I have the same issue. I set my alarm for 30 minutes early so I can take a pain pill. I sleep for another 30 minutes and wake up without so much pain.

I had bursitis in my shoulder and my hip. Ended up with steroid joint injections. I would think it is common with MCTD!
Mary Ann

Sorry to hear about your hip pain, Michelle. I recently had hip pain, not as bad as yours. My GP said it was bursitis.

Hope you feel better.

I had what I thought was chronic hip pain for about 4 months, but my doctor told me it was lower back pain. It is now finally gone (for now). My doctor ordered more blood tests and my enzyme levels in my muscles are elevated, which says to me Polymyositis. The rheumy offered Prednisone, but I opted for another blood test in 2 weeks to monitor the condition because the pain has abated.

Sometimes it was nuisance pain, other times it was extreme pain.

I hope you feel better!
Gabrielle

I had no idea the occasional hip pain I had could be associated MCTD. Mine weren't as bad as yours but will last a couple to a few days and will go away. It's quite painful when I walk, so I walk with a limp. I haven't seen my Rheumy in quite some time; maybe it's time I go for a visit..

I hope everyone feels better!!

-Marianne

Thanks everyone Rhemy ordered hip x-ray and also mentioned bursitis its feeling better with xtra prednisone the wonder drug lol so I figure its just the MCTD ?? -michelle

These unexpected joint issues are all a part of MCTD, I've had the hip and joint pain. They leave on their on and reoccur when you least expect it. Right now my right hand and both ball joint have been hurting for about a month. Prednisone, Plaquenil and Gabapentin helps along with Aleve.
we can make it as long as we realize that "At least we have a measure of Health most days".

I was having hip problems before i was diagnosed. my gp said it was bursitis from overuse. he gave me a steroid shot into the joint which took care of it, with rest. I think i was already developing the disease at that time but it was another year before diagnosis. i don't like steroids, but feel more comfortable with the injections into the spot that hurts, rather than oral steroids going through my whole system. That's probably just something in my own head, as i guess once it's injected, it can circulate through the body as well... but it makes me feel better about taking them.
i was playing squash at that time though, and being 55 and fairly unfit, it probably WAS an overuse injury... :-)

Right before I was diagnosed, (in fact, I took some bloodwork that showed a high ANA to the orthopedic doctor) I had burstitis in my shoulder and hip. The next year or so, I developed plantar fascitis in both feet. Then I developed inflammation in my back. In 3 years, I had 11 or 12 cortisone shots in my joints. And part of the time I was on oral steroids. The Drs kept telling me the shots would not have a systemic effect. Bull! I gained 10 to 15 lb with each one. Some of which I would lose, but not all. I am now 70 pounds overweight. The shots did help the pain. Now they say my joint pain is from my weight. Excuses, excuses. It is from MCTD.
Mary Ann

Yeah, MT-- it is definitely the MCTD. One bit of literature I stumbled across recently said that pain in the hip, specifically, is pretty frequent with MCTD.

In fact, I think the steroid injections are pretty dangerous; someone told me not to do it more than four or five times because you run the risk of screwing up the bone near the injection site.

My hip pain kind of runs into the Post Phlebetic syndrome from my blood clot and some lower back pain/sciatica. Hard to tell them apart sometimes, but definitely very bad on some days. The worst days, I use a cane, but that's mostly just for standing up and sitting down; I tend to leave it in odd places around the house! But I only need it maybe one day out of every six weeks or so.

Generally, whatever I use the most hurts the most. If I body board for 25 minutes, my lower back and triceps will be screaming in about 30 hours. I also find a bit more weakness in general; I have to really command my arms to paddle and my legs to work. Only going out on small to medium days, only stay out about 25 minutes, maybe get four or five rides. Been out 8 times, three times I turned around and came back because it was either too big or I didn't feel up to it.

It happens to me all the time, but seldom last for more than 3 days or so. I did get AVN in my right hip and had to have it replaced in 96. My left hip will hurt so bad for several days I will have to use a crutch, no mechanism of injury, it just starts hurting so bad i cant walk on it. Then one day it gets better. My right should had started similarly 3 months ago or so, limiting my movement and ability. I assumed it was the same but has yet to go away and I am now on dilaudid for the pain. I had it xrayed and was fine, now I am going soon for the MRI, I was told mctd patients and RA patients can have several or one ligament or tissue tear that require an operation without having hurt themselves, In my case it can also be AVN. So my advice is if the pain continues to come back regularly go to a specialist anyway.
Robert

And here I thought I was the only one....LOL My Rheumy sent me for physio and it has helped, mostly stretches keeps it flexible. I notice it mostly if I have slept on that side too long. Since I started doing all the stretches it is much better......but I will say mine hurts more like tendon or ligament than joint pain.

@ Cat, yes, agree about the danger of the injections. i've had them in hips, wrists, thumb and one shoulder. my GP says he won't give more than three in any one spot because the damage is too great after that. So far the most i've had is two in any one location...