Scan showing no inflammation what now?

[Zappata]

Hi I have been on steroids 5 years - down to 3.5 got pains in my head and buttocks terrible. Rheumy appointment Friday put me back on 40mg since then. Emergency scan Tuesday shows no inflammation! Is it because of the high dose steroids or am I cured? Do I continue on the 40mg for 2 weeks as rheumy advised ( then 30, then 20 etc.) or not? Confused. Head pains and buttock ache gone

[PMRpro Ambassador]

What SORT of scan? Scans aren't infallible, GCA doesn't affect all arteries evenly, it forms what are called "skip lesions" along a blood vessel so may not be seen in the bit they look at even if that artery is affected somewhere else. When something is found that is almost certainty it is GCA but it might not be seen.

If the symptoms went with pred it does suggest they were due to inflammation but no more than that. And pred isn't a cure, it manages the inflammation, that is all.

I think you need to speak to the rheumy and see what they say.

[Zappata in reply to PMRpro]

Yes thanks. It was ultrasound. I need to get dialling the helpline on repeat 👍

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Zappata]

Haha - I can believe it! Know the feeling - I'm getting the answerphone for a bill I need to pay in the UK which isn't a lot of help. They can't blame me though ...