You helped me with my pmr

[Petertaffy]

Hello, I have had PMR for nearly two years now, and I am down to 8mg prednisolone, recently I have had blurred vision and very hurtful jaw ache do you think this is just PMR or something more. Thanks for your help Peter.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Afraid I’m going ask a few questions.

Does your jaw hurt when you chew and then cease when you stop chewing - or is it there all the time? Do the joints click when you open your mouth?

Is the blurred vision all the time - or does it come and go? Have you had eyes checked recently in case it’s the beginning of cataracts.

Just trying to work out if it other things…and notice that about weeks ago you said GP was querying PMR diagnosis and that at that time you were on 10mg. Is that correct and are you saying you have you reduced 2mg in under 3 weeks?

Most obvious thing many will think is GCA with issues you state….do you have any scalp tenderness or any other PMR symptoms?

[Petertaffy in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks for your reply, no I woke up to find my jaw aching it isn't too bad now. With regards to my eyes I've had blurred vision for just over a week. Yes because the doctor said he didn't think I had PMR, I dropped from 10 to 8 maybe a wee too much of a drop.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Petertaffy]

Jaws- might be TMD/TMJ issues - may have a look at this - nhs.uk/conditions/temporoma...

Blurriness- some do get with Pred, but please get it check with local optician/optometrist.

And also,ease up on the tapering. Even if you don’t have PMR [not sure about that though] - you do need to give your adrenals a chance to start working again, and going too fast could give you problems re them being a bit sluggish…

Do let us know how things go on all counts please…

[Petertaffy in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you very much.

[123-go]

Hello, Peter. When you have PMR any changes in vision should be investigated. I would recommend that you make an appointment to see an optician as soon as possible and ask for an OCT (optical coherence tomography) scan which is non-invasive and takes cross-section images of your retina. Many of us on the forum always ask for this to be included in our regular eye examination. I pay £10 for this: may vary with different opticians but worth it if only for peace of mind. When you make the appointment say you have PMR and this is a new symptom and you will hopefully be seen quickly.

[Petertaffy in reply to 123-go]

Thanks for your help 123 yes I will do as you say.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

The GP says he doesn't think you have PMR does he - on what grounds? It is a very strange time to think that now it isn't/wasn't.

[Petertaffy in reply to PMRpro]

I've yet to see my doctor about this as you know it's quite difficult to get an appointment these days. I will be giving a blood sample in the next few days and I will know more then.Thanks for your reply PMRpro.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Petertaffy]

I'd want clear points about why he thinks it isn't - and I suspect I know some of them! If I'm correct - he is wrong ...

[Petertaffy in reply to PMRpro]

Looking at all my markers I too think he is wrong, my hips, shoulders, lower back pain, fatigue and the feeling of being ill all the time are just some of my ailments PMRpro.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Petertaffy]

Sounds very PMR ish to me!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Petertaffy]

I bet 2 years and normal markers on pred figure somewhere ...