Temporal arteritis is one possibility
Temporal arteritis
Temporal arteritis is a condition caused by inflammation of one or more large arteries, usually affecting one or both of the large temporal arteries on either side of the head. This condition, also known as giant cell arteritis, is a painful condition that almost always occurs in people 50 years of age or older.
People with temporal arteritis describe the pain as severe, throbbing, and burning - and in most cases, it is concentrated in the temple area on one side of the head. The infection may be accompanied by other symptoms, such as a mild fever, loss of weight or appetite, or pain in the scalp or temple. Chewing may also cause pain in the jaw muscles.
Until now, doctors do not know the reason behind this problem, but what is certain is that it results from a misleading response on the part of the immune system, causing inflammation in the walls of the arteries. The swelling caused by the swelling can lead to gradual narrowing of the affected vessels, reducing the volume of blood flowing.
In severe cases, the arteries become completely blocked. If this occurs in the artery that supplies the retina, it threatens the eye’s ability to see. However, temporal arteritis shows a good response to medications, if detected and treated early.
A doctor who suspects temporal arteritis should check the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and/or C-reactive protein (CRP). A high rate of one or both suggests the presence of inflammation in the body. In some centers, ultrasound examination of the temporal arteries can confirm this diagnosis.
Arterial examination
However, the most reliable way to diagnose the condition remains to remove part of the blood vessel to examine it under a microscope, looking for changes in the artery wall. Confirming the presence of temporal arteritis is of utmost importance, since this condition requires long-term treatment with medications to reduce inflammation.
If the symptoms, the results of the examination, and the results of the blood test all strongly indicate the presence of temporal arteritis, then you should (in severe cases, blockage of the artery supplying the retina threatens with loss of vision) to begin, as soon as possible, to receive treatment based on large doses of corticosteroids. . Most doctors start treatment with corticosteroids as a preventive measure, before performing an ultrasound examination or obtaining a blood vessel biopsy.
If the diagnosis of temporal arteritis is confirmed, the patient then needs to take prednisone or another type of corticosteroid in a large dose until the symptoms disappear and the results of additional laboratory tests become close to normal levels. Usually, this takes at least a month. After that, the dose is gradually reduced. Your doctor may suggest adding another anti-inflammatory medication, such as tocilizumab, to help reduce your prednisone dose more quickly.
