POLYMYALGIA RHEUMATICA

Polymyalgia rheumatica is a type of connective tissue disorder. It causes muscle pains and stiffness. It is worse in the morning or after a period of inactivity. The stiffness usually lasts more than 30 minutes, but gets better after the person gets up and starts moving. It almost always occurs after age 50. Women are twice as likely as men to have it. The cause of this disease is unknown.

The symptoms of polymyalgia rheumatica usually start slowly, but may begin suddenly in some people. The main symptoms of polymyalgia rheumatica are moderate to severe muscle pain and stiffness in the neck, shoulders or hips. This stiffness is worse when waking up in the morning and lasts more than 30 minutes. There may also be flu-like symptoms including fever, weakness, or weight loss.

A healthcare provider should be seen for any muscle aches or stiffness that does not go away in a few days. A provider can usually diagnose this disease after doing a careful physical exam, taking a medical history and doing some blood tests.

There is no cure for this disease. It can be treated and kept under control. When polymyalgia rheumatica is treated, the symptoms may go away very quickly, often within 24 to 48 hours. If this disease is not treated, it may go away without any treatment within one to several years. It is treated with a medicine called prednisone. It may need to be taken for 6 months to one year. The prednisone should not be stopped until the provider says to stop it. It usually has to be stopped slowly. Sometimes, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) will be used, but they will not decrease the pain.

People with polymyalgia rheumatica usually can lead active lives after it has been treated. A few people may have the disease come back after the medicine has been stopped. If this happens, the medicine will have to be started again.

Some people with polymyalgia rheumatica get a disease called giant cell arteritis or temporal arteritis. The symptoms of giant cell arteritis may also start with signs of the flu. There are usually headaches, pain in the temple, and blurred or double vision. There may be pain in the jaw or tongue. Giant cell arteritis is an inflammation of the temporal artery. It is treated the same way as polymyalgia rheumatica. If it is not treated, it may cause blindness.

When polymyalgia rheumatica is also associated with giant cell arteritis, diagnosis, and treatment should start as soon as possible. Diagnosis of giant cell arteritis is confirmed with a biopsy of the artery.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

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