Polymyalgia Rheumatica

Polymyalgia rheumatica is an inflammatory disorder that causes muscle pain and stiffness, especially in the shoulders and hips

Symptoms worse in the morning

Rare before 50 and is general presents in 60 years old and over

This condition is related to giant cell arteritis. Giant cell arteritis (headaches, vision difficulties, jaw pain, and scalp tenderness- temporal artery tenderness)

Clinical features

Pain and stiffness in muscles of both shoulders and pelvic girdle

Morning stiffness

Painful restriction of shoulders and hips

Diagnosis

Mainly clinical

ESR is high generally 100 or over

Elevated Crp

Normochromic normocytic anaemia

Management

Prednisolone 15 mg daily 4 weeks and then taper down

A slow tapering of the prednisone, less than 1 mg/month

Refferal to rheumatologist