I'm being treated for Inflammatory Arthritis which I've had since 1997. Successfully on Biologics for many years until a move up country meant I was in limbo for over 4 years. I was given leflunomide which I recently stopped, didn't like it but in the last couple of weeks I've had these symptoms which are driving me nuts: pain in jaw, pain in temples, a couple of short migraines, pain in ears.I also have pain in hips, pain in lower abdomen left. I have also two worn discs in my neck, early cataracts, previous TMJ problems, we think. Now, I've had the ear pain and sore throat pain for over a year. ENT came up with nothing. The symptoms aren't constant, it comes and goes. I was was just googling around, found this, and now I'm a bit worried. I've got dental and eye appointments next month. If you're still reading this, can anyone relate? Thanks.
I think I Might Have PMRGCA. Worried : I'm being... - PMRGCAuk
I think I Might Have PMRGCA. Worried
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You may have, and certainly some of the symptoms regarding head issues do sound like GCA, so you definitely require further investigation…and sooner rather than later.
Maybe have a look at this -
healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...
and please make an appointment to see GP, and bring the eye appointment forward. Or contact this emergency services for a check up -
primaryeyecare.co.uk/find-a...
..and if the pains gets stronger or you have an sight disturbances then get yourself to A&E /ED or contact
Have you had blood tests to diagnose PMR? If not then get booked.
The blood tests are not definitive though - they just show inflammation is present. And up to 20% of patients don't have raised markers at all.
so how is it actually diagnosed?
Combination of things including symptoms, tests to rule out other illnesses like rheumatoid arthritis etc, doctors knowledge, patients history, maybe a trial of steroids… which is why sometimes it takes a long time to get a diagnosis…
It is a clinical diagnosis - history, signs, symptoms, to a small extent response to pred and raised inflammatory markers. But everything is just one brick in the wall of evidence. The nearest to definitive would be a PET-CT scan but they are expensive and difficult to access for a GP.