? GCA.

[Maxgate2]

Two weeks ago I went to the dentist as my lower back tooth on the left side and my left jaw was painful. I was getting a mild headache and earache too . The dentist took two X-rays which showed nothing untoward. At present my eyes are very dry in spite of regular drops, my lower and upper teeth on the left are sore from time to time and I am waking up with a low grade headache which usually disappears by about 10am. My symptoms are mild but not going away. Fortunately, I have a review with my rheumatologist in ten days time. Am I safe to wait?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

When you say your left jaw is painful - all the time? While eating that then improves when you stop?

Never say never - although I doubt anything there would get most rheumies excited - but it could be a TMJ problem. Did the dentist not suggest that? Everything has to start somewhere but GCA headache is usually always here and severe;

mayoclinic.org/diseases-con....

[Janstr]

When I got GCA, I had jaw pain & couldn’t eat at all until the middle of the day. I also had had a low grade headache that just wouldn’t go away (I’d had it for 3 weeks). You could go to your GP & get a CRP &ESR blood test which will often be raised with GCA. It would also need useful information for your rheumatologist

[Maxgate2 in reply to Janstr]

Thank you so much for getting back to me. I hope that you are doing well now. Did you have very dry eyes and extremely sensitive teeth? I woke this morning with a low/moderate grade headache. I am not taking anything as I want to see whether and when it will go away spontaneously. It is such a good idea to get a CRP and ESR. However getting an appointment with my GP before the one I already have with my rheumatologist next week would be a miracle!

[Janstr in reply to Maxgate2]

Yes, I did have very sensitive teeth on one side. My headache was mainly on the other side & I didn’t have dry eyes. I went to see my GP’s partner (as mine was away) as I thought I had a bad sinus infection.

[Plantingwithfaith]

Good morning ! Blood test for sure to see if your inflammation markers are high. I was diagnosed with vertigo and TMJ before they did a blood test. Your eyesight is always at risk with GCA so be diligent and proactive! Good luck.

[Maxgate2 in reply to Plantingwithfaith]

Thank you so much for your advice. I shall make sure to get some blood tests.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Maxgate2]

They aren't ALWAYS raised - you can have GCA without raised markers.

[pata63]

Just reading your story has made my teeth hurt. 😒

I've had problems with tooth pain and facial pain on my left side. Always left side. Associated with migraines and/or TGN. I've had the problem for more than a decade before PMR, and it has confounded any efforts at diagnosis as one thing or the other. When I had blurred vision in my left eye once early on in my PMR journey my GP sent me immediately to the eye clinic at the public hospital to check for GCA. And I mean immediately as in "go now". An hour or two to wait, but I was given the all clear on the basis of ultrasound and detailed exam. That was pre Covid and medical things have been in disarray since, but the need for prompt attention hasn't changed if it is GCA.

If you already have a Rhumatologist and a diagnosis of PMR I presume you have had blood tests including CRP and ESR? Do you know if they were flagged as outside the normal range? Perhaps you could contact the office of the Rhumatologist and suggest they might want updated bloods? Or try via the GP?

[Maxgate2 in reply to pata63]

Thank you so much for your very detailed reply. What a coincidence that your left side was affected too. All my teeth are sensitive though which is a first for me. I am seeing my rheumatologist next Friday and will ask for a repeat ESR and CRP. I am beginning to think it might be TMJ as my jaws click and I have mild earache on the left side. Thanks again and I hope you are doing well.