PMR vs ARTHRITIS in your knees

@gailg I took BPC 157 for awhile in my years prior to PMR. I had knee replacement and thought I would try peptides. I took it with CJC 1295. I had it compounded at a pharmacy ordered through my Dr. I took both for about a year. It got hard to get both medications due to non-FDA approved. I had my IGF levels checked when I started and when I finished. They were up slightly. I decided it was not worth all the hassle. Plus I could not tell it was making any difference. Although I had no reaction to either as well.

@gailg I have not, but I humbly suggest trying PT before adding more meds. I've been pleasantly surprised by how many aches PT has helped with.

About a month after I tapered off of taking Prednisone for 1.5 years, I began developing some bilateral aches in my knees, wrists, and shoulders. They were similar to PMR aches, but not completely. My PMR aches included muscles and these aches were different. I was taking extended release Tylenol to try to control the pain, but it wasn't working. I discussed with my rheumy and she is suspecting osteoarthritis. She agreed that based on my symptoms, it didn't seem like PMR pain. Tomorrow, I will be getting my knees, hands, and shoulders x-rayed to determine if osteoarthritis could be the culprit. In the meantime, I am taking celebrex. I'm so happy that my rheumy didn't recommend Prednisone. It seems to be helping a bit, but I'm not completely pain free. I'll report back after results.

@ropnrose my dr suggested Tylenol for Arthritis…..😉

@tweetypie13 I've been taking the extended release Tylenol for 4 months. Not much relief. I'm getting some from the CELEBREX.

@jabrown0407 where are you? I’m in USA, and only hyaluronic acid injections in knees.

I works well for me. Left knee.
Every six months.
Steroid injections didn’t help me.

@stonewheel I am in the USA (Texas) as well. My shoulder Ortho will give me hyaluronic acid in my shoulders if I private pay for the drug at the drug store and bring it to him. It costs be about $125 for each injection. The USA is the only country in the world that has not approved hyaluronic acid for shoulder OA.

In discriminating between the pain of PMR and the pain of osteoarthritis, it helps to get x-rays and if available MRIs of the affected joints. As I began to taper down on Prednisone, I wrongly believed the pain I felt in my hips and lower spine was PMR and I delayed the taper accordingly. I was wrong to do so. X-rays showed the pain was from advanced osteoarthritis and spinal stenosis. I have resumed the taper, using acetaminophen to relieve the joint pain.