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'''For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click [[Polymyalgia rheumatica|here]]'''
{{Template:Polymyalgia rheumatica (patient information)}}
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'''Editors-in-Chief:''' [[C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D.]];  
'''Editors-in-Chief:''' [[C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D.]];  
'''Associate Editor-In-Chief''': [[User:Ujjwal Rastogi|Ujjwal Rastogi, MBBS]] [mailto:urastogi@perfuse.org]
'''Associate Editor-In-Chief''': [[User:Ujjwal Rastogi|Ujjwal Rastogi, MBBS]] [mailto:urastogi@perfuse.org]
'''For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click [[Polymyalgia rheumatica|here]]'''


==Overview==
==Overview==
Myalgia means pain and Rheumatica refers to muscles, joints, or fibrous tissue. Polymyalgia rheumatica is an inflammatory condition causing pain and stiffness in shoulder, neck and hips.
Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is an inflammatory disorder involving pain and stiffness in the shoulder and usually also the hip.


==What are the symptoms of Polymyalgia rheumatica?==
==What are the symptoms of Polymyalgia rheumatica?==
The patient can complain of
The most typical symptom is pain and stiffness in both shoulders and the neck. This pain usually progresses to the hips, and there isfatigue too. It becomes more and more difficult for patients to get around.
*[[Pain]] and stiffness in the proximal muscles that usually occurs on both sides and worse in the morning
 
* Stiffness after prolong activity i.e. Gel phenomenon
Other symptoms include:
*[[Fever]] (low grade)
 
* Weight loss
* Anemia
* Appetite loss, which leads to unintentional weight loss
* Depression
* Depression
*[[Fatigue]]
* Fever
*No weakness
 
There are no specific joint symptoms.
 
Some people with PMR also have giant cell arteritis. This far more serious disease can cause:


It may coexist with another inflammatory disorder called [[giant cell arteritis]], which can cause headaches, visual impairment, jaw pain and other symptoms.
* Heart attack
* Stroke
* Sudden blindness
 
==What causes Polymyalgia rheumatica?==
The cause is unknown. PMR may occur alone, or with or before giant cell arteritis (also called temporal arteritis), which is inflammation of blood vessels (usually in the head).


==Who is at highest risk?==
==Who is at highest risk?==
The cause of [[Polymyalgia rheumatica]] remains unknown. The symptoms are due to the activity of inflammatory cells and proteins that are normally a part of body's disease-fighting immune system.
Polymyalgia rheumatica is a disorder that almost always occurs in people over 50 years old.


However sometimes it can occur together with [[Giant Cell arteritis]] .
==Diagnosis==
Lab tests cannot diagnose polymyalgia rheumatica. However, most patients with this condition have an elevated sedimentation rate (ESR), a blood test that can show certain kinds of inflammation.


It often occurs in people who are 50 years or older. Women are about two times more likely to develop the disorder.
Other test results for this condition (as well as for giant cell arteritis) include:
 
* Abnormal proteins in the blood
* Abnormal white blood cells
* Reduced hemoglobin and hematocrit
* Signs of anemia
 
These tests may also be used to monitor patients' progress.
 
==When to seek urgent medical care?==
Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you have persistent weakness or stiffness of the shoulder and neck area, especially if you also have symptoms of general illness, such as fever or headache.


==Treatment options==
==Treatment options==
The physician may decide to do the following:
Although there is no cure for polymyalgia rheumatica, treatment can help prevent patients from becoming disabled.


*[[ Erythrocyte sedimentation rate]]  greater than 50 mm/h
Low doses of corticosteroids (such as prednisone) can relieve polymyalgia rheumatica within a day or two. The dose can then be slowly reduced to a very low level, but the treatment will need to continue for a long time -- around 2 - 6 years.
*[[ Normochromic normocytic]] [[anemia]] in more than half of the pages.
*[[ Rheumatoid factor]] which  should be negative
*[[ Muscle biopsy]] which  should be negative


The mainstream of therapy are [[corticosteroids]] which require careful monitoring. There is no emergency therapy for it.
Corticosteroids cause a variety of side effects that must be carefully monitored and managed.


==Where to find medical care for polymyalgia rheumatica?==
==Where to find medical care for Polymyalgia rheumatica?==
[http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q={{urlencode:{{#if:{{{1|}}}|{{{1}}}|polymyalgia rheumatica}}}}&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=65.008093,112.148438&ie=UTF8&ll=37.0625,-95.677068&spn=91.690419,149.414063&z=2&source=embed Directions to Hospitals Treating polymyalgia rheumatica]
[http://maps.google.com/maps?q={{urlencode:{{#if:{{{1|}}}|{{{1}}}|map+top+hospital+Polymyalgia rheumatica}}}}&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wl Directions to Hospitals Treating Polymyalgia rheumatica]
 
==What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?==
Polymyalgia rheumatica usually goes away by itself after 2 - 6 years. After this time, treatment can be stopped.


==What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)==
The average length of disease is 3 years and exacerbations may occur if steroids are tapered too rapidly.
Relapse is common.
==Possible complications==
==Possible complications==
Symptoms of polymyalgia rheumatica can affect a person's ability to perform his/her day-to-day activities like
Polymyalgia rheumatica can cause serious disabilities if untreated.
1) Standing up from a chair or getting out of a car, getting out of bed
 
2) Bathing, combing your hair.
==Prevention of Polymyalgia rheumatica==
3) Getting dressed or putting on a coat
There is no known prevention.
Corticosteroid therapy can have its own complication also disease can exacerbation of disease with tapering of corticosteroids.


==Sources==
==Sources==
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/polymyalgiarheumatica.html
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000415.htm
 
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[[Category:Patient information]]
[[Category:Mature chapter]]
[[Category:Mature chapter]]
 
[[Category:Dermatology]]
[[Category:Dermatology patient information]]


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Revision as of 15:05, 19 August 2011

Polymyalgia rheumatica

Overview

What are the symptoms?

What are the causes?

Who is at highest risk?

When to seek urgent medical care?

Diagnosis

Treatment options

Where to find medical care for Polymyalgia rheumatica?

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

Possible complications

Prevention

Polymyalgia rheumatica On the Web

Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov

Images of Polymyalgia rheumatica

Videos on Polymyalgia rheumatica

FDA on Polymyalgia rheumatica

CDC on Polymyalgia rheumatica

Polymyalgia rheumatica in the news

Blogs on Polymyalgia rheumatica

Directions to Hospitals Treating Polymyalgia rheumatica

Risk calculators and risk factors for Polymyalgia rheumatica

Editors-in-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D.; Associate Editor-In-Chief: Ujjwal Rastogi, MBBS [1]

For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click here

Overview

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is an inflammatory disorder involving pain and stiffness in the shoulder and usually also the hip.

What are the symptoms of Polymyalgia rheumatica?

The most typical symptom is pain and stiffness in both shoulders and the neck. This pain usually progresses to the hips, and there isfatigue too. It becomes more and more difficult for patients to get around.

Other symptoms include:

  • Anemia
  • Appetite loss, which leads to unintentional weight loss
  • Depression
  • Fever

There are no specific joint symptoms.

Some people with PMR also have giant cell arteritis. This far more serious disease can cause:

  • Heart attack
  • Stroke
  • Sudden blindness

What causes Polymyalgia rheumatica?

The cause is unknown. PMR may occur alone, or with or before giant cell arteritis (also called temporal arteritis), which is inflammation of blood vessels (usually in the head).

Who is at highest risk?

Polymyalgia rheumatica is a disorder that almost always occurs in people over 50 years old.

Diagnosis

Lab tests cannot diagnose polymyalgia rheumatica. However, most patients with this condition have an elevated sedimentation rate (ESR), a blood test that can show certain kinds of inflammation.

Other test results for this condition (as well as for giant cell arteritis) include:

  • Abnormal proteins in the blood
  • Abnormal white blood cells
  • Reduced hemoglobin and hematocrit
  • Signs of anemia

These tests may also be used to monitor patients' progress.

When to seek urgent medical care?

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you have persistent weakness or stiffness of the shoulder and neck area, especially if you also have symptoms of general illness, such as fever or headache.

Treatment options

Although there is no cure for polymyalgia rheumatica, treatment can help prevent patients from becoming disabled.

Low doses of corticosteroids (such as prednisone) can relieve polymyalgia rheumatica within a day or two. The dose can then be slowly reduced to a very low level, but the treatment will need to continue for a long time -- around 2 - 6 years.

Corticosteroids cause a variety of side effects that must be carefully monitored and managed.

Where to find medical care for Polymyalgia rheumatica?

Directions to Hospitals Treating Polymyalgia rheumatica

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

Polymyalgia rheumatica usually goes away by itself after 2 - 6 years. After this time, treatment can be stopped.

Possible complications

Polymyalgia rheumatica can cause serious disabilities if untreated.

Prevention of Polymyalgia rheumatica

There is no known prevention.

Sources

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000415.htm

Template:WH Template:WS