Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Giant Cell Arteritis - Home Treatment
To feel your best during treatment for polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) or giant cell arteritis (GCA):
- Take your medicine as prescribed by your doctor.
- Work closely with your doctor and nurse, reporting any medicine side effects or symptoms of giant cell arteritis, such as headache, jaw pain, and vision problems.
- Eat a balanced diet.
- Stop smoking, and avoid being around tobacco smoke.
- Reduce how much alcohol you drink. It's a good idea to have no more than one beer or one glass of wine each day.
- Be sure you get enough calcium and vitamin D to help prevent bone thinning (osteoporosis) if you are taking corticosteroids.
- Get mild, regular weight-bearing exercise, which will help keep your bones strong and bolster your physical and emotional ability to handle your illness.
If any of your symptoms get worse or come back, contact your doctor or nurse.
Understanding Gout -- Diagnosis & Treatment
To diagnose gout, blood and urine tests are needed but may not always give the answer. Demonstrating high uric acid in the blood is essential, but you can have a high level of uric acid without having gout. Or you may have normal uric acid levels at the time of a gout attack. To confirm the presence of gout, fluid drawn from the affected joint may be examined under a special polarizing microscope to see if it shows the characteristic crystals. X-rays are useful in confirming long-term or chronic...
Read the Understanding Gout -- Diagnosis & Treatment article > >
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Giant Cell Arteritis Topics
Today in Arthritis
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
©2005-2013 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.
WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See additional information.