One might also have more-general signs and symptoms including:
• Mild fever
• Fatigue
• A general feeling of not being well
• Loss of appetite
• Unintended weight loss
• Depression
When to seek a medical opinion?
It is ideal to see a doctor if you have aches, pain or stiffness that is new, interferes with your sleep, restricts your ability to do your daily activities, such as bathing and getting dressed.
Causes:
The real cause of polymyalgia rheumatica is not known. Polymyalgia rhuematica does not come as a result of side effect of the medication. Two factors appear to be involved in the progression of this condition.
Genetics – Certain genes and gene variations might heighten your susceptibility
Environmental exposure – This disease condition is likely to come in cycles, maybe developing seasonally. This indicates that an environmental trigger such as a virus might have an influence on this disease. The sudden onset of the symptoms suggests the possibility of an infection. However, no specific virus has been identified to cause polymyalgia rheumatica.
Recent research indicates that inflammation in polymyalgia rheumatica involves the shoulder and the hip joints and the area around these joints.
Something to be noted here is polymyalgia rheumatica should not be mistaken for fibromyalgia.
Diagnosis:
In polymyalgia rheumatica the blood tests undertaken to detect the condition may show abnormally high results. One such test is the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. There are also other tests such as the C-reactive protein or CRP, it might also show a result which is beyond the upper end of the normal range. In some cases these tests may show normal values or marginally high values. Meanwhile, your physician also has to rule out other disease conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis. Once diagnosed is made, it is often treated with corticosteroids. The medicine is likely to relieve the stiffness quickly.
Sometimes, patient feels better off after first dose itself, though full recovery may take time. If the symptoms do not abate even after two or three weeks of drug treatment then the diagnosis may not be polymyalgia rheumatica.
Giant cell arteritis:
As already mentioned polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis have a lot in common. Many patients who have one of these diseases also have signs and symptoms of the other. Giant cell arteritis causes inflammation in the lining of the arteries, most probably the arteries in the temple. Signs and symptoms include headaches, jaw pain, vision problems and scalp tenderness. If left untreated, this condition can lead to serious health problems like stroke or blindness.
Risk factors for polymyalgia rheumatica:
Risk factors for polymyalgia rheumatica include:
Age: Polymyalgia rheumatica affects elderly people almost exclusively. The average age when symptoms start is 70, so people who have polymyalgia rheumatica may be in their 80s or even older.
Sex: Women are more prone to develop the disorder.
Race: Polymyalgia rheumatica is very common among white people whose ancestors were from Scandinavia or northern Europe (Caucasian).
Complications:
Symptoms arising out of polymyalgia rheumatica can severely affect your ability to perform day-to-day activities, such as:
• Getting out of bed, standing up from a chair or getting out of a car
• Combing your hair or bathing
• Getting dressed
Inability to perform these activities can affect your health, social interactions, physical activity, sleep and general well-being. In addition, it has also been noted that people affected with this condition seem to be more likely to develop peripheral arterial disease, though it is usually mild and responds well to treatment.
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