Me again,
Previous posts have outlined that fact that I have been suffering PMR type symptoms since July 2013 , but because I am slightly younger than 50 (by less than two years), my rheumatologist is very reluctant to diagnose PMR to and to avoid long-term prednisone treatment until all other potential causes are ruled out. I have since been referred ot a neurologist.
Last summer, prior to any PMR-like symptoms, I had pain in my neck which appeared to be related to inflammation of the carotid artery. I have little doubt this inflammation is related to my PMR -like symptoms. The pain went away in about a week. At the time, after mentioning it to my GP, I had an ultrasound which showed nothing unusual
I have told my rheumatologist about this event. The reason I bring it up is that today I seem to be experiencing this again. Not constant pain, but the area is a little tender to the touch. I also have a bit of a sore neck today ( as it is some days). and a bit of a cold, so the symptoms could be related to either of those. When I experienced it previously, the pain would go away with a small dose Tylenol.
If is sticks around another day or so, I will be contacting my doctor as I am concerned about a possible relationship to GCA. I currently have no other symptoms I could relate to GCA.
Curious if any others have experienced this.
b
hi 'me again', am pretty new to this illness diagnosis, but with out realising what was wrong with me i have been in pain for several months. my first signs of anything being wrong was the fact that i got a very bad dose of flu which passed but the ache and pains associated with flu went no where. i wonder if perhaps your gp is seeing or looking for alternatives instead of paying full attention to the facts. one of the major signs seems to be to raise both your arms to shoulder height and see if they ache while you hold them in this persision. if they do my doctor says that is a good sign of pmr. i have also very quickly learnt that a LOT of pmr patients dont appear to show signs in their blood test, which can make it diffcult to diagnose. another good sign is if you have very achey legs. i think that you should persue yours visits to your doctor and not give in until you have a definate diagnosis
I am only a year in to PMR but when reading your post b17941 I can say if the neck pain was PMR it would not come and go. In my experience the pain and immobility started and grew worse constantly until i was virtually immobile. I have always believed the telling sign is if the pain is bilateral. My GP always checks my jaw and if tender on temples, this she says could be GCA.
I think stress can bring on severe pain at the back of neck and have a wonderful Physio who does Cranio sacral therapy which helps relax the body and realign.
I am playing tennis and I get muscle strain which I know is the tennis as not bilateral and therefore unrelated to my PMR. I say this as sometimes maybe our aches are merely the use of under used muscles.
I am not making light of anyones symptoms but have learnt what i can put down to PMR or just wear and tear.
Tennis is great but I have to rest big time afterwards!
Hope you feel better soon.
DJ
Hi DJ/lynda,
Thanks for the replies,
What I was wwondring about specifically is tenderness in the carotid atery of the neck, wehre the artey splits from one large into tow (I believe). I have some inflamation at this point in the artery - which I have also eperienced last summer, and which went away afte a week or two. I have it again now, however it doesn't sema s bad as when I posted on Friday.
As far as PMR pain, I have had stiff and sore upper legs, shoulders, and neck since last July. Interestingly, the areas affected do not remain the same. For instance, my mobility right now is improved since the pain in my legs is not as bad in the quadricep area as it was a short while ago, so I can actually stand and raise my knees in front of me - which whould have been quire painfull or perhaps not even doable a couple of weeks ago. Overall, I think things have improved a bit over the last week or so, but I've said that in the past, and the next week it was back with a vengeance.
All the best.
b