temporal arteritis but only 24?

[youngandworried]

Hi there,

Wondering if anyone could help. Over the past month I've been experiencing symptoms of shoulder and hip discomfort. These definitely haven't been severe but annoying. Worse as the day goes on.

Over the past 4/5 days I've developed a persistent headache. The headache is more towards the front but can be all over. It's quite dull. I don't have visually enlarged temporal arteries and the area isn't tender. I am getting a lot of tinnutis (ear ringing) that I haven't had before. I don't have any visual problems.

Due to my age (24) I've been dismissed really and I've been told I maybe have a virus, a migraine or tension headaches, but I'm really quite concerned about the possibility of temporal arteritis.

Thanks for your help.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Unlikely at your age, but certainly not totally impossible....and I can see why you are worried, some of the symptoms certainly sound very GCA like.

Have any blood tests been done, or have you been referred for any investigations - difficult I know at the moment. But any new headache must be checked.....if you aren’t getting any joy from GP then maybe a trip to A&E (ER) is called for.

[youngandworried in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks for your reply.

CRP was very mildly elevated but apparently not at a level they'd do anything about. Other bloods normal. They've just told me to take painkillers and wait it out.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to youngandworried]

Ok, I see you’re on the British Liver forum, has that been checked lately?

[youngandworried in reply to DorsetLady]

Yes I have NASH, recent bloods (2 months ago) just showed raised ALT/AST but better than last time.

[piglette]

I would have thought at your age it is highly unlikely that you have PMR or GCA, but I may be wrong. If you are worried I would talk to your GP.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

There is another even rarer condition that is very similar to GCA and which is found in young patients - Takayasu's arteritis. We had one lady who diagnosis was Takayasu's originally but one day she noticed it had been changed to GCA. When she asked why she was told it was because she was now over 50 ...