Tender lymph glands

[Darcy2000]

I have PMR having been diagnosed in January 2019 . Currently on 15 mgs with a tapering schedule of 1 mg a month.Have been checked by my Rheumatologist for GCA and no evidence of it due to fact no temple tenderness or headaches Or vision issues and generally I feel very well . Daily activity and swimming so no complaints except for tenderness in base of skull and along jaw line where ( I researched) there are lymph nodes . I Can definitely live with this but just wondering any one else dealing with tender lymph glands and is sometimes a result of inflammation from PMR ?

[SnazzyD]

Raised lymph nodes are a bit like the ESR/CRP blood results in that they show something’s up but not specifically what it is, so assuming it’s PMR and going no further might miss something. Normally they can go up and down in response to various triggers, bacterial, viral and others. If they persist for more than a few weeks you ought to be checked out particularly if there are raised nodes elsewhere and/or you have unexplained weight loss. In the meantime, think about ear, nose, throat, sinus and dental symptoms that you may have, even mild.

[Darcy2000 in reply to SnazzyD]

Thanks for your input

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I agree with Snazzy - they do need checking out if they last. Some of the causes of PMR symptoms can involve the lymph nodes so it is important to mention them to your doctor.

[Blearyeyed]

You can suffer tender lymph glands for numerous reasons from infection , illnesses and dehydration .

The combination with pain and the base of the head can be an indicator of other health issues like Occipital Neuralgia , Recurrent Oral Bacteria ( even with good dental hygiene) and if you also suffer from Dry Mouth and Sore Throats and trouble swallowing things like Sicca Syndrome , Sjorgrens or other autoimmune activity or allergy hypersensitivity.

These things need further investigation if GCA has been ruled out , as various small changes or different medications can help to bring the symptoms under control.

Getting blood tests for Sjorgrens and Dry Mouth tests is helpful .

Getting your GP to consider Neuralgia and try you on the minimum dose of a nerve relaxant like Garbepentin or Pregbalin , or referring you to ENT or Neurology can get to the heart of this issue. Doctors often forget that just because you have been diagnosed with one illness it doesn't mean their work is over if you still have other symptoms that aren't being resolved by the treatment , you can have something else too.

It's good to politely , and gently , remind the little dears of this!😋

Keeping an eye on your triggers is very important with these illnesses .

Keeping your neck relaxed and taking care to keep your head , face and ears protected in the cold or wind.

Not opening your mouth and jaw too wide , carefully cleaning teeth with a softer brush .

Carefully brushing your hair and not putting your hair in tight , high styles with alot of clips or combs or wearing heavy earrings.

Increasing your fluid intake with mineral water and green tea and taking a vitamin and mineral supplement .

If you are able to use them garlic supplements help , and a spoon of local or Manuka honey in your probiotic yoghurt with your medication increases your antiviral and antiseptic levels and help reduce the size of lymph nodes.

If you have dry mouth , using saliva lozenges before you eat or a sharp sweet or chunk of pineapple before eating to promote saliva.

Taking Paracetamol if you feel mild pain beginning in the area straight away to stop the pain quicker and getting worse as you tense up.

Hope this helps

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Blearyeyed]

"Doctors often forget that just because you have been diagnosed with one illness it doesn't mean their work is over if you still have other symptoms that aren't being resolved by the treatment , you can have something else too."

Not least here because PMR isn't the disease - it is the name given to a set of symptoms and there are a lot of potential underlying causes. They MUST look closely because some of the rarer possible causes are rather nasty.

[Blearyeyed in reply to PMRpro]

Yes , your telling me !😋😁😂😂😂😘

[Darcy2000]

Wow so much information ... thanks for taking the time to share all these different aspects of my PMR and current health concerns