Hi All: I have read that 'giant cell arteritis' can accompany PMR. Has anyone suffered from this along with their PMR? If so, what is the treatment?Missy,
I personally have not had GCA. Treatment is the same as for PMR, only much higher doses of prednisone.
Reni
When I was diagnosed for pmr, I had a biopsy in the left temple. I got the impression that they told me that the result of the biopsy was the last sign that I had pmr. Not until I got the latest doctor about 8 months ago, I was told that I also had temporal arthritis (also called GCA for giant cell arthritis). I have understood that GCA was really more serious than the pmr but I never had any extra feeling about this. I started on 20 mg pred in June 22 and have tapered to 3.0 this week (from 3.5). I think the reason I didnīt get to understand that I had GCA in June 2005 is probably that I got a time for biopsy one day before going to the US (Minnesota) to celebrate 50 years after high school graduation where I was an exchange student. I had just been in Bergen, Norway on a choir festival for menīs choirs and had one day in between. I guess my thoughts were also on the three weeksītrip we made. As you understand, I have never had any exctra "problems" whaving GCA together with pmr but I understand that you have to watch out and get pred as soon as possible to avoid side effects like poor eyesight.
In that earlier post, I told how my wife covered the white bandage across my left temple with surgical tape (skin color) so I would look all right on the class picture. Also that during our "Sideways Wine Tour" in California a week later, she had to take the stitches away. She used a Swiss army knife and dipped it in some gin from a miniature gin bottle we got on the Northwest plane from Amsterdam to Minneapoils some week earlier. It worked!
Ragnar
Great story, Swede. I think your wife should hang out her shingle and start accepting appointments!Thanks, Swede, for the explanation. I did ask my doctor about CGA today and he advised me that the pred that I am on for PMR would cover that also. Right now we are just trying to level out my pred dosage. I was on 20mg this past week down from 25mg the two week prior. The pain came back on 20mg so I am back up to 25mg for the time being. The doctor wants to bring me down more slowly with using 1mg dosage. I hope I can get down to at least only 5mg/day. Unfortunately in the last few days my knees are painful, doc says I will feel PMR in many places. Your are a very blessed man to have a wife that takes such good care of you. It sounds as though neither of you lets your PMR/CGA keep you for traveling and having some wonderful advertures.Missy....I haven't heard of too many having knee pain. That is mainly where my pain is at. It is on the inside of my knees. They hurt when they are in the same position for a half hour or so. That is what bothers me when sleeping. I wake up when I want to turn over because my knees hurt.
I'm just on aspirin, Tylenol or Ibuprofen, and it sort of cuts the pain, but it is always there. August now marks one year that I've had PMR. Some days the pain feels a bit weaker, so I keep hoping it is burning itself out. The other morning I got up , I could lift my knees up and they didn't hurt as much. But, the next morning, it was back to the same old thing. Mary
to all:
I was diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica and temporal arteritis (giant cell arteritis) sept 2006 (had a biopsy to confirm). I was put on 60 mg prednisone. I've experienced the weight gain, the moon face, and generally felt miserable. The brain fog is awful! my c-protien was high, but sed rate was ok. I was first put on the prednisone and it completely took away all my gct and PMR symptoms and blood work was great. we reduced the dosage over time, about 6 wks ago i was down to 5mg, felt great, but 4 wks ago the headaches/soreness to sides of temps returned, i've had a replase (which is common), but my sed rate was 60 and c-protien was 138.1. i am now back on 60mg of prednisone. my dr wants me to try to include methotrexate. i wanted to know if anyone has tried this with any results. i've done a lot of research, but nothing will say it works for sure. sides effects look awful.
thanks for any help
Hi idog:
See the post from Mary on 'Reducing dosage of Pred' posted today. She probably can give you some input.