Polymyalgia Rheumatica is a serious inflammatory disorder that leads to the development of stiffness and muscle pain, particularly in areas around the body such as the hips and shoulders. The disease usually occurs with people over the age of 50, especially senior citizens who are at least 70 years old. This autoimmune disease specifically affects the lining of joints by causing inflammation. When this inflammation occurs, the person who is affected will experience a substantial amount of pain that is at its worst in the morning and lessens as the day goes on. There are a wide range of symptoms that occur with this disease, the majority of which will start suddenly.
If you notice any of the following symptoms, it’s important that you make an appointment with your doctor and attempt to get the issue diagnosed as soon as possible. A standard blood test is typically all that’s needed for the disease to be diagnosed, which saves you from needing to go through a rigorous amount of testing. In most cases, this disease is highly treatable with the usage of what are known as corticosteroids, which are medications that help to reduce the inflammation that you’re experiencing.
The most effective of these corticosteroids is that of prednisone. During treatment, blood tests are typically taken every couple of months to determine whether or not the course of treatment has been effective. In the majority of cases, it will take around 2-3 years of treatment to fully rid your body of the Polymyalgia Rheumatica.
The causes associated with PMR are largely unknown, although the suddenness in how quickly the symptoms develop would indicate that the disease occurs due to an infection, but no actual scientific evidence has proven this. What’s most important is that you seek treatment as soon as you notice that you’re experiencing some of the following symptoms.
1. Shoulder Pain
Shoulder pain is by far the most common sign that you’re suffering from Polymyalgia Rheumatica, as this area is the likeliest place on your body for the inflammation caused by this disease to occur. This pain will display itself in both of your shoulders and is typically very sudden, although there are instances where it will develop gradually over a lengthy period of time. It’s important to understand that this symptom is typically the first symptom that you will experience when affected by Polymyalgia Rheumatica, as the pain will usually spread to other areas of your body.
It’s possible to notice that this pain is due to the development of this disease if it came about suddenly, but otherwise you may need to wait for additional symptoms to occur before you determine that it’s caused by Polymyalgia Rheumatica. This general muscle pain will typically be worse in the morning and become easier to deal with as the day goes on. At the beginning of the day, the pain may be so severe that it’s difficult for you to have a full range of motion when moving your shoulders. If that’s the case, it’s important that you see your doctor so that the disease can be diagnosed early.
2. Neck Pain
Most people who suffer from Polymyalgia Rheumatica will start to experience pain in the neck soon after it has affected the shoulder area, which is due primarily to the fact that inflammation is known to spread with this disease unless it’s treated immediately. This neck pain will typically be moderate to severe and will generally be accompanied by some stiffness. The pain in your neck will inhibit activity and make it difficult to go about your daily schedule. If you believe that your neck pain is due to the development of Polymyalgia Rheumatica, it will most likely be accompanied by additional symptoms.
3. Pelvic Girdle Pain
While pain is most commonly felt in the shoulders and neck, one of the other potential signs that you’ve developed a case of Polymyalgia Rheumatica is if you experience pain within the pelvic girdle, which is an area of your body that consists of two hip bones, the sacrum, and the coccyx. Although pain within the pelvic girdle typically occurs after you’ve started to experience pain in the shoulders or neck, it’s also possible for the pain to be limited to the pelvic region, which means that the soreness and inflammation will occur within the groin area and the buttocks.
4. Joint Stiffness
Although muscle pain is among the most common signs that you’ve developed Polymyalgia Rheumatica, joint stiffness is also exceedingly common. This stiffness will typically occur in the affected areas of inflammation, which means that any shoulder pain may be accompanied by shoulder stiffness. The joint stiffness that you experience will likely be worse in the morning, but it can also flare up after lengthy periods of inactivity. Although less common, this stiffness could extend to additional areas of your body such as the elbows, knees, or wrists. If left untreated, the stiffness that you’re going through will become more severe in intensity.
5. Tenderness
Tenderness can manifest itself in a number of ways when it comes to Polymyalgia Rheumatica, depending on where this sensation is felt. People suffering from this disease may experience tenderness within the muscles that have been affected, such as the shoulder or neck muscles. This sensation will make the muscles feel sore to the touch and will feel particularly acute after you’ve used the muscles. If the tenderness is felt in your scalp, this could be due to the development of an additional condition known as temporal arteritis, which is a inflammation of blood vessels. This condition occurs in around 15 percent of all those affected by Polymyalgia Rheumatica and oftentimes causes scalp tenderness.
6. Fatigue
Many people who are going through Polymyalgia Rheumatica will also suffer from an intense and chronic fatigue, which is noted by a feeling of tiredness as well as a lack of energy and mental or physical exhaustion. Fatigue will cause you to have a lack of motivation towards getting anything done and can lead to a variety of side effects. For instance, fatigue can cause you to lose your appetite and eventually lose weight if this continues without treatment. Along with fatigue, you will feel weak almost all the time, which makes it difficult to work properly or go about your normal schedule.
7. Hip Ache
If you’re suffering from pelvic girdle pain due to Polymyalgia Rheumatica, it’s also possible for this pain to extend to the hip and cause a low aching sensation that doesn’t go away and can even worsen if the disease is left untreated. If your hip is aching, the severity of the ache will likely become worse when you move, which can severely affect your range of motion, as the hip is essential towards running and walking. If you experience aching in your hip alongside a couple of the other aforementioned symptoms, there’s a good chance that you require treatment for Polymyalgia Rheumatica.
