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Looks like it is PMR...is it GCA though?

Posted , 8 users are following.

Buffy61
Buffy61

Been on 50mg prednisone for 5 days. Pain in arms gone completely. Occasional twinge in shoulders and neck. Still having some blurred vision and jaw pain at times. My ESR is 30. Dr doesn't think GCA but sending me for biopsy anyway. Will keep me on 50mg prednisone for another week. Is ESR usually higher than 30 with GCA? Any experience of similar symptoms out there? Thanks.

0 likes, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • ptolemy
    ptolemy Buffy61

    Posted

    ESR just measures the inflammation and so varies from person to person. Mine was 127 with PMR  initially.
    • Buffy61
      Buffy61 ptolemy

      Posted

      Yep. I am a nurse. I know what ESR measures. But 30 is on the upper end of normal and my doctor doesn't think it is high enough for me to have GCA, even though I have symptoms of this. I was just wondering if others with GCA had an ESR that is around 30?
    • MrsO-UK_Surrey
      MrsO-UK_Surrey Buffy61

      Posted

      Buffy, some patients diagnosed with PMR and/or GCA have inflammatory markers that remain stubbornly normal.  I had both conditions and had very raised markers of ESR and CRP.  You haven't mentioned CRP, so if you haven't had that tested then it might be a good idea to get it done - it is often considered by some medics to be a more reliable marker of inflammation than the ESR, especially in GCA.  Blurred vision and jaw pain are certainly symptoms of GCA, especially when the inflammation affects the temporal artery in the case of blurred vision.  The steroids themselves can also contribute to blurred vision.  However, after just 5 days on steroids, it's very early days for you and hopefully your symptoms will continue to improve in the next week or so.
  • Ardern
    Ardern Buffy61

    Posted

    Hi

    I been diagioned with Temporal Arteritis though a biopsy, but I had blood tests done every other Monday and through the first 4 weeks my ESR Max out at 15 and CRP was low as well. It was only after I started taken Pred that CRP  climb up to over a 100. I had server jaw pain some short cases of ocular migraine at the begining and no temporal head aches I was on asprin based pain killers for almost a month before taking the Preds. My GP says he is now looking at this disease in a whole new light. This disease seems to affect everyone in different ways. I started at 50 mg and that was increased to 60 at the begining of Nov I am down to 18 without any flare ups just loose spelling. 

    Good Luck 

    • Buffy61
      Buffy61 Ardern

      Posted

      I have been on statins and aspirin (100mg) for many years now. Maybe that is why CRP and ESR are on upper edge of normal. Perhaps the anti-inflammatory properties of aspirin are lowering these markers. 

      I have had jaw pain for probably a month...even prompted a visit to dentist. Pain in side of face and blurred vision around the same time. Since starting prednisone I have a headache at times and blurred vision at times...long distance vision.

    • Ardern
      Ardern Buffy61

      Posted

      My problem started with jaw pain that got so bad I couldn't open my month once open there was one problem closing it. I even went to the dentist he though it was TMJ, he suggested different meds and a month appliance. it was around that time things went from bad to worse and started taking Preds. The pain was complete gone in 3 days. I have been tapering from 60 now done to 18 looking forward to the day when I am on a lower dose. I had vision problems at first but that problem has gone. good luck
    • Buffy61
      Buffy61 Ardern

      Posted

      When I went to the dentist a couple of weeks ago (thinking jaw pain might be teeth problems), it was so painful holding my mouth open for the 15mins it took for treatment! Still have jaw pain. Headaches since taking prednisone. Didn't really have headache before this...pain in side of face and tender around temples but not really a headache as such. Seeing opthamologist on Friday morning and then vascular surgeon that afternoon. He is planning on doing ultrasound scan to determine if I need a temporal biopsy. If he thinks I do I will have biopsy on the Monday. Guess I stay on 50mg prednisone til then. 
    • Ardern
      Ardern Buffy61

      Posted

      Hi Buffy61

      Since Mid Oct I have had  CT scan first followed  by 2 MRI scans with some form of miaging dye. The first Mri reveiled some try of abnomaties withe the arterties but the second one was normal and that one also covered the arterties in the neck. Some ting between the first and second MRI i had positive results from a superfucial temporal arterties biospy. To me is seems that MRIs aren,t as good as a biopsy. I have been tod to cut back on the Preds but be prepared for some problems down the road in the way of a flare up

  • JanSP
    JanSP Buffy61

    Posted

    I was on 60mg pred at the begining of my GCA with an ESR of 96. I've had flares of as low as 16 since my # is usually 0-4. This has een for 6 years. My vision problems are from cataracts caused by the pred. My first eye is being operated on tomorrow and I can't wait
    • paula63201
      paula63201 JanSP

      Posted

      Hi Jan,

      All the best with cataract surgery. I had mine done last June and feel clairvoyant!! How long have you had GCA and how long were you on 60 mgs. How much are you taking now?

    • JanSP
      JanSP paula63201

      Posted

      Paul,

      I developed CGA in June of 2009, 3 days after an infusion of Reclast for my bones. I was put on 60mg of pred as I was for the 4 flares. This last flare the pred had to be moved up to 80mg before I started my taper. I'm now at 30mg. When I had my PMR I was put on 40mg. I don't remember what the doesage for the PMR flare was.

      Yesterday's cataract surgery went smoothly. Thanks for the good wishes. Things are still blurry but I know it's temporary. Second eye will be done in 2 weeks.

    • paula63201
      paula63201 JanSP

      Posted

      Hi Jan,

      Thanks for responding. Am so glad for you that the suregey went well! Good luck for the next one.

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