Connect
← Return to Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR): Meet others & Share Your Story
Discussion
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR): Meet others & Share Your Story
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Nov 18, 2024 | Replies (1907)Comment receiving replies
The first part of April 2021 I found that I was unable to walk after sitting. My GP put me on 10mg of prednisone and after a couple of days everything was fine except for my “numbers” My C protein was 10 than went to 14. Prednisone was increased and I started to get tenderness in the temple area. Was put on 40mg prednisone and had biopsy of both arteries. The test was negative. Along with the temple pain I have horrible pain in the back of the head and upper back. I am now going to a rheumatologist It’s the back of my head that really alarms me. I can’t get any relief. I don’t hear anyone talk about that.
Replies to "The first part of April 2021 I found that I was unable to walk after sitting...."
Hi @carol75 I had an incredibly stiff neck. I couldn't turn my head, but had to turn my whole body to look to the side. The pain was unrelenting on left and right sides down the back of my head, but it went away on 40 mg of prednisone. My temporal artery biopsy was positive. Good luck, I hope you get some answers and some relief soon.
Connect
Hello @carol75, Welcome to Connect. I have PMR which is currently in remission but when it was active my primary care doctor along with my rheumatologist would frequently ask me if I had any pain in my scalp or temple areas which can be an indication of giant cell arteritis (GCA). I also lived with some pain as I was tapering off of prednisone for both occurrences I had with PMR. My rheumatologist had me keep a daily pain log along with the prednisone dosage I was taking for that day which was helpful when I was tapering off of prednisone. Here's some information on GCA that might explain it a little better.
Giant Cell Arteritis – Fast Facts: https://www.rheumatology.org/I-Am-A/Patient-Caregiver/Diseases-Conditions/Giant-Cell-Arteritis
You also may want to read through the posts in these discussion to see what other members have shared:
— PMR initial diagnosis: Can there be an underlying disease?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/pmr-initial-diagnosis-1/
— GCA (Giant Cell Arteritis) and PMR (polymyalgia rheumatica): https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/giant-cell-arteritis-20c716/
It's good that you have an appointment scheduled with a rheumatologist. The tenderness in the temple area is a sign of Giant Cell Arteritis and much more serious that PMR. How soon is your appointment? Can you share an update with us after the appointment with the rheumatologist?