Is this GCA

[Shires123]

Diagnosed Jan 24 started on 15mg Tapered down to 7.5 7 days ago. A few aches and pains today also have dull headache right side front of right ear and upper cheeks. Pain in right upper teeth. It's tolerable. Some blurred vision which I have had for some time checked by optician before diagnosed. GPprescribed alondric acid 8 weeks ago after dexa scan showed ostopenia Having read previous posts not sure if this is side effects of pred pmg alondric or GCA. Previous posts describe severe headaches mine are not. Thoughts appreciated.

[piglette]

once you get down to around 7mg the adrenal glands start to wake up which can cause different problems.

[Shires123 in reply to piglette]

Have a dental appointment Wednesday. Paracetamol have helped with pain. Seems as though gums are inflamed. Taking so many meds

[piglette in reply to Shires123]

The problem is if you start taking lots of meds they can start interacting with each other.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Shires123]

Maybe discuss TMJ/TMD issues with dentist -

nhs.uk/conditions/temporoma...

[Den73 in reply to Shires123]

I had similar inflamed sore gums bery simple solution but absolutely worked for me. Rinse your mouth with salt water Started with twice avday when it felt it was feeling more comfortable went to once a day.

Problem resolved for me now I only rinse when needed

Hope it works for you.

[Shires123 in reply to Den73]

Thank you will try that

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

As  piglette has said could be adrenals-it’s all a bit vague to pinpoint to GCA, PMR, AA or Pred.

Have you tried ordinary painkillers?

[SnazzyD]

I really don’t think it is a direct side effect of Pred, it being quite a specific area of pain. Pred can cause a loss of muscle mass and people can get temporomandibular joint problems when the jaw muscles don’t cope so well with the strain put on them. It’s worth looking that up. Pred and cause blurred vision too. You could have a dental problem brewing so an x-day of the area might be worth it, especially as you are on AA that can cause issues with the jaw bone. Regards that, was the osteopaenia bad enough to need it?

However, there isn’t enough reassurance in what you’ve said for me to dismiss GCA as a possibility. GCA headaches certainly do not have to be agony to qualify and they can build. Mine didn’t rate against a humdinger tension headache.

I think medical advice is worth the hassle here with the dentist as well which is good anyway if you are starting AA.

[GivenUp24]

ALL of your symptoms point right to GCA, the same as mine, mild symptoms, no severe pulsing headaches. But I do have GCA and I’m on 40 mg of prednisone right now starting Actemra the 7 th.