Question 1

what are polymyalgia rheumatica?

Accepted Answer

See below : Pmr is a disorder characterized by muscle pain, often around the shoulders & hips. Often seen in late middle aged or elderly individuals. It can be associated with temporal arteritis that has the symptoms of headaches, jaw fatigue and vision problems. Early recognition is important. There is no confirmatory test; however an elevated sed rate or CRP can aid in diagnosis. Steroids  are the treatment.

Question 2

what is polymyalgia rheumatica like?

Accepted Answer

See below: Polymyalgia rheumatica usually is a condition in people greater then 50. It causes stiffness and pain in muscles and joints including the shoulders, upper arms, hips, and upper legs. It can be associated with fevers and rarely weight loss. It is associated with an elevated  sedimentation rate and c reactive protein which are both measures of inflammation. Treatment is steroids.

Question 3

polymyalgia rheumatica --what is pmr?

Accepted Answer

Autoimmune: Polymyalgia rheumatica (pmr) is an autoimmune disease that occurs in people 50 years of age and older. It is associated with severe pain and stiffness in the shoulders and hips. Pmr can also lead to blindness due to inflammation in blood vessels of the eye. Pmr is treated with steroids and Aspirin to prevent blindness. Other medicines (antibiotics) are sometimes used to prevent steroid effects.

Question 4

how is polymyalgia rheumatica treated?

Accepted Answer

Low Dose Steroids: 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.

Question 5

how can i treat polymyalgia rheumatica?

Accepted Answer

Low dose steroids: If the diagnosis is accurate, low dose steroids should control it, of course with efforts to reduce loss of bone integrity.

Question 6

can you die from polymyalgia rheumatica?

Accepted Answer

Unlikely: Unlikely, but vision loss is the main concern.

Question 7

what are the tests for polymyalgia rheumatica?

Accepted Answer

Blood tests: 1)sed rate, or erythrocyte sedimentation rate (esr)
2)c-reactive protein test 
3)ultrasound imaging, which uses sound waves to produce images of soft tissues, may reveal inflammation of tissues within the shoulder and hip joints that can support a diagnosis of polymyalgia rheumatica.

Question 8

what are the symptoms of polymyalgia rheumatica?

Accepted Answer

Polymyalgia: Common symptoms are pain and stiffness, usually starting suddenly over a few days period of time.  The areas affected are neck, shoulders, arms, hips and thighs.
See your doctor asap if you have these symptoms.

Question 9

anyone ever heard of polymyalgia rheumatica cures?

Accepted Answer

Yes: It can burn itself out in several years, but usually responds to low dose steroids.

Question 10

is it possible to get polymyalgia rheumatica at age 35?

Accepted Answer

No: By definition polymyalgia rheumatica doesn't start until one is over 50. Of course, nothing is impossible and in a 49 year old with classic symptoms you might consider it, but at the age of 35, it should not be in the differential.

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