could this be GCA

[Bluepin]

I was diagnosed with PMR in the summer of 2022. And I have successfully tapered from 15 mg to 3mg with no flares .

However the last three weeks, ( following a bout of covid ) have developed a right sided discomfort in my head and behind my right eye .I have no tenderness over my temporal arteries nor do I have any discomfort when eating/chewing .

My opticians examination was normal .

The pain appears to be connected to a pain in the tendon on the right side of my neck / head at the back making it painful when turning my head .as well.

Oral analgesia seem to help a bit .

I attended the GP and he was very thorough and did question GCA. He took bloods and my

CRP was 1

and my

ESR was 8 .

He said that as my inflammatory markers were very low he felt that my symptoms are musculoskeletal skeletal , but I would like some advice from the community please as to whether it should be investigated a little more ?

[SnazzyD]

I can’t say for sure that it isn’t GCA but have a read of this about the sternokleidomastoid muscles in the neck. Stiffness here can mimic a number of GCA symptoms. It’s worth keeping on top of this

healthline.com/health/stern...

This shows the physiology

youtu.be/DCOuG3bs2f0?featur...(Not working as expected?)

Covid likes the sinuses so it could be that, even a dry one. I have found after lots of bouts over the years that it gave me referred pain in the base of the skull and can make one’s eye feel like it is going to pop out. GCA also gave me base of the skull pain but it was more central in my case.

[Bluepin in reply to SnazzyD]

Thankyou snazzyD

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

SnazzyD has given good advice… and I think it’s much more likely to be as she has described than GCA.

[Bluepin in reply to DorsetLady]

Thankyou ladies ❤️

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I agree with Snazzy - first thing I thought of.