Polymyalgia rheumatica

What is polymyalgia rheumatica?

Polymyalgia rheumatica is an autoimmune disease that causes stiffness in the shoulder and hip girdles. Often, people will not be able to lift their arms overhead or get up from a chair. It starts suddenly. Symptoms are worse in the morning, with significant stiffness that lasts for an hour or more before it starts to improve. An inflammatory marker, called a CRP, will be high.

RheumInfo: Polymyalgia Rheumatica

https://rheuminfo.com/en/diseases/polymyalgia-rheumatica/

How is polymyalgia rheumatica treated?

The first line treatment for polymyalgia rheumatica is prednisone. Prednisone quickly reduces the inflammation. People with polymyalgia rheumatica improve within 24-48 hours of starting prednisone. We aim to taper people off prednisone within a year, as there are many long term side effects with this medication. This includes bone thinning (osteoporosis), high blood pressure, high blood sugar, cataracts, glaucoma, weight gain, thin skin etc.

RheumInfo: Prednisone

https://rheuminfo.com/en/medications/prednisone/

What other treatment is available?

If someone is not able to stop prednisone, we often consider starting a medication such as methotrexate to help taper off prednisone. Once treated, polymyalgia rheumatica typically does not recur.

RheumInfo: Methotrexate

https://rheuminfo.com/en/medications/methotrexate/

What is giant cell arteritis?

Rarely, people with polymyalgia rheumatica can develop an associated disease called giant cell arteritis. This is a medical emergency. Giant cell arteritis causes inflammation in the blood vessels, typically in the head, resulting in new headaches. It can also cause vision changes (blurry vision, double vision, intermittent loss of vision), scalp tenderness, pain in the jaw with chewing, fevers and night sweats and/or unintentional weight loss.

RheumInfo: Giant Cell Arteritis

https://rheuminfo.com/en/diseases/giant-cell-arteritis/