Good Luck
Yes - I do. It is a mix of piriformis syndrome and myofascial pain syndrome as the rest of my back muscles are involved when it is bad You probably have got trochanteric bursitis? Piriformis syndrome and it often go together. Trochanteric bursitis is definitely part of PMR and higher doses of pred help a lot - and a steroid injection can work miracles. Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is caused by the same inflammatory substances as PMR except in PMR they are systemic and in MPS they form hard knots of inflamed muscles fibres that can be felt in the large muscle groups. They then irritate nearby nerves, causing referred pain.
When mine is bad I do raise the oral pred - but I also almost always get steroid injections for the bursitis and therapeutic massage to remove the knots in MPS and then I need less pred. I also tend to have to wait a few months tp get a physio appointent so I always put in a request long before it becomes a problem.
Why did you stop the pred? I need mine at a baseline to keep the bursitis under control - it is part of the PMR for me.
Hi, finally aftyer a year of being sent to one rheumatologist then to another who have all shook their heads and said im too young to have pmr, finally get an mri done and sent to ortheopedic consultant who tells me the hip pain is avascular necrosis, caused by the steroids and i now have to have both hips replaced. Feel let down by the pmr diagnosis as i possibly wouldnt have been on the steroids. So be careful as the steroids can cause this.
How old ARE you?
will be 57 in october.
I’ve had hip bursitis for years and I’m the shoulders . Had ops too on shoulder still no full relief . Physio 3 times Sessions on hip It didn’t do much at all in fact I followed to the letter and it’s made it worse last time and it’s on and off bad bad . I think it’s all down to that we’re not all the same! When we suffer even with the same illness . Every time I’ve had Acupuncture in the shoulders it’s made things worse too. I do use strong oil rubs which give a bit of relief as I don’t like keep using painkillers .I’d say try different things and see what give you the best relief .
Same here mines started at age 44 🙁 I’m 50 now and still cannot shake the dam disease it off . Just got digonosed with GCA last October .
My hip pain started way before steroids .
Sorry me again . The only thing that did get rid of my hip pain for a little while last year was high dose steroids for the GCA . But of course that’s not practical long term . I hope you find something that helps 👍
Then it is time your rheumies got up-to-date with the subject. The guidelines say "over 50". I was still 51 when the symptoms started and I also had "normal" blood markers - like about 1 in 5 PMR and GCA patients.
If you have PMR/GCA and also have hip bursitis the chances are that the bursitis is part of the PMR - i.e. systemic, not due to a mechanical cause. That is why the high dose steroids for GCA helped - and the quickest and best way to deal with it is local steroid injections which concentrate the steroid in the area it is needed. Doesn't have to be in the joint so not a long term problem as they can be. I had hip bursitis and it faded over about 6 months on 15mg and lower - doesn't have to be really high doses but when it flares I get steroid injections rather than up the oral dose.
I was told by my orthopaedic surgeon that the steroids had caused problems with my hip. AVN is a mentioned side effect. I have had one hip done and it was so easy, I could not believe the difference it made.
thank you it gives me hope and have been told one day if i behave i may be able to run again.
I am sure you will, so remember BEHAVE!!
Did anyone get pain and stiffness in their knees with having Bursitus in their hip, im finding this lately and think they could be related. I was offered another steroid injection for my Bursitus as the first didnt work(made it worse) should i take up the offer, really dont know what to do next.
It makes you walk funny - and that puts strain on your knees. Strange your steroid shot made things worse - they sometimes don't work. I have been lucky though, mine have always worked thank goodness.