GCA head ache ?

[Flrchrs]

Been tapering down to 5mg steroids with a bit of ups and down in the dose . This evening I’ve developed a sore scalp from top of my head to behind my ear and a head ache in that area. I have just taken 10 mg is that enough?

[piglette]

Have you tried taking a painkiller? Did it work?

[Flrchrs in reply to piglette]

I took some paracetamol yesterday but had no effect and the sore scalp and headache was getting worse. So took 10 mg pred last night which still didn’t make any difference. Just took my morning dose .

[piglette in reply to Flrchrs]

As PMRPro says contact 111 if it carries on?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Did it make any difference?

But I think it is a bit soon to assume it is GCA - is the headache like it was 2 years ago when you were diagnosed? Have you got any other symptoms? As piglette asks - did you try a painkiller?

Bit of a pain with it being a BH today of course! No-one to ask and the ED will be manic - as my daughter described it from Thursday night on ...

[Flrchrs in reply to PMRpro]

The headache is a stabbing pain. But if I touch the area it’s very sore . Would add the pain is nothing like two years ago never experienced headaches like that . My 500/30 codamol would make a difference but don’t want to take them a bit strong. Left over from an op. The steroids haven’t made a difference yet.

Being a bank hol can’t phone doctors or rheumatologist department

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Flrchrs]

111 will work - if you can get through. Try them. And try a cocodamol. If it works, it is less likely to be GCA though nothing is certain in this world!

[Flrchrs in reply to PMRpro]

Phoned 111 spoke to a nurse ,then a doctor phoned back asking about various conditions. Wanted me to see a doctor so made an appointment at the hospital for 1.30pm . Very efficient.

The Dr asked questions told him I had GCA and taking pred ,he asked why was i taking pred !! . He then proceeded to shine a torch in my hair . Eventually coming to the conclusion; it’s shingles. Which I believe it’s not. Had shingles know that’s painful.

Better to ask on here get better advice.

Thanks 🙏

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Flrchrs]

He may be right - what did he see on your scalp?

[Flrchrs in reply to PMRpro]

He said it was a little red . But as I’m outside 8 plus hrs a day and thinning a little.could be sun . He has prescribed Aciclovir

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Flrchrs]

Take one Co-codamol and then try nhs 111 - and let us know outcome please…

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to DorsetLady]

Your fingers having a BH???

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro]

Obs… amended, ta 😉

[Pr0jection]

For the last six months I've had sore place on my scalp, mostly down the centre. My OH looked with a magnifying glass and said that he could see slightly raised grey and pink scabs. They're only slightly painful to the touch so I've put it down to the sun. On another site a rheumatologist advised that a side effect of PMR could be psoriasis.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Pr0jection]

"On another site a rheumatologist advised that a side effect of PMR could be psoriasis."

That is a new one on me!

Patients with psoriasis who develop symptoms of PMR should be considered for a diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis - they are due to different inflammatory substances, IL-6 in the case of PMR, IL-17 in the case of PsA.

[Pr0jection in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for your reply. Just quoting the rheumy's words. I know about psoriatic arthritis as my OH has it.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Pr0jection]

Oh yes, I realised that, but it concerns me how many rheumies make it up as they go along!