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Acute knee pain along side possible flare
I have my Rheumatologist stumped. I've had acute knee pain since Aug. 20 and cannot bear weight which makes it difficult to walk without holding on to things. I'm missing work.
I've had an x-ray via Urgent Care which shows meniscal calcium crystals. Rheumo doesn't believe this is enough to cause the degree of pain I'm experiencing. I thought maybe he could drain my knee to relieve pressure and analyze the crystals. He determined that there wasn't enough swelling/fluid to get a specimen. I showed him a very tender spot on my knee and he's taking a gander that it's Pes Anserine Bursitis and administered a Cortisone injection. He also ordered an MRI in case that's not the answer. It'll be a week out to get that authorized.
It's really hard for him and me to figure where I'm at with the taper. I'm staying at 7 mg. until we can sort this knee thing out. He said that he is tempted to bang up the Prednisone but knows I don't do well with that. And the PMR symptoms (with the exception of my left hip at night) seem mild at this time compared to the knee. I may have withdrawal symptoms still going on. No wonder because my CRP is up again and my Cortisol is 3.5.
Anybody got a similar story?
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@jeff97 But I do wonder if they do present acute for some people.
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1 Reaction@pah17 I just checked Google, and it says that if the crystals stay attached to the tissues in the joint, then they don't cause problems. But if they break loose and get into the fluid of the joint, the white blood cells can attack the crystals and cause inflammation and pain.
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1 Reaction@jeff97
I'm guessing the severity of crystals could elevate your WBC count. I had more of a wrist problem once resulting in a visit to the ER because my PCP ordered bloodwork along with xrays. She sent me to the ER because my WBC count was upwards of 25,000. CRP was also elevated. She thought I might have an infection. Then I saw a hemaologist. No definite diagnosis was made other than 'rheumatic'.
The perplexed ER Dr. ordered a 60mg medrol IV which resolved the pain I had. It was in 2019, 7 months into my pmr diagnosis.
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4 ReactionsI am also at 7mg Prednisone and have knee pain. I do hang on to things when I walk, but can walk without hanging on. I am most interested in what you find out.
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1 Reaction@eparnold0219
Hope to have some new news soon.
I’m 14 months in to this at currently at 4.5 mg, down from 60 in July 2025. I had a tripping fall back in June and was diagnosed with Moderate acute or subacute strain of the proximal left hamstring tendon origins with ischial bursitis and Moderate strain of the left quadratus femoris muscle. Because this affected my gate so much my left knee started hurting. This knee was replaced back in 2020. I had my right knee replaced in Feb ‘26. It is still in the process of healing. Tylenol takes the pain away but it has difficult distinguishing between PMR and /or surgery recovery and overuse!
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