PMR or Polymyalgia Rheumatica is a very odd disease that is not well understood. It's symptoms however are stiffness in the major joints, mostly hip stiffness and shoulder stiffness. It can strike suddenly or it can come on very slowly the the patient becoming stiffer by the day. As the disease progresses it can make the patient so stiff they have trouble getting up in the morning or tying their shoes. Often, it can be proceeded by noticing indicators of inflammation in the body (sore elbows or fingers)
When I had it (the author) it showed up initially in my hips and I had trouble getting on a bike. I originally thought it was because I was getting old. I started also getting stiff in my shoulders. So stiff that it would wake me up in the middle of the night.
Often, many doctors are totally unfamiliar with this particular disease so it is easy for it not to be diagnosed. In my case, I had to figure out what I had based on my symptoms and Google.
Symptoms
- Stiffness in Major Joints (mostly Hips, Knees and Shoulders, sometimes neck and butt) but both sides of the body. Symmetrical stiffness.
- (Unsymmetrical Stiffness could be MS)
- Elevated indicators for inflammation
- SED Rate (ESR)
- C-Reactive Protein
- Immediate relief of symptoms with the patient consuming Prednisone
Believe it or not, testing if the symptoms are relived with the administration of Prednisone is one of the ways this disease is diagnosed. If you have a blood test and it shows high inflammation markers with stiff major joints, and the stiffness goes away with a prescription of Prenisone, then Doctors will say you have been diagnosed.
Risk Factors
PMR is not well understood although the following correlates with the disease:
- Age - Generally over the age of 50
- Genetics - It seems that people of Northern European Descent are more likely to come down with PMR
- Viral Infection - Some think that a viral infection might kick off the disease.
Causes
- Possibly Auto Immune Disease where the body's immune system attacks the major joints. This is modeled after arthritis .
Related to:
A related disease is Giant Cell Arteritis (CGA) which occurs in 10%-15% of patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). CGA can cause permanent blindness and strokes if it is not caught in time so getting a timely diagnoses of PMR is important.
Prognosis
Typically, most patients are given medication (Prednisone) to reduce symptoms of PMR and the disease eventually goes away by it self in approximately 1-5 years although for some, it never goes away.
What does Prednisone do?
What can I do to get rid of this?
Can it be prevented.