dark circles around eyes

[Bunchberry]

Hello,

I am six months into PMR, started on 20 mg of prednisone and now at 10 for the last 3 weeks. So far, so good, I continue to have mild aching in thighs and shoulders but it’s very livable with and a million times better than how I was before starting the prednisone.

Last week I had a root canal, following a beastly week of tooth pain due to an abscess. I was on antibiotics for the infection during the week leading up to the root canal. The procedure went well, but I continue to feel exhausted with some lingering pain around the tooth (ibuprofen deals with the pain well). Dentists office says that is normal at this stage, so I am not worried about it. I go back next week to get the temporary filling replaced with a permanent one and so will know then for sure if all is well with the tooth.

What I am wondering about is the sudden appearance of a dark purple halo on the skin around each eye. It’s as if I used purple eyeliner to outline the normal dark circles under my eye and carried the line up around my eyelids. Dentist’s office says that is not a usual after-effect of root canal, and especially not expected when the procedure is done on a lower tooth (which is what mine was).

I’m thinking that maybe just the pressure of having my mouth wide open for 2 hours, or perhaps pressure of the dental dam in my mouth, combined with the bruising side effects of prednisone has caused this.

But of course I am also wondering if it’s a possible symptom of GCA. Eyesight is stable in both eyes; I do have a slight tenderness in upper scalp but it’s not even worthy of taking a Tylenol (paracetamol).

Thoughts? And has anyone experienced something similar after dental work?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I really can't think of a reason why it would or could be a symptom on GCA. Stress can contribute, and lack of sleep. I can imagine you are pretty stressed after the dental stuff and it could lead to bruising around that area with you being on pred. It's a bit of a mystery though.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Agree with PMRpro - certainly wasn’t associated with my GCA. There are various reasons why this occurs - maybe look at this -

my.clevelandclinic.org/heal...

[SnazzyD]

Are you still using CPAP?

[Bunchberry in reply to SnazzyD]

Yes, I am, and sleeping well!

[SnazzyD in reply to Bunchberry]

Just wondering if the mask is accentuating the Pred panda eyes (I had that without one!) or the mask pressure reducing lymphatic drainage in the face, especially if there’s a bit of inflammation about from the root canal. After my root canal years ago, I suffered from headaches and tender scalp. An osteopath gave me treatment for my jaw that had been upset by being held at an extreme of its range for a long time.

[Bunchberry in reply to SnazzyD]

Thanks, yes, that all could apply to me too!