Wondering if some of this pain is from residual biopsy

[twriller]

In pictures I've seen of biopsies of other people they were in the hairline a much smaller. My vascular surgeon went up the side of my ear and did a rather large incision but he said that way he'd be sure to get more and wouldn't have to do the other side. It was positive but it looks a little extreme to me and now I'm wondering if it is contributing to me having pain there and up in my head? What do you think?

[Marijo1951]

I had a positive biopsy too. I didn't take a picture but I do recall that it was just above my right ear, just under the hairline, and I don't think it was as long as yours. It was sore for a while locally, but didn't cause me any pain elsewhere.

[Hidden]

I have "just" got pmr so haven't had a biopsy but having had surgery that goes through nerves and muscles I know it can be very sensitive for a while. It does look vivid at the moment but scars fade and at least you got a positive result. Once my staples had been removed and the scar was healed enough to gently "rub" it I found it calmed down. And I don't get much of a sticky scar.

When all is said and done, I am merely sympathising really as I don't have gca and haven't had a biopsy. I hope it all feels better soon. It is early days and that area is probably sensitive due to gca anyway I should imagine. 🌻

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I can't imagine you don't have nerve damage from the incision - but that applies to any surgical approach, large or small. And it hurts! I have some interesting stabs of pain around my pacemaker site! They were awful until the pain clinic lady provided some local pain relief. I don't know if that just interupted the pain signals - that is a possibility too.

[Hidden]

My biopsy was inside the hair line and not very big. It didn’t hurt. That was in my 40’s n was negative. Prednisone for a few weeks n headache went away.

No biopsy when GCA flailed up in 2015. I had jaw claudication sores on my scalp and r temporal pain. I had been taking prednisone for PMR n they bumped me up.

They said no biopsy due to being on prednisone already.

[Hidden]

Ps your incision looks a bit smaller than the one they removed my melanoma. It was done in 2018 n the nerves are still sensitive and sore when I rub or touch it. I found out we have lots of nerve endings in our cheeks ...mine was a bit longer and right in the dip of my cheek.

[SheffieldJane]

I think you deserve a proper medical explanation from your surgeon e.g. was there anything unusual about your biopsy and is the pain you are experiencing to be expected?

[SnazzyD]

Mine is about the same length but back in the hairline and nowhere near my facial nerves. Nerves are often not the same once incised and pain in incisions can be there for a good year or so. I think mine took 18 months to get to the mostly numb stage.

[polymy]

My scar was about 4 inches long. It started in the hairline and ended just midway in front of my ear. It’s hardly visible now.

[Daylily2000]

My incision was about that long but up in the hairline, and YES it hurt like H*** for a very long time (months). This was last Feb. and just now feeling normal. My biopsy was negative, and no further headache symptoms.

[prunus]

Like you when my was done it was in a similar position. Mine seemed to affect my sight and was disturbing my vision for a long time after. I certainly think it looks like it is affecting you in that way.