Jaw Update

[ferlew]

Because I am now experiencing pain in the neck, shoulders and hip (all left sided) GP did a blood test.
Rang me this morning and said I had to start steroids today, then further blood test Tuesday.
He thinks I have polymyalgia rheumatica.
How on earth has that happened?

[barry1010]

I'm sure Sqad will be along to help but in the meantime the NHS website says it can be genetic or due to environmental factors, whatever that means. Still, no harm having a read up on it
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/polymyalgia-rheumatica/

[Sqad]

Interesting diagnosis made almost certainly on inflammatory markers on the blood test.
Thanks for the feedback.

[barry1010]

I sounds very painful, I hope you get adequate pain relief

[andres]

I had this a few years ago. The rheumatology Specialist prescribed Prednisolone. Once the PMR was finally under control I was put on a reducing dosage until after a few months I was finally able to come off the medication. I had to carry a card stating that I had PMR and that I was on steroids.
I hope that you are not in too much pain. x

[Patsy33]

I hope you can get some relief, ferlew. Best wishes x

[Arksided]

I second Patsy's best wishes to you... I've no idea what it is but don't spread it about.

[ferlew]

Thank you everyone.
In a way it's a relief to have a handle on it, it's been 8 weeks now.
Started the prednisolone this afternoon, fingers crossed it helps.

[choux]

ferlew, if your situation is anything like my sister's you could see a huge improvement after just 48 hours on prednisolone! She had been suffering intense shoulder pain for some time to the point that washing and dressing was becoming extremely difficult. She refused to see her GP so I persuaded her to see a chiropractor. Relief was slow and not long-lasting.

Eventually she agreed to see her GP who was very dismissive of the chiropractor and prescribed a course of prednisolone, diagnosed PMR and arranged blood tests. He told her she would be able to raise her arms above her head after 48 hours and he was absolutely right. She came off the steroids gradually and the problem has never re-surfaced. I wish you a similar speedy resolution.

[gness]

Ferlew. I hope your treatment works as well as Choux’s sisters has. Gx

[choux]

I can understand ferlew's partial relief at having a diagnosis, I always feel the same. If anyone can give a good news story about similar experiences it can add to the sense of relief. I hope it does help, gness :)

[gness]

Agree, Choux. Good news information always helps. Glad you posted that.

[ferlew]

Thank you so much choux and gness.
I don't think my GP took me seriously to start with, just handed me a leaflet on self help for TMJ exercises, and some pain relief. (Wich I was allergic to). I rang again and they changed the neds to amytryptaline - zinked all day. Finally wrote to the surgery, blood test and here I am. I was beginning to think I was imaging it. Well, apart from the huge weight loss because I couldn't eat anything I liked, eventually of course I just lost my appetite all together.
Hopefully I'll start to see an improvement in a day or two, fingers crossed.

[ferlew]

Zonked not 'zinked'. tut

[gness]

You think your doctor didn’t take you seriously!
Been there, Ferlew many times. I was once worried about my baby. Doctor offered me mother’s little helper to stop me worrying. I took her to hospital where they saved her life. An intussusception.
I get grumpy about the way male doctors so often treat women. I now have a few doctors in my family. I lecture them…often! :-)
.

[Buenchico]

There's loads of info and advice here:
https://pmrgca.org.uk/

[ferlew]

That is a great resource Buenchico, thank you so much, BA foor that :)

[andres]

ferlew---hopefully now you begin to feel much better. Have you been given a steroid card .? Depending on the steroid dosage you might need one if you have to see a dentist.

[ferlew]

Not yet andres, but I speak to the GP again on Friday - blood test is on Tuesday - and he will discuss the results and see where we go from there.
I have had my second dose today, (8x5mg) and although my hip pain is a lot better and I am not breathless on walking, it doesn't feel yet like any difference in my jaw pain, early days yet though. I do feel a lot livlier in myself however. Thanks for asking :)

[choux]

So pleased there is some improvement, ferlew x Fingers x'd.