Polymyalgia Rheumatica Symptoms and Treatment

Polymyalgia Rheumatica Symptoms and Treatment
Page content

Polymyalgia rheumatica is characterized by muscle-related symptoms and is classified as an inflammatory disorder. This condition sometimes occurs along with giant cell arteritis, and is also related to this condition. This condition is most often diagnosed in patients over the age of 50. Polymyalgia rheumatica symptoms vary and should always be evaluated by a doctor.

Common Symptoms

This condition can present with several different symptoms. The common symptoms include:

  • Shoulder aches and pains
  • Pain or aches in the lower back, hips, neck, buttocks, or thighs
  • The affected areas having a limited range of motion
  • Upper arm tenderness
  • Stiffness or pain in the knees or wrists
  • Affected areas are stiff, especially after prolonged inactivity or in the morning

Other Symptoms

There are other polymyalgia rheumatica symptoms that can occur following the pain and stiffness. These include:

  • Low-grade fever
  • Malaise
  • Unintended weight loss
  • Fatigue
  • Loss of appetite
  • Depression

When to See a Physician

When patients experience certain symptoms or symptom changes, it warrants a trip to the doctor as soon as possible. When a patient experiences aches, pain, or stiffness that:

  • Disrupts sleep
  • Is new
  • Limits the patient’s ability to complete basic daily living activities

Complications

For some patients with this condition, they will experience related complications. The pain and stiffness may:

  • Make it difficult to stand up or get out of bed
  • Make it difficult to put on a coat or get dressed
  • Make it difficult to bathe or perform other personal hygiene tasks

Giant Cell Arteritis

When this condition occurs alongside polymyalgia rheumatica, additional symptoms can occur. These can include:

  • Severe, persistent head tenderness and pain that usually affects the temple area
  • Scalp tenderness that may make it difficult and painful to lie on a pillow or brush hair
  • Permanent, sudden vision loss in a single eye
  • Unintended weight loss
  • Double vision or decreased visual acuity
  • Jaw pain when chewing
  • Fever

There are some complications associated with this condition too. These can include:

  • Blindness
  • Stroke
  • Aortic aneurysm

Treatment

In order to control the symptoms and help alleviate a patient’s pain and stiffness, it is important they seek treatment. Low-dose corticosteroids are the most common form of treatment. Patients will typically take a daily dose of ten to twenty milligrams of prednisone, or a similar corticosteroid. Most patients will need to take this drug for at least two to three years. Because this type of drug can cause serious side effects, regular monitoring of these side effects is crucial. The side effects patients should be on the lookout for include:

  • Osteoporosis
  • High cholesterol
  • Cataracts
  • Depression
  • High blood pressure
  • Diabetes

Vitamin D and calcium supplements are also important to help reduce the risk of osteoporosis. Physical therapy can be done to help patients maintain their mobility and independence.

Resources

American College of Rheumatology. (2009). Polymyalgia Rheumatica. Retrieved on August 25, 2010 from the American College of Rheumatology: https://www.rheumatology.org/practice/clinical/patients/diseases_and_conditions/polymyalgiarheumatica.asp

MayoClinic.com. (2010). Polymyalgia Rheumatica. Retrieved on August 25, 2010 from MayoClinic.com: https://www.mayoclinic.com/health/polymyalgia-rheumatica/DS00441

MedlinePlus. (2009). Polymyalgia Rheumatica. Retrieved on August 25, 2010 from MedlinePlus: https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000415.htm