PMR TO GCA OR WAS IT ALWAYS GCA? UP PRED?

[Missus835]

As some know I've been stuck on my bed the last 3 weeks with huge muscle spasms in the back and excruciating back pain in general. Well this past week the neck pain and headaches started and today some jaw, shoulders and upper arms, hips. I've had a bit of a stomach bug the last few days as well. I'm on 22.5 mg. Pred. tapering from 60 mg. from GCA scare last Jan. So I am wondering: since the flood dose of Ibuprofen and Tylenol I took this morning are not touching these new pains, the dose of Pred is not touching them either, could it possibly be a flare of not "justPMR" but GCA? Which I may have had all along or it.morphed along the way?

PMRPro would it be wise to try a flooding dose of Pred for a few days and if it helps, then we would know? What would that dose look like? 40 mg. Pred just a few days, so I could quickly taper if it's not the culprit. Even my wrists are hurting holding this cell phone. You know the situation with my Rheumatologist and our ERs here in Nova Scotia.

[HeronNS]

You've probably mentioned this elsewhere, but what was your dose of pred when you started feeling these pain symptoms? And are the neck, jaw, etc pains new ones, perhaps unrelated to the back pain you've been having? The more detail you can fill in the better for the real experts to respond appropriately, PMRpro because of her depth of knowledge, and others because of personal experience with GCA.

So sorry you are having to deal with this. 🌻

[Missus835 in reply to HeronNS]

I'm currently at 22.5 mg. Pred..The back issues have been going on for weeks and I've mostly been bed ridden (don't care for that word) for 3 weeks. Ibuprofen and Tylenol relieved it somewhat. The headache up the back of the skull to the forehead was not helped with the NSAIDS. This started a few days ago on waking.

Then yesterday shoulders and upper arms, today slight jaw pain and wrists and hips (which may or not be part of the overall back issues). Yes, these newer pains are separate and are akin to those when PMR began.

I have also had a stomach bug the last few days. Luckily or not I don't get sick often, but perhaps this is just enough to cause a flare...be it PMR OR GCA, but the 22.5 mg. should prevent that if PMR? I would go to ER but cannot sit there for X number of hours. I have been in to ER at least 10 times since beginning of May with no answers. Rheumatologist is unreachable at any time.

Barely have the energy to push the walker around. The stomach bug seems to have resolved, but the after effects not so much. I can stand or sit but 5 minutes at a time.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I don't know - but if there is jaw pain, that is a red flag. You must have SOME decent medical care somewhere?

[Missus835 in reply to PMRpro]

Unless we have the money to go private, from my recent experiences, I would sadly have to say no.

[HeronNS]

Would this be any good? Or maybe you've already tried? I don't know what they can do to facilitate you seeing someone on an urgent or emergency basis, but if you're able to emphasize the GCA aspect, not to mention the now very debilitating pain, they should be able to find help. It's for anyone on the need a family doctor list.

app.getmaple.ca/login

More details about availabilty - you don't need an email invitation.

atlantic.ctvnews.ca/nova-sc...

[Missus835 in reply to HeronNS]

Yep. I managed to actually speak to a physician on Maple. He referred me to primary care clinic in Kearney Lake. That was 4 weeks ago. Have not heard from them. Or did you mean to contact them today Heron?

[HeronNS in reply to Missus835]

Well I don't know if you can, but you really do need some help. I don't know the current hours or if there are only limited appointments available. It is Sunday, might not be so great. Were you supposed to wait to hear from Kearney Lake? Four weeks seems unacceptable. Surely they could at least have touched base with you.

[Missus835]

Yes. He said they would contact me but I think I will call them in the morning. Definitely do need some acute care.

[HeronNS in reply to Missus835]

All the very best. 🍀❤️

[Missus835 in reply to HeronNS]

💕