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Help new PMR

Posted , 7 users are following.

alan769008
alan769008

My doctor said I have PMR 2 weeks ago and put me on 20mg Prednisolone, since I started talking this I've been getting tension type headaches most daysbut not all day. Is this common?

0 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • bri21
    bri21 alan769008

    Posted

    Pred are good for pain ,but do have side effects .The one thing you have to be carefull of IS GCA gaint cell artiritis , tenderness to temple  scalp and jaw , if its like that you need to tell a doctor .
  • Silver49
    Silver49 alan769008

    Posted

    I'm sorry to hear you have PMR but you will get lots of advice and support on this forum. I found I had headaches when I started on steroids and I don't normally have but a relative had forewarned me of the possibility.  They did go away and I haven't had them since. Someone else will give further advice soon. I hope they ease soon. 
  • maid_mariane
    maid_mariane alan769008

    Posted

    I had terrible headaches /migraines for over 2-3 months ehen first on prednisone. I got into the rumi asap to be checked fir GCA but not.

    They slowly go away but i still get them occasionally.

  • danielle_65358
    danielle_65358 alan769008

    Posted

    Alan

    I too started at 20 mg for PMR. After a few weeks I got an afternoon headache daily. This subsided once my dose was lowered. It probably is a result of Pred. I would speak to your doc, a lower dose of 17.5 or 15 may be adequate to relieve your headaches and still keep the inflammation from the PMR in check. Good luck. Those headaches were awful.

    This site has really helped me. Great advice from caring people who have been through it all.

  • EileenH
    EileenH alan769008

    Posted

    Don't know if it is common but headache is a listed side effect of pred. As long as it remains intermittent and not GCA-like then try not to worry.

    As danielle says, it should improve as you reduce and may even improve as your body gets used to the pred. It is also possible that you could manage on less so that might be worth trying already.

    • alan769008
      alan769008 EileenH

      Posted

      Hi Thanks for the info, not really sure what GCA-like headaches feel like but this one appears to be all over may head, sometimes on my forehead then it amybe on the top then all over then sometimes at the sides or above my eyes. It does not trouble me at all at night or when I first get up but comes on soon after I get up
    • MrsO-UK_Surrey
      MrsO-UK_Surrey alan769008

      Posted

      Alan, my head pain pre-GCA diagnosis was all over, but, unlike your's, it raged right through the night as well, so hopefully your's is 'just' a steroid-headache, and will improve as you reduce the dose.
  • alan769008
    alan769008

    Posted

    Hi Thanks for the info, not really sure what GCA-like headaches feel like but this one appears to be all over may head, sometimes on my forehead then it amybe on the top then all over then sometimes at the sides or above my eyes. It does not trouble me at all at night or when I first get up but comes on soon after I get up. 
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