What is polymyalgia rheumatica?
Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is a condition that causes inflammation of large muscles. PMR primarily affects individuals over 50 years of age. Women are three times more likely to develop this disease than men.
What causes polymyalgia rheumatica?
The cause of PMR is unknown. PMR is not caused by medication side effects. PMR is characterized by inflammation of the shoulder and hip joints and inflammation of the bursa (bursitis) around these joints.
What are the symptoms of polymyalgia rheumatica?
If you have PMR, you will likely experience severe and painful stiffness in the morning, especially in the shoulders and hips. You may find the stiffness in your arms so severe that you cannot get out of bed without help, or you may have real difficulty dressing yourself or climbing stairs. It is also common to feel generally unwell or have a low-grade fever.
What tests are required to diagnose polymyalgia rheumatica?
Diagnosis of PMR depends on the doctor taking a detailed history of your illness, followed by examination and relevant tests. If PMR is suspected, your doctor will typically arrange a blood test called erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and a CRP test. Your doctor may also arrange tests to rule out other diseases.
What is the treatment for polymyalgia rheumatica?
The usual treatment is a steroid medication such as prednisolone. Steroids work by reducing inflammation. The effect of treatment usually appears quickly, within a few days. After starting treatment, improvement of symptoms over 2-3 days is often very dramatic. Treatment usually starts with 15 to 20 mg per day, and then the dose is gradually reduced to a “maintenance dose.” It typically lasts for two years or more, and some people with PMR may need to continue taking small doses of steroid tablets for many years.
