new symptoms-jaw pain and stiff neck

[barbthy]

Morning, I've been on 20 mg prednisone for 2 weeks and started 17.5 today - working towards 15 mg. Past couple weeks I have noticed bilateral jaw discomfort and stiff neck. Is this usual with PMR - not part of initial symptoms. I see my GP end of month

Thanks again for all the advice and help

[PMRpro Ambassador]

What sort of jaw pain? Is it there all the time or is when using your jaw, especially chewing, and does it go away when you stop the action?

[barbthy in reply to PMRpro]

No , not with chewing, it's just there

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to barbthy]

Then unless it gets worse with chewing I think it is not very likely to be GCA.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi,

Looking back at your previous posts, to me it seems you haven't been given the opportunity to allow a settled dose of Pred get to work. Original tapering regime from doctor was much too fast, and since then you seem to have lurched from one bad place to another.

Most patients find the most successful way of treating PMR is to stay on the original dose of Pred (which should always be higher than you actually need) for about a month. That gives the Pred chance to really get control of the inflammation that has built up in your body before diagnosis. Once that's happened, your daily dose can then keep the new inflammation that occurs every day subdued. You then taper to find the lowest dose that can achieve that.

However, if the initial dose is not high enough, nor taken for long enough, then the "new" daily inflammation Just increases the level already in your body and adds more pain. Hope that makes sense.

As PMRpro says if you could describe your jaw ache a bit more it might help.

[barbthy in reply to DorsetLady]

I was to reduce from 20 to 15 today but following your advice and dropping to 17.5- how long should I stay on that dose? My GP is ok with my tweaking doses

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to barbthy]

Hi again,

Personally I'm not sure I would reduce given the circumstances, but as we're not really sure whether it's PMR related, then if you go down to 17.5mg suggest you stay on it for a month. That's the way I went all the way down until I got to below 7mg and then used a slower plan to get from one dose to the next.

Back to your jaw - have you seen dentist to check teeth are okay - there was a post on here last week, very similar symptoms and GP was convinced it was due to teeth grinding during sleep. Just a thought. And have you tried painkillers for your jaw, if so, any difference?

If you reduce, and get even more problems (maybe not in the first couple of days, that's likely to be steroid withdrawal) then don't continue until you've checked with doctor again.

Good luck.

[barbthy in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks, I agree and will stay on 17.5 for a month and hope it will do the job

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to DorsetLady]

DL has said it all.

[Whittlesey]

Would say, check cartoid artery. Have GCA, 2012, Doppler and cat scan showed dissected left cartoid artery. I did have pain there. Important. Almost fully healed, no stent. There is a remaining flap.

Would check this with inflammatory diseases we are dealing with. All my best, Whittlesey