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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffPolymyalgia rheumatica is an inflammatory disorder that causes muscle pain and stiffness, primarily in your neck, shoulders, upper arms, hips and thighs. Symptoms of polymyalgia rheumatica (pol-ee-my-AL-juh roo-MA-ti-kah) usually begin quickly over a few days.
Most people who develop polymyalgia rheumatica are older than 65, and it rarely affects people younger than 50.
Anti-inflammatory drugs called corticosteroids improve the symptoms of polymyalgia rheumatica, but these drugs require careful monitoring for serious side effects.
Polymyalgia rheumatica is related to and may coexist with another inflammatory disorder called giant cell arteritis, which can cause headaches, visual impairment, jaw pain and other symptoms.
- Michet CJ, et al. Polymyalgia rheumatica. BMJ. 2008;336:765.
- Unwin B, et al. Polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis. American Family Physician. 2006;74:1547.
- Polymyalgia rheumatica. American College of Rheumatology. http://www.rheumatology.org/practice/clinical/patients/diseases_and_conditions/polymyalgiarheumatica.asp. Accessed April 14, 2010.
- Polymyalgia rheumatica. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual of Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec04/ch033/ch033i.html. Accessed April 6, 2010.
- Salvarani C, et al. Polymyalgia rheumatica and giant-cell arteritis. Lancet. 2008;372:234.
- Giant cell arteritis. American College of Rheumatology. http://www.rheumatology.org/practice/clinical/patients/diseases_and_conditions/giantcellarteritis.asp. Accessed April 15, 2010.
- Glucocorticosteroid-induced osteoporosis. American College of Rheumatology. http://www.rheumatology.org/practice/clinical/patients/diseases_and_conditions/gi-osteoporosis.asp. Accessed April 15, 2010.
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