I have had a vein pain on the left side of my brain for a while. I mentioned it to an eye doctor and to a vascular doctor who is treating me for varicose veins. No one knew anything.
I finally went to the general practitioner and she said I could have temporal arteritis. It is so scary. I am on 20mg prednisone but I am a little panicky that it might not be enough. I have an appointment to see a vascular doctor on Thursday the 9th- not soon enough.
What should I be concerned with? I still feel the pain a little bit on the side.
I have seen an eye doctor because I have those eye floaters. He saw licking on both eyes but didn't make a big deal plus he didn't know about the danger of temporal arteritis. I have had back stiffness for years and years and also around my neck so I always thought to see a chiropractor but it never goes away. I thought it was my spine so I have an appointment with a spine dr made before I was told about this disease.
Hello PMR Forum I am new here.
New here! GCA advice please...
Is this possibly GCA again?
Newbie possibly with GCA
Am I worried about GCA for nothing?
If your GP suspects it may be GCA, then
a. she should have prescribed a higher dose, 40mg is recommended in guidelines, until a definite diagnosis can made and
b. It should be treated as a medical emergency, so yes ideally sooner than 9th, but that is quicker than some manage.
Have to say very surprised your eye doctor knew nothing of TA/GCA…very odd.
Personally, I’m not totally convinced it is GCA, but it obviously needs to be ruled out.
Do you have any other classic symptoms of GCA -
Raised ESR or CRP levels (markers of inflammation in body)
Persistent, severe head pain, usually in your temple area.
Scalp tenderness.
Jaw pain when you chew or open your mouth wide.
Fever.
Fatigue.
Unintended weight loss.
Vision loss or double vision, particularly in people who also have jaw pain.
Bilateral pain in shoulders.
Please let us know how you get on, but obviously if things suddenly deteriorate then you need to visit ED as a matter of urgency.
I have the pain in the temple area- I call it bein pain because it feels like a vein throbbing- not a headache.Usually sleepy and very tired at night.
No pain innthe shoulders but it hurts to stretch my arm to the side. Like there is a muscle stuck.
No jaw pain
My left eye is weaker and sometimes it feels strange like it is wet or something.
If it’s one sided then less likely to be GCA (won’t say it can’t be, because it could).
However from my own experience and all I’ve read about GCA, I am still a bit doubtful - but any new headache should be investigated- and at least your GP has considered it. There is obviously something amiss, but tbh I’m not sure what.
As I said please let us know outcome and fingers crossed it’s not GCA or anything as serious.