Living with Polymyalgia Rheumatica

Polymyalgia Rheumatica is a disorder that you do not hear a lot about but it is very painful for those who live with it. Polymyalgia is an inflammatory disorder that causes widespread pain, aching and stiffness in the muscles. Most affected areas of the body include the neck, upper arms, thighs, hips, and shoulders. Pain and stiffness usually begins on one side of the body and continues to spread to both sides. In Polymyalgia, the inflammation occurs when white blood cells attack the lining of the joints. The white blood cells are what help protect our bodies from harmful bacteria and viruses. Obviously this is some sort of dysfunction of the immune system that takes place. Women are affected more than men with Polymyalgia and Caucasians are affected more than other ethnic groups. According to the Mayo Clinic, adults over the age of 50 are more likely to develop Polymyalgia Rheumatica than younger age groups and it is estimated that approximately 1 in 200 people over the age of 50 have this condtiion.

Polymyalgia Rheumatica develops differently for some people. Some people will notice a gradual onset of symptoms while others say their symptoms appeared overnight.

Polymyalgia mimics another rheumatic illness that is better known: Fibromyalgia. The symptoms of Fibromyalgia and Polymyalgia Rheumatica are remarkably similar. The difference is Fibromyalgia cannot be detected in lab work where Polymyalgia can. A diagnosis of Polymyalgia Rheumatica is determined by an elevated sed rate (erythrocyte sedimentation rate). The sed rate measures how quickly your red blood cells settle when placed in a test tube. The blood cells fall faster when inflammation is present and this means an increased sed rate. An increased sed rate alone though does not determine a Polymyalgia diagnosis.

The rheumatoid factor (RF) is also tested to determine a Polymyalgia diagnosis. The rheumatoid factor is a protein made by the immune system that is elevated and present in people who have rheumatoid arthritis. The rheumatoid factor should not be increased in people with Polymyalgia.

High blood levels of C-reactive protein may indicate inflammation in the body, which is found in Polymyalgia. The C-reactive protein is produced by the liver as part of a normal immune system response to infection and injury.

Once a diagnosis of Polymyalgia Rheumatica is determined, your physician may also check to see if you have a related condition known as Giant Cell Arthritis. The American College of Rheumatology says that a diagnosis of Giant Cell Arthritis is made by taking a biopsy from your scalp artery in the temple. Both conditions are treated with the same types of medications so a doctor may go ahead and begin treatment without waiting for the biopsy results. It is estimated that about 15 percent of people who have Polymyalgia Rheumatica also have Giant Cell Arthritis.

Not only do Polymyalgia sufferers have to deal with a lot of pain, there are also many other symptoms that impair their daily functioning. The stiffness they deal with usually occurs in the morning or after being inactive or idle for long periods. These patients will also experience fatigue to the extreme of where as soon as they sit down they fall asleep and they tend to sleep for longer periods of time. Patients may notice that they are suddenly losing weight. Their muscles will feel weak and they tend to have an overall feeling of being unwell. Patients can also develop a low-grade fever and become anemic.

Treatment of Polymyalgia is determined by the severity of the patient's condition. For mild cases of Polymyalgia Rheumatica, aspirin and Motrin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) can be helpful. However, there are long-term negative side effects of using NSAIDS: stomach bleeding, high blood pressure, liver damage and fluid retention.

For the more severe cases of Polymyalgia, prednisone is used for treatment. Patients will find that they usually see relief very quickly using this corticosteroid drug. Most patients can discontinue using prednisone within two years. Side effects of using steroids such as prednisone can include (especially in older adults): osteoporosis, high blood pressure and cataracts, weight gain, high blood sugar and decreased immune system functioning.

Resources used to help provide factual information on this article include:

Mayo Clinic

American College of Rheumatology

eMedicine