Scalp tenderness when on low dose pred

[Agavegirl]

Diagnosed with GCA in May 2020 I’m now down to 2.5 mg pred daily. I’ve had occasional scalp tenderness off and on since my original diagnosis but at the moment my head is really sore. Can I take ibruprofen? I’m also taking omeprazole daily and aspirin every other day. If not ibruprofen then any other ideas.

[baxternoni]

My neuro- ophthalmologist told us that it is normal to have occasional pain, but if the pain last for a few days, then I was having a flare. I am no longer on prednisone, but I recently had a flare (temporal headache) I took 5mg for three days and it went away. I am on Actemra. hope this helps.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Tender scalp is a classic GCA symptom - and as you are less than 2 years since diagnosis/treatment would say as does baxternoni more likely a flare. If that’s the case then more Pred required, not Ibruprofen

[SnazzyD]

I’ve had the same where the scalp sometimes felt tender over the years of GCA but nothing like before diagnosis. I get it before my hair sheds and during my Pred years i had severe hair loss twice and a few heavy sheddings. I get it when my hair gets too long and needs cutting. It’s all mostly on the crown when it’s hair related. Other times I’ve thought I was having a flare but it was tension in the sternokleidomastoid muscles in the neck which made the scalp tender in more GCA areas. I remember with GCA my scalp was so sore lying on it was uncomfortable.

healthline.com/health/stern...

Do you have any other symptoms? Not just pain. It is worth getting medical advice because it could be GCA or something else like shingles for example.

[Agavegirl in reply to SnazzyD]

Thanks. I don’t have any other symptoms. I think I’ll take paracetamol for the moment and see how things go.

[jinasc]

Worth trying - spread your fingers through your hair and gently tug all over. Each hair has a muscle - this releases the tension in those tiny little muscles. Bit like Shiatsu.

[Grammy80]

I am a GCAer of two years myself. I hope you don't wait to 'see what happens' and see a doctor to find out if you have a flare. Sometimes you cannot undo the damage of a flare, and it hardly seems worth it. 💖

[Agavegirl in reply to Grammy80]

Thanks for your response. I have an appointment (face to face!) with my rheumy next week. I’ll report back.

[Grammy80 in reply to Agavegirl]

Good luck and please do!!💖