Disabling effects
Disabling effects depend on how the person is affected by the condition. If there are symptoms of pain and stiffness of the muscles, the disabling effects will be as for polymyalgia rheumatica. These should be alleviated within days.
However, if the symptoms are mainly that of Temporal Arteritis, the disabling effects may include vision effects as well as headaches and tenderness of the temporal artery or arteries.
These may be:
- Temporary vision loss in one eye (Amaurosis Fugax)
- Double vision (which resolves)
- Partial or complete loss of vision.
- Stroke
People with these complications would need to be urgently referred on to the relevant specialists.
In the past, blindness occurred in Temporal Arteritis in about 20% of people.
However, treatment is implemented as soon as the diagnosis is suspected, the aim being to prevent blindness and normally there will be rapid improvement in symptoms after a few weeks.
However some people can have sudden, irreversible blindness.
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If a person has suffered a stroke, there will be disabling effects associated with the effects of the stroke
Amended November 2008
