pmr symptoms

[EagleCliff]

has anyone else had posterior base of head pain with pressure headaches that also wrap around anterior upper chest and neck area with a tight, vise like feeling. Seems like the pain is traveling upward from the original shoulder and back pain, but no temporal or jaw pain. Currently on 15 mg prednisone down from orininal 20 mg for pmr diagnosis. Don’t hear others talk about pain in this area and wondering if it’s part of pmr or if something else is going on. Have talked with my gp about the possibility of developing Gca. She doesn’t think so.

[Gimme]

Did you describe those pains to your doc when you talked about GCA? Your profile doesn't mention whether you are male or female, and I don't mean to worry you unnecessarily, but heart related pain in women can be atypical. Though I wouldn't expect that to cause pain at the back of the head. Have a look at sternocleidomastoid pain and see if that describes what is going on for you. Going by the posts in this group, that seems fairly common amongst people with PMR.

[EagleCliff in reply to Gimme]

Thanks for your reply. Yes, my doctor did a cardiac workup that looked ok. I’ll check the other out you mentioned.

[Woodiesmum]

I am sitting here suffering the same pain x not long ago I had 6 injections in my neck to try and help with pain as got bad discs too but I feel like my head is in a vice x

[Lickle]

I do get a sort of "Fuzzy" feeling at the back of my head most days though not painful. But what I have been getting is sometimes a sudden click or crack as if a disc or joint is moved quickly. The noise from it is in my head though not in my neck, almost as if my scalp is separating from the neck. The problem is you never know if its the PMR or something else going on.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Hi and welcome.

I think it is far more likely that your upper back muscles are in spasm and possibly pinching nerves leading to referred pain. I'm glad cardiac events have been ruled out but tight muscles in that area can cause pain in ribs and up into the head.

It would be helpful if you could complete your profile - male/female and what country at the very least can make our suggestions more relevant because what is available around the world varies a great deal.

[EagleCliff in reply to PMRpro]

I have completed my profile, 68yo female USA. Thank you for your suggestion of tight muscles causing pinched nerve pain. I am going to try a muscle relaxer and see if it helps.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to EagleCliff]

Good idea - and possibly warmth and even massage? I find therapeutic massage very helpful though others find that it feels as if they are flaring until the body gets rid of the inflammatory substances that are released in the proceeds.

[EagleCliff in reply to PMRpro]

thanks. I will try those suggestions as well.

[AtopicGuy]

There are disorders that cause that kind of pain. Please describe your original symptoms, and how you came to be diagnosed with PMR, in your profile to see if any other clues were there.

[EagleCliff in reply to AtopicGuy]

Started suddenly in January. Bilat shoulder/upper back pain down into mid upper arm. No significant hip pain but upon standing after prolonged sitting would need a minute and several steps to work out stiffness, Unable to raise arms without assistance, painful to roll over in bed. As we were south for a couple months snowbirding I finally went to urgent care who gave me a burst of 40mg prednisone x2 then 20mg x3. Felt great within 24 hrs but pain right back after off. Until we got home I lived on alternating Tylenol and ibuprofen q 4-6 hrs. After returning home my gp suspected pmr, d/t my response to steroids. labs elevated crp at 24, sed rate normal. Started on 20 mg prednisone, currently weaned down to 15 with mild increase in discomfort but tolerable except for this new back of the neck and anterior neck as described. Have been referred to rheu but they can’t get name in till June.

[AtopicGuy in reply to EagleCliff]

Thank you for that. Please copy and paste it into your Profile for future reference. Despite the normal ESR and relatively low CRP, it sounds spot on for PMR. Age and sex fits, too. The trapezius muscle is kite-shaped, extends across the upper back, and reaches up the neck. Tension in that area is notorious for causing horrible headaches, and systemic inflammation won't help. The strong and rapid response to prednisolone suggests autoimmunity is at work.

I don't have a diagnosis, yet, but I suffer terrible stiffness in the neck, shoulders, upper arms, and the base of the skull. The pillow often feels like concrete and brings on headaches, so I can't lie on my back. Left untreated, the headaches last for days and sometimes turn into migraines.

[SheffieldJane]

The Snowboarding makes me wonder about an injury. I wonder if an Orthopaedic doctor is called for, or even a skilled osteopath who could provide a referral if called for?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to SheffieldJane]

SnowBIRDING SJ - when people in the northern climes of the USA head south, often to Florida, for winter warmth!

[SheffieldJane in reply to PMRpro]

Well! I have never heard that term at all. How picturesque. 😃 and restful and not in the aetiology at all. Sorry.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to SheffieldJane]

Have you not? There have been a few US contributors who have used the term in their posts. Nuigini on the forum is one - she winters in Panama, goes back to Canada for the summer.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowb....