I asked about this in my "RA made me come home" post but I am making a new thread to hopefully get some feedback.
My hips are really acting up. My Left leg is not swinging right in the hip socket. It makes me walk with a stiff Left leg. This in turns makes me have to work harder to bring my right leg around - if that makes sense. This has put pressure on my right knee. I am hoping this is a flare and not permanent damage. I hope to rest my hips and it will go away
Chiro's are easy to get into (no 2 month waits!) - if your hip is out (or partially out), a chiro can help you get it back in. So can an orthopedic surgeon! (Remember, you are in charge of your care - if a procedure sounds too scarey just tell'em NO)
It had such a sudden onset ... it does sound 'mechcanical' to me.
Thanks Marian. I am going to see what a day of rest will do. I also am supposed to go see the rd as soon as Enbrel comes in. Wed. or Thurs. I figure if it is not better by then, he can refer me. Right now it is so painful, I don't want anyone to touch it. I just want to rest it. It feels inflamed. Maybe it is inflammation like Joonie said.My hips have at times felt like they weren't locking and I would feel like I was going to fall and yes, since everything is aligned it can bother your knees, etc. Can you call your doc and ask?
If you can't get into the doc, go to the ER...I didn't know about the socket dying like Christine said...that would get me to the ER or my RD fast. Cristene, It is not out of socket or I would know it. It is just not fitting right Yes, the sitting in the car will cause a problem. I have a problem more with stiffness in the car than anything else so I try not to do long drives; even to SF can have me stiff as a board. Isn't it a crock of sh....t that you can't do such simple things without little reminders ..... I have to admit though that I have a really good reaction with mtx and I have significantly less problems. Not all gone, but way better. I hope everyone can get the same relief from something....Rox, what about the pred itself? One of my dearest friends took pred for a couple of months due to an intestinal problem and a few years later had to have a hip replacement. She's well recovered, but her doc attributed the bad hip to the pred use.Please get your hip(s) checked out. As my hip joints were eroding, I felt stiffness and soreness that I really tried to put off as mere "aches and pains." To make a long story short and trying not to scare the daylights out of you, my RA was so aggressive that in 4 short years, my hip joints were completely destroyed. I'm guilty of not working closely with my RD, so keep that in mind! Get checked Roxy!
Mike.....I've been on Prednisone a long time and I've never heard of it being the cause of bad hips. Certainly not for a couple of months usage. It does cause bone erosion, but that's with longterm use. Sounds funny to me, but I guess anythings possible.
Prednisone Junkie
I thought of you Allen. I was hoping to get your feedback. I am going to discuss with my rd this week. It is one of those things that I can't ignore. It truly made me not be able to do ANYTHING. I can't deal with that. It hurts just to walk out to the car and really hurts to go up my steps. The darvocett has helped but I guarantee you, I will talk to rd and get it checked out. It worries me. I have been on prednisone a year. You don't think that is long enough for damage? My hips and butt is where most of my pain always is. I have erosions on my pelvis. That is why it scares me. Thanks.
Rox,
Ya know, we all know that the meds work differently on each of us, but I would find it hard to believe that with the amt. of Pred you've been taking and the length of time you've been taking it, that it would be the source of your pain. My opinion and my opinion only, but I think it's the disease. My whole butt used to hurt like that and my RD never batted an eye about my being on Prednisone. He told me that I had a very aggressive RA and the meds I was on was not phasing it.
That is exactly what my rd says. Well he doesn't say its not phasing it, it has got some better, I was in pretty much agony most of the time when I went to see him and got my dx. RD says my meds are not controlling itStairs are also a struggle....sometimes worse than others.
I also agree that it's highly unlikely that it's dislocated. I'm seen people with dislocated joints before and I can assure you that you would not be sitting there talking to us on the computer if that was your problem....you'd be in the ER.
Counting down the days with you until Enbrel!!! Hang in there.
Lovie
Thanks Lovie. I am walking better today but still pain. I guess it is the ra progression
Brett called last night and the first thing he said is "did the pharmacy call". We are BOTH obsessing over getting this thing started. It is so frustrating when I call the rd office and they act like - you just called last week, why are you calling so often
Since Vioxx went off the market, I've been on only Methotrexate (other than a couple months of Celebrex that didn't work and had bad side effects for me). Will be starting Remicade next week.
I'm thankful, though, that (most of the time) I am ambulatory! By the way, I'm new here - glad to meet all of you!
Aunt Rhoda. WELCOME. It is wonderful to get new input !!!! Tell us about your diagnosis and yourself. We all have very different stories but it is nice when someone relates to you. Sounds like you have the exact same hip issues. I hope Remicade works for you. I don't know why my rd would not give me a cortosone shot. I asked for one in the butt. Both my hips are in pain and the joints where my sit bones are. I will be on Enbrel soon. Maybe we will have success stories to share. WELCOME. You will love this board.My 45 year old brother is looking at a double due to OA. He's in the middle of a flare and his GP gave him pain patches,( and refered him for hip replacement). He sounds a bit happier now.
His rheumatologist left town last year. I've been nagging him to find a new one as well as to make a date with the ortho surgeon. He has never had predinsone or a cortisone injection - his GP said his sed rate is high so there is inflammation. Seems like he should try predinsone or a cortisone injection instead of a double hip replacement at 45.
Sorry for digressing Roxy- the hip thing set me off.
WELCOME AUNT RHONDA!!! Have you met Aunt Lisa? (No; really...we have one here
Glad your here.
Welcome Aunt Rhoda!Wow! Thanks for the welcome! I'm 59, have had RA for 6 years now, along with some osteo (of course). I'm also overweight; had lost 105 pounds on Weight Watchers, still had about 50 to go - but...my arthritis has been so bad lately I've been up almost every night, and what do I do all night? I watch TV and I eat. I've gained back 22 pounds.I get so mad at myself but I admit, the food almost takes my mind off the fact that I'm up all night and in pain.
Good luck with the Enbrel!
I don't have a computer at home (yet) so I can only do this from work. And - my boss is calling me - 'bye for now.
45 seems very young for hip replacement. I didn't know that OA flares. Learn something new every day. My life is digressing Marian.