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What is Polymyalgia Rheumatica?
Polymyalgia rheumatica is an inflammatory condition affecting people over 50 years of age that causes pain and stiffness in your neck, shoulders and hips. It may also affect your upper arms, thighs and back. You’ll usually feel the pain and stiffness on both sides of your body. The aching and stiffness are usually worse in the morning or when you haven’t moved in a while. Morning stiffness usually lasts at least 30 minutes or more. The pain can be unbearable, but it may improve with activity.
Symptoms
The most common symptoms of polymyalgia rheumatica are the sudden onset of pain and stiffness around your large joints, especially around your shoulders and hips. You may also notice discomfort in your arms, back, glutes and neck. The aches and pains generally come on within two weeks, even overnight. You’ll usually feel the pain on both sides of your body. You might have trouble performing ordinary tasks like getting dressed or brushing your hair.
Other polymyalgia rheumatica symptoms may include:
- Stiffness lasting more than 30 minutes, especially in the morning and after resting.
- Weakness.
- Fatigue.
- Generally feeling ill.
- Loss of appetite.
- Weight loss.
- Swelling of your hands or wrists.
- Mild fevers.
About 10% to 20% of people with polymyalgia rheumatica may have another medical condition called giant cell arteritis (temporal arteritis). This form of vasculitis causes inflammation of large blood vessels like your aorta and temporal arteries. Alternatively, 40% to 60% of people with giant cell arteritis may have polymyalgia rheumatica.
Treatment
A steroid medicine called prednisolone is the main treatment for polymyalgia rheumatica. It’s used to help relieve the symptoms.
Alternatively acupuncture works very well and successfully resolves the pain. Through a combination of acupuncture, massage, and certain exercises the pains can be treated with a high rate of success. Emergent Healing has a full protocol for this condition. Please reach out if you are dealing with this condition.
