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PMR Again?

Posted , 6 users are following.

judy47
judy47

I have been having headaches for the past few weeks.  I'm wondering if PMR is returning.  Do any of you with PMR have headaches but don't have GCA?  I was diagnosed with PMR about five years ago.  Took the usual rounds of Prednisone a few times and haven't had issues until recently.  Will have a CT Scan of my head tomorrow.  

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • FlipDover_Aust
    FlipDover_Aust judy47

    Posted

    I'm not in the same position as you, but I've heard that if/when PMR 'returns' it's usually pretty obvious - pain, stiffness etc... do you have any of that back again, or is it just headaches?

    Regardless, you need to see a Dr if you are getting regular headaches - it could be nothing, but you just don't know.

    • judy47
      judy47 FlipDover_Aust

      Posted

      Thank you FlipDover.  I do have some discomfort in my neck and arms.  I do have alot of cracking and popping in my neck, which could be causing the headaches.  I am a 73 year old female.  
  • Buffy61
    Buffy61 judy47

    Posted

    Yes! I have been having headaches a lot lately. I think it is a side effect of the prednisone! I was diagnosed with PMR and ? GCA in January. Started on 50mg pred and now down to 20mg. My blood pressure is so high now. Really want to decrease pred faster! I have chipmunk cheeks and put on weight! Gastric issues now too. Getting over the side effects of prednisone. Think I prefer the pain!
  • Anhaga
    Anhaga judy47

    Posted

    Yes, I had more headaches than usual for a while.  Non-GCA related, but possibly a pred side effect.  I get headaches anyway and now they have reverted to my "ordinary" weather-related ones.
  • julian.
    julian. judy47

    Posted

    PMR but not GCA. Male, 66. I've always had headaches. Since childhood, various attempts at finding cause or treatment failed. Perversely, chronic headaches somehow helped with the chronic pmr journey - just another pain to work around. Comes and goes a bit. I've lost track of the timing but at one point about a year into pmr, the headaches changed. A new addition. Main change was I'd get a headache very rapidly with any sort of exertion. Using a drill for a few minutes, or carryig groceries from car was sometimes enough. I rapidly learned to stop what I was doing. Dfferent to my normal "over my right eye" headache, at their worst like someone with a bolt through my temples and tightening it. Bad enough for mri scan, nothing found but peace of mind (very important). Very understanding gp. Not as noticeable or as frequent now (2 years after diagnosis), though exertion more limited by gradual loss of strengh - trying to dig a 10m long 100mm wide 500mm trench has so far taken a week instead of a couple of hours 3 years ago.

    Basically, I'm more sensitive to changes that may or may not be due to pmr, or simply age. The presence of pmr simply means I tend to seek  investigation earlier. The prospect of the change in headaches being associated with GCA was just a tad scary. Blocked coronary artery was easy in comparison. I'm still cautious.

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