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PMR Symptom

Posted , 7 users are following.

tpaggs
tpaggs

I am currious to know if anyone diagnosed with PMR ever felt pain in their jaw/bottom molars?  On a few occasions, I thought I was having a problem with my bottom molar (like underneath the tooth).  It then turned out I was having a flare-up as other symptoms started to creep out.  Once I upped my meds, all pain ceased.  Twice, I had a swelling by my temples (no pain, just swollen).  However, once I upped the meds, swelling went down.  Has anyone experienced any of this.  I know that jaw pain is associated with Giant Cell Arteritis but my Rheumatologist insists, I don't have that; I have PMR.

 

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • Charlieschoc
    Charlieschoc tpaggs

    Posted

    Yes I too have had pain and when pmr is really bad I have pain whilst eating. I also get the swollen temples. Headaches.

    I'm interested in any replies you get too xxx

  • karenjaninaz
    karenjaninaz tpaggs

    Posted

    As when I first got PMR by rheumy gave me 15 mgm pred with total resolve of symptoms but then had me drop to 12.5 in only 3 weeks. I got all sorts of symptoms: sinus pain, temple pain and dry eyes. When I went back to 15 for awhile symptoms went away. After that, I was so afraid of gca that I did the slow tapering by ~ 1/2mg a month. Over my PMR, still ongoing journey, I sometimes got fleeting , jabbing headaches, and scalp pain. My rheumy says if it's fleeting don't worry about it.

    when I took ala(Fosamax) for only 3 weeks my bite changed and my teeth moved. I visited the dentist who said I had TMJ and he actually listened to my temporal arteries with a Doppler device. 

    Keeping in touch with other forum members who had similar experiences really helps.

  • Ardern
    Ardern tpaggs

    Posted

    Hi

    I have been diagionsed with GCA and that is how my symtoms started small amount of jaw pain that became worse in a couple of days and then vision problems followed by temple head aches. There is a high percentage of people that develope both at some stage. The preds your on are probalby managing both. if your vison becomes effected I would see your Doc and have your dosage of pred adjusted

    Good luck

  • EileenH
    EileenH tpaggs

    Posted

    It does sound as if you have "elements" of GCA - I too only have PMR officially but I had scalp pain for a while and also the jaw claudication as well as a dry cough and sore throat - all symptoms normally ascribed to GCA. You can have GCA without it affecting your eyes and causing visual symptoms. I would avoid any rheumatologist who is a dogmatic as that saying "you haven't got GCA" - he can't know and it IS a possibility. You can have GCA without the temporal artery biopsy being positive.

    My local rheumatologist here is of the opinion that 15mg is probably enough to cover most GCA - but if it is affecting vision then you need more to reduce the inflammation quickly and reduce the risk of sight loss.

    • tpaggs
      tpaggs EileenH

      Posted

      At the onset of my symptoms, I also had soreness of the scalp but that went away.  My Rheumatologist sent me to Opthalmologist but all tests were normal.  Oh, and I had drenching sweats at night then; but no more.  My Rheumatologist insists that if I had GCA I would not have reacted so well to only 16 mg Medrol (equivalent to 20 mg Prednisone).  A day or so after I started Medrol 2+ years ago, I felt almost 100% better.  I brought it up several times over the 2 years when I would get a flare up and she still insisted in wasn't GCA.  I'm down to 2 mg (actually just started to reduce to 1 3/4 mg and it is quite a challenge trying to cut those little pills.  Medrol only comes in 2 mg dose so I have to cut them in half and then again into 1/4.  I lose a few in the process).  Today is the second day I took 1/2 mg this morning and will take 1 mg this evening; praying I can tolerate the taper.  I then will take 1 mg in the morning and 1 mg in the evening tomorrow.  If I have no flare up, I will continue to do this alternating for 2 weeks.  I have to go verrry slow or BAM!

    • EileenH
      EileenH tpaggs

      Posted

      Doctors do agree with me that it is very likely that whatever it is that is causing my PMR symptoms, it was originally not far off GCA even if it wasn't. But large vessel vasculitis is large vessel vasculitis - if you don't do the right imaging you will never know how extensive it was. There are no tests for PMR - so if you respond to a moderate dose of pred a lot of the less well informed will say it wasn't GCA. But if it was in the early stages and only affecting less significant arteries - of course it could have been.

      Good luck!!!!!

    • tpaggs
      tpaggs EileenH

      Posted

      I also had cardiogram and EKG and both were normal.
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