Tempotal arthritis

Posted , 7 users are following.

My crp is 4.3

Have pain on temple, top of head, jaw, headaches after I eat

Only 31years old and I have hip and neck pain

Can't wear my glasses from the pain

Dr said I'm too young

Been to er they did mri and they said it looks like I have a small calification on my right cerebellum. They didn't think this is why I'm having headaches. They wake me up from my sleep every night.

1 like, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • Posted

    Your doctor is wrong - there is a documented case of at least one person in their thirties in the UK alone. It was a man in South Wales who had died and the pathologist found he had had GCA. There are warnings in the medical literature that it is wrong to refuse to accept that young people can develop it as then cases are missed.

    However, more likely for the doctors to diagnose you with at your age would be something called Takayashu's arteritis - it is identical to GCA as far as the histology is concerned but it happens in under 40-year-olds. You sometimes find doctors who think it only happens in Asian women - that isn't true either.

    Whatever you have it is very probably some sort of autoimmune disorder and you need to be referred to a rheumatologist asap. Preferably as an emergency to be seen within a few days. 

    If you google "gca in young patients" you should get a lot of links, one is to the Vasculitis Foundation where they explain the difference between GCA and Takayashu's and some of the others are reports of patients in their 30s and 40s who were diagnosed with GCA or another form of vasculitis - GCA isn't the only form that can cause the symptoms.

    And then show the references to your doctor - and try another if he won't listen. It is rare - that doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

    • Posted

      I go to my reumathroid Dr Tuesday. I'm hoping she'll help.

    • Posted

      So do I - do tell us what she says.
  • Posted

    She said there is no way I have temporal arterites bc I'm too young. They keep saying just migraine. But my jaw, ear, neck and top of head as well as eye hurts. I'm waiting on appt with neurologist, just feel hopeless and at a complete loss , feel luke no-one believes me, they think it's all anxiety

    • Posted

      Did you mention Takayashu's to her? I really don't know what to suggest - she is wrong, it can happen. Maybe the neurologist will be more broad-minded. You could go to an optometrist and get your eyes examined - if theGCA is affecting certain arteries in your head it will show up in an examination of the back of your eye. That might help.

      All the very best.

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