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Hello
I came down with the symptoms about 4 weeks ago and was confirmed recently.
I’m 75 white with German ancestry.
My twist in this is I’m due for a TKR on 11/27 and I’m in a dilemma; hold off treatment sometime after surgery, postpone surgery (1-5yrs???) or start low dose before to help me tolerate the pain from both items.
If I knew I can bare the pain of both right after surgery I would do it. It’s awful hard getting out of bed right now.
My pain went from a 8-9 to 2-3 with the two day trail and today 5 days after weening I am back to a 8-9.
I’m trying a high protein healthy diet (lost10 lbs) and trying to exercise around the pain.
I have a sharp IM MD and wonder when to see a rheumatologist?
Thank you
Greg
Replies to "Hello I came down with the symptoms about 4 weeks ago and was confirmed recently. I’m..."
I had my knees replaced while on Prednisone but I wasn't newly diagnosed with PMR. Your surgeon will be the best person to ask. Some surgeons are reluctant to do surgery when someone is on Prednisone because of the risk of post-op infections.
Personally, I would want PMR to be under control before having surgery.
Hello @weten2, Welcome to Connect. You will notice that we moved your post to an existing discussion on the same topic so that you can connect with other members who are new to a PMR diagnosis. If you click the link below it will take you to the beginning of the discussion and you can learn what has been shared by other members and what questions they have mentioned.
-- NEW to PMR diagnosis: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/new-to-pmr-diagnosis/
That is definitely a difficult decision to make. I've had a TKR on my right knee but it was after my PMR had been in remission for a couple of years. If it were me, I would have a discussion with the surgeon doing the TKR to get their thoughts. I don't think you can be on prednisone and have the surgery and there are a lot of pre-surgery leg exercises that my surgeon had me doing prior to having the TKR. Have you talked with the surgeon?
Hi @weten2
I had PMR which became GCA for a year before diagnosis; also knee surgery for severed ligaments when I was in my late 20s. Both are painful conditions. The knee pain localized, the PMR body-wide from the neck down for me at least.
Did your physician diagnose your PMR? Have you spoken to her/him about your upcoming surgery and the impact it could have on your symptoms?
Are you currently taking prednisone?
Surgery can cause an inflammatory response in the body, but prednisone controls inflammation.
Maybe your doctor can consult with the surgeon and a rheumatologist as well and they can figure out the best course of action for you.
Good luck.
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Your doctor or surgeon should be able to tell you what the plan is for prednisone dosage approaching and after surgery, and what the plan is for pain control. Have you asked them?
What is a TKR and an IM MD?