GCA and pain

I do not know the answer but I don't think so. I am having a biopsy on my temporal artery this Wednesday morning to see if I have it"

There are a list of typical symptoms for GCA and headache is at the top of the list. When the temporal artery becomes inflammed enough for a high sed rate, I cannot imagine that pain is not associated with it. Boy, my pain was way worse than childbirth! Ann11195

Yes, headache and jaw pain are the ones I was most questioned about, they call it jaw claudication. If you are at risk for that you need a higher dose of prednisone right away. My head aches continually and the only thing that helps is Excedrin with caffeine. Something else may help you. 

Most definitely, I was diagnosed with GCA in December, 2015, from someone who never suffered headaches, I started having high pain headaches especially around my temple and eye areas.  Also pain in the jaw, difficulty swallowing and a creepy sensation going up into my scalp.  If you have these symptons you should definitely be talking to your doctor.  All the Best.

I was diagnosed with GCA and pmr in July 1995 and was started on 20 Pred which is tog low for GCA. I had many typical symptoms but not headache and pain. Have been free from Pred sinne December 1998.

My head aches until I can't stand it. Nothing seems to take this pain away or even decrease it. HELP what are others taking for it?

Just an FYI, after having negative temporal biopsy. When already on pred, the biopsy will be negative. Again, after the fact of having it. My PCP nor Rheumy would listen to me about severe headache/jaw pain in Oct 15 when they started, THEN, WHAM, blurry vision, eyes gone bonkers, and THEN, DIOG Of TA, or GCA as some call it. I was diagnosed with PMR one year ago this month, and my labs doe NOT show abnormal ESR or CRP. 

I think that everyone with PMR is cautious about GCA, and should be according to what I learned on this forum.  I am having uncharacteristic headaches as well, but mine seem to be orginating from my neck.  I do have eye pain, but not jaw or temporal pain.  And I am having digestive issues as well.

It's hard to know what to do or think sometimes.  I hate like the dickens to have a doctor tell me to go up to 60 mg when it's taken so long to get to 7, especially if it's not GCA.  And I also hate the thought of a biopsy.  I've heard they can also be a bit dangerous.

Again, it's hard to know what to do or think.

So I'll be going to the doctor tomorrow and follow his lead I guess.

All the best to you,

Sorry about the years I wrote for the start and end of Pred for me. I started in 2005 and ended in December 2008 and have been free after that. As you see, there is a light at the end of the tunnel!

I started GCA in 2009, before I got PMR, with terribly painful headaches but not just in the temporal area. I also had a painful stiff neck. The jaw claudication came on a couple of weeks later and I had no scalp tenderness. My SED was 86 and I was started on 60 mg. pred. The biopsy the next day was positive. The biopsy is not very involved but unfortunately not in my case The doctor who didn't want to wear his glasses screwed up. It's performed under a local anesthetic just into the hairline in the temple area  - nothing under the scalp. The chance of someone else having a doctor freak out in the middle of surgery is next to nil. Maybe I shouldn't have written this. My intent was to reassure that the biopsy was an easy proceedure and now I think I might have scared someone. Sorry.

I still have other headaches and I sometimes question if it's another flare or not.

Now that make me a little anxious about the biopsy. I have a lot of faith in the doctor though. Hope it is negative. Do they still do it if the rest of the exam is okay?