Polymyalgia Rheumatica

What is it?

Points To Remember About Polymyalgia Rheumatica

• Polymyalgia rheumatica causes muscle pain and stiffness in the neck, shoulder, and hip.
• The disorder mainly affects people over 50, especially women.
• Polymyalgia rheumatica is treated with medications, such as corticosteroids.
• If you have polymyalgia rheumatica, your doctor should also look for signs of another disorder, giant cell arteritis.

Polymyalgia rheumatica causes muscle pain and stiffness in the neck, shoulder, and hip. The pain and stiffness usually occur in the morning or when you haven’t been moving for a while. It typically lasts longer than 30 minutes. For most people, the condition develops over time. But for some people it can start quickly – even overnight. In addition to stiffness, you may have a fever, weakness, and weight loss.

Polymyalgia rheumatica usually goes away within one year, but it could last several years.

People with polymyalgia rheumatica often have giant cell arteritis a disorder associated with inflammation of arteries located on each side of the head.