I was recently in Spain visiting my 95 yr old aunt and enjoyed the warmth after a long hard winter here in Scotland. I was diagnosed in Dec and from 60mg prednisolone I am now on 12.5, going down to ten mg on Thurs. I was really surprised how well I did walking along the prom in Spain however I have since had to go to the dentist with infected root which has been cleaned out and antibiotics put in, going back in ten days to finish the job. I have been having jaw ache which is not surprising on the tooth side but the other side has been clicking when I eat and is uncomfortable. It isn't the pain when the GCA first started so was wondering if anyone else has experienced this.
I was really quite chuffed today as I cleaned the shower room by myself today!!!
Sounds like you have a Temporomandibular joint problem. This can happen after a dentistry, particularly if you’ve been holding your mouth wide for a while. I and my daughter have had this from dental work. I’ve also had tmj problems since being on Pred which I think is due to the weakening effects Pred has on the muscles. For things like that I like to go to an osteopath or chiropractor. My grumbling tmj issues have also responded well to Bowen therapy.
December 2017? If so that is amazing progress but GCA is unlikely to be gone. I wouldn’t taper down anymore until the whole infected root is completely dealt with. Are you on Alendronic Acid or similar for your bones? You need to see the doctor as a matter of urgency if you are ( side effects) Watch your general health carefully for any return of GCA symptoms.
Dental treatment can really knock you about.
Well done re the shower room. I have delegated that job to my long suffering husband and am in no hurry to take it back nor wrestling with the duvet cover or cleaning the windows. 😉
Yes I am on Alenronic Acid and daily tablets as well as I have osteopenia in my back. I have been to doctor but will make another appointment if it does not improve over the next few days. Thank you
Long story but ends with something that may be helpful - I spent weeks with intermittent ear pain, initially there was jaw pain as well. Thinking I was in need of a root canal I was put on antibiotics. The dentist and endodontist couldn't find anything wrong and sent me to my primary doctor. Another round of antibiotics. They'd knock the pain out until a week after I stopped taking them. She sent me to the ENT. Meanwhile I saw the rheumatologist who did extra bloodwork and ruled out anything of his concern. I also see a cranial sacral therapist who sent me to a chiropractor. The vertebrae in my neck were apparently rotated. Meanwhile the ENT checked for TMJ and found that the jaw was not closing symmetrically. He moved his finger slightly as I closed and the pain in my ear is gone! It was almost as if he moved it back into place. I think the difficulty in diagnosis was because I don't grind my teeth. All of this leads my thought process to head toward the dental work caused the jaw pain/muscle soreness.
Well done for shower room success. I'm trying to motivate myself to get stuff done in my house. The mind is willing but the arms are weak haha. Love the idea of strolling along a Spanish promenade too, nice to get away from our Scottish weather, isn't it. Hope your jaw problem is resolved soon.
Last Sunday I was in deepest central Scotland at the Podenco Play Day - windy and not very warm but OK in the sun, Today I see it is to be 21C in Edinburgh - why wasn't it that last week? Back home - and 25C today. What a relief!
And I cleaned the balcony so it was fit to sit on!!!!!
Edinburgh in the warm sun is a thing to behold. It often happens very early in the year. I have been lucky visiting my old haunts for my May birthday over the years. I was brought up there. Spoils you a bit for anywhere else in the U.K.
My daughter has a small "garden" plot at the back of her flat in Rosyth - but you have to go out and round to get to it. I have sat out there in the sun and it is glorious. Or a friend's garden in her hot tub. I think we were rather more aware of the weather as we were travelling - being at home with your own heating etc is very different.
The Christmas Market at Princess Street Gardens is great too. Happy to settle for a dry day there in December. We were lucky to go on a dry day at Christmas with my youngest granddaughter and grandson. Fun fun fun 😊🎄🎅
We have gone a few times but it is much improved now that it is spread over a larger bit of the gardens. A few years ago we felt like sheep being herded. Could only go in one direction it was so busy and squashed. Didn't go after that for a couple of years until we heard about how it was spread out more 👍 big improvement
I’m definitely grind my teeth so jaw pain isn’t unusual for me. But several root canals really kicked the discomfort to a higher level. I hear the TMJ clicking and popping. I’ve improved by massaging the area in front of my ears every night before bed. Plus an area near there, sort of diagonally up from the corner of my mouth just below the prominent part of the cheekbone.
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Progress and a bit of fun 
Update on progress
progress report
Flare, increased prednisolone: progress to date
