What is polymyalgia rheumatico?

Answer 1

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is a condition which causes inflammation of large muscles. 'Poly' means many, and 'myalgia' means muscle pain. The cause of PMR is not known.

PMR mainly affects people over the age of 65. It is rare in people under 50. About 1 in 1,000 people over the age of 50 develops PMR each year. Women are three times more likely to be affected than men

symptoms of polymyalgia rheumatica?

• The most common symptoms are stiffness, pain, aching, and tenderness of the large muscles around the shoulders and upper arms. Quite commonly the muscles around the neck and hips are also affected. The stiffness may be so bad that you may have difficulty turning over in bed, rising from a bed or a chair, or raising your arms above shoulder height (for example, to comb your hair). The stiffness is usually worst first thing in the morning. Getting out of bed may be difficult. The stiffness often eases after an hour or so after getting up from bed and as the day goes on.
• Inflammation and swelling sometimes occur in other 'soft tissues' of the body. For example, tendons may become inflamed (tenosynovitis), your hands or feet may become slightly swollen, and some joints may become slightly swollen.
• Other general symptoms may also occur. These include: tiredness, depression, night sweats, fever, loss of appetite, and weight loss.

Symptoms typically develop over a few days or weeks. However, they develop more slowly in some cases. You may pass it off as 'aches and pains of getting older' when symptoms first start.