Polymyalgia Rheumatica Summary Polymyalgia rheumatica is a disorder that causes muscle pain and stiffness in your neck, shoulders, and hips. It is most common in women and almost always occurs in people over 50. The main symptom is stiffness after resting. Other symptoms include fever, weakness and weight loss. In some cases, polymyalgia rheumatica develops overnight. In others, it is gradual. The cause is not known. There is no single test to diagnose polymyalgia rheumatica. Your doctor will use your medical history, symptoms, and a physical exam to make the diagnosis. Lab tests for inflammation may help confirm the diagnosis. Polymyalgia rheumatica sometimes occurs along with giant cell arteritis, a condition that causes swelling of the arteries in your head. Symptoms include headaches and blurred vision. Doctors often prescribe prednisone, a steroid medicine, for both conditions. With treatment, polymyalgia rheumatica usually disappears in a day or two. Without treatment, it usually goes away after a year or more. NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Find an Expert American College of Rheumatology American College of Rheumatology Arthritis Foundation Arthritis Foundation Find a Rheumatologist American College of Rheumatology National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Diagnosis and Tests C-Reactive Protein (CRP) Test American Association for Clinical Chemistry ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate) Test American Association for Clinical Chemistry Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Polymyalgia Rheumatica National Institutes of Health Array ESR Polymyalgia rheumatica Related Issues Giant Cell Arteritis and Polymyalgia Rheumatica American Academy of Family Physicians What is Vasculitis? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Start Here Polymyalgia Rheumatica Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Polymyalgia Rheumatica American College of Rheumatology Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Giant Cell (Temporal) Arteritis (Beyond the Basics) UpToDate Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Giant Cell Arteritis National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases What Are Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Giant Cell Arteritis? National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Treatments and Therapies Prednisone Johns Hopkins Vasculitis Center Prednisone and Other Corticosteroids: Balance the Risks and Benefits Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Journal Articles Polymyalgia rheumatica
