Am I suffering with GCA?

[Yogurt55]

Hi all I was diagnosed with PMR 3 month ago and currently on 12m of pred. Over the last week or so I have been suffering with, I would say not painful but pressure like sensation in my right upper cheek / jaw. Also at times I get a paint but not at all bad on the right side of my head at the back of my ear. Some time it feet like my right eye is burly but again not at all bad (or is that just psychological). Do people who suffer with GCA start with mild symptoms or dose it start with fully blown pains? I had some of theses symptom in the early stages of PMR and I spoke with my GP, this was dismissed as I did not have any of the key symptoms and was told well it is treated with Pred which you are already on.

If I may be suffering with GCA and I am already on Pred is this half dealing with GCA and I am not suffering with painful symptoms because of this ? What may be linked is my PRM condition is not the best, not painful but low level acing and just not 100%.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Difficult to say - but I do wish GPs could get past the idea that every patient appears with all the symptoms straight away or ever if it comes to that. A small number of patients have no warning at all, they just lose their sight. Others have terrible headache, others don;t. There are no rules.

Is the jaw pain made worse by chewing?

[Yogurt55 in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for the reply. I don't really get in increased pain/ sensation when I chew.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Yogurt55]

"I don't really ..." - what do you mean by that? No pain but a "tired jaw" maybe?

Jaw pain with chewing is felt to be a significant sign of GCA. One set of experts have suggested testing patients with chewing gum for 3 mins.

However, being on the dose you are on will reduce any symptoms unless they get a lot worse. Keep an eye on them - and if the blurry vision keeps on or gets worse don't hestitate to go to an optician who has equipment to examine the back of your eye, poor blood flow to the optic nerve can cause it to be larger and paler at the point where it joins the retina. That isn't conclusive though - any real concerns, go to A&E.

[Lovebikes]

I have PMR and can relate to that 'pressure' feel rather than pain in the jaw / temple area. I did see a rheumatologist who did a full assessment, feeling veins and blood flow etc but not things like scans and biopsies. My blood ESR and CRP markers have been consistently low since my initial high readings when PMR was diagnosed and I started steroids. He was confident that it was not GCA. The pressure feelings have since gone away. Just my experience but hopefully helpful.

[Hellyowl]

My GCA came in slowly. I thought I had trapped a nerve in my neck because I was doing a lot if driving every day. The pain slowly got worse behind my ears and my jaw went stiff. I would suddenly loose colour in my face and go really grey my colleagues told me. I did not have PMR and was not taking any medication though.

[Yogurt55 in reply to Hellyowl]

Thank you all for you help. I am now sat at the GP,s to see what is going on