PMR and preexisting knee pain

How extraordinary your knee pain preceded your PMR diagnosis. I had a similar situation. I contracted a bad case of the covid in July 16 + months ago.
In the months following, I began to feel poorly to some extent. Shortly after I began to experience knee pain and bilateral shin pain. I was hyper focused on my knee believing that an inevitable knee replacement was at hand. A trip to A&E with the belief that this was possibly sepsis turned out negative. Unfortunately the doctors did not address the extremely high CRP level and sent me home. Night sweats, fevers, tachycardia, and malaise a second trip to A&E, I was admitted. I in fact had pseudo gout and was also diagnosed with PMR. My Rheumatologist is convinced that both are part of the PMR flare. So yes, more than likely your knee pain is part and partial of your diagnosis. PMR is a peculiar disease. I mention “Covid” and although I will not get into it on this forum, it is now believed that PMR is viral driven. I can attest to this. There are loads of peer reviewed articles online connecting the covid virus and possibly the vaccine, driving everything from a dysfunctional immune system and wreaking havoc, which manifest as a sundry of diseases to hijacking the skeletal structure and much much more. The research is coming out in droves. Long Covid clinics are cropping up all over and the wait time is 6 months to a year. This speaks for itself as to what this virus has done to human beings health. Clearly this forum speaks to the various manner in which PMR manifests in each of us outside of a “textbook” presentation. It is a bizarre malady indeed.

I was treated for PMR in 2016. It reoccurred in 2023. My dosage was down to 5 MG in July 2024 and my CPR came back at 0 at one point, but, fluctuated some. I was attending Orange Theory Fitness and think I injured my shoulders in October.

The pain was very bad in my shoulders, but, nowhere else to speak of. My last CPR came back at 13. My Rheumatologist increased my Prednisone to 10 MG, which, knocked back the pain.

As a precaution, I went to see the Orthopedic doctor and he diagnosed me with bilateral rotator cuff injuries. It is hard to tell sometimes where the pain is coming from. I'll do PT and hope that I can get my CPR back to 5 MG.

I'm glad to have found this support group and appreciate your knowledge and experiences.

This is all so very true.
I had long Covid for over a year, started to feel better, and then got hit by another virus? Took me a month to get over that within weeks I developed PMR.
Now on the subject of knee pain. I was in the process of setting up surgery for a torn meniscus, when this hit.
I put everything on hold and just wanted to get we’ll, as I’m dropping in mgs of prednisone my knee pain has returned along with other joint pain I had before PMR, obviously masked by heavier doses of prednisone.
I’m only down to 10.5 mgs, so I think a slow go from here, and that’s ok as long as I eventually get off and better! 🤞

Hello KC,
I know how personal this journey is for most of us as well as a difficult one to navigate. I, being in the medical profession, have found out just how differently PMR is playing out for so many, not to mention the huge upswing in PMR diagnosis post Covid. I implore you to do your own research. There are answers out there. I believe all of us can find a better path to better health. For some, that may entail a lifetime of steroids, but they work despite the long term side effects. But there are newer medications that are promising.
There is also alternative methods including functional medicine which in fact has been around a very long time. Scientists are also researching how the vagus nerve (ANS) is playing a role in our immune system and some very promising devices are having a positive effect on patients.
I wish you well.

Thank you Patti! 🤞

Thank you for this helpful info. Vagus nerve? Have to explore.

I unfortunaately had a flu vaccine in my left arm without knowing my symptoms were PMR at the time. That vaccine esaserbated my symptoms. There is No Doubt about that. I am now on prednisolone and the left arm continues to be my worst spot. I did have a bad reaction to the flu shot. Had to stay home sick the day of Thanksgiving.

This is a very nice support group. I also participate in a Facebook support group called Living with PMR. I find that helpful as well. There are members form other countres like the UK, Canada and Australia.