Health
Fact-checked

At WiseGEEK, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

What are Polymyalgia Rheumatica Symptoms?

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Polymyalgia rheumatica is a difficult illness that can cause discomfort, stiffness and pain in a variety of joints, and onset can sometimes be sudden. This condition is most associated with people who are older — normally affecting those 50 or older. It is considered an autoimmune disease and it has some relationship to other types of arthritis. In addition to achiness in a variety of joints, polymyalgia rheumatica symptoms may include those that make people feel run down or tired.

Pain associated with this illness is classed as moderate to severe, which means some people will be uncomfortable and others could be in extreme pain. The disease also varies by onset. Some people arise from bed in the morning with a sudden onset of most polymyalgia rheumatica symptoms and they might feel tight or aching hips, painful thighs, sore shoulders, achy upper arms, and a tight neck. At first, discomfort might be limited to one side of the body, but usually will affect both sides eventually, and as stated sometimes the condition can occur quickly or may take a while to fully develop.

A gel pack can be used to soothe sore shoulders caused by polymyalgia rheumatica.
A gel pack can be used to soothe sore shoulders caused by polymyalgia rheumatica.

The pain and discomfort are the most striking polymyalgia rheumatica symptoms, and people can report feeling different levels of pain through the day. Some find that upon waking in the morning, stiffness and pain are most noted, but with a little movement, there is an improvement and they are less uncomfortable. The degree of muscle soreness is clearly variable, though when people do not get treatment for this illness, it may gradually get more severe.

Some people experience a sudden onset of polymyalgia rheumatica symptoms when they get out of bed in the morning.
Some people experience a sudden onset of polymyalgia rheumatica symptoms when they get out of bed in the morning.

In addition to pain, polymyalgia rheumatica symptoms can make some people feel like they’re coming down with flu. They may feel very tired and run down, and have an overall feel of malaise. Some people report weight loss too. Along with these most common expressions of the illness other polymyalgia rheumatica symptoms have been reported, and these can include depression, slight fever, loss of appetite, and muscle pain or stiffness in other areas of the body. Blood tests typically reveal that people are anemic.

Sore shoulders are possible for someone with polymyalgia rheumatica.
Sore shoulders are possible for someone with polymyalgia rheumatica.

Polymyalgia rheumatic symptoms may be present with another condition. Some people already have or will get giant cell arthritis, which results in inflammation of the arteries. Some people view polymyalgia rheumatica as a harbinger of single cell arthritis. Yet others are quick to point out that people who already have single cell arthritis may get this condition second. Clearly the relationship between the two diseases is not completely comprehended.

Depression is one symptom of polymyalgia rheumatica.
Depression is one symptom of polymyalgia rheumatica.

There is fortunately treatment for polymyalgia rheumatica, which may help reduce the disease’s symptoms. This includes giving medications like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids. With treatment, provided people can tolerate side effects, the condition may disappear in about two to four years or sooner.

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent WiseGEEK contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent WiseGEEK contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

BambooForest

@aaaCookie, I have heard of that as well. My mother was told that one of the reasons for this disparity is that while arthritis can be tested for fairly easily, polymyalgia rheumatica diagnosis is difficult in part because it cannot be tested convincingly.

aaaCookie

@BambooForest, I had a friend who also struggled with diagnosis before finally being told she had fibromyalgia rheumatica, though there was also suspicion she might have arthritis. The other obstacle many sufferers face is that even today there are doctors who do not actually believe that these illnesses exist. I have heard of doctors who said these symptoms were likely the cause of mononucleosis, or of depression, or anemia, rather than an actual problem with the joints.

BambooForest

The problem with many joint diseases is that symptoms are so variable it is often difficult to determine what exactly a patient suffers. My mother was diagnosed first with tendinities, then polymyalgia, and finally fibromyalgia, before she was able to see much improvement at all in her symptoms. Not only are the symptoms of polymyalgia rheumatica similar to fibromyalgia, they also are similar to those of mononucleosis and several other illnesses.

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • A gel pack can be used to soothe sore shoulders caused by polymyalgia rheumatica.
      By: JPC-PROD
      A gel pack can be used to soothe sore shoulders caused by polymyalgia rheumatica.
    • Some people experience a sudden onset of polymyalgia rheumatica symptoms when they get out of bed in the morning.
      By: Gina Sanders
      Some people experience a sudden onset of polymyalgia rheumatica symptoms when they get out of bed in the morning.
    • Sore shoulders are possible for someone with polymyalgia rheumatica.
      By: Photographee.eu
      Sore shoulders are possible for someone with polymyalgia rheumatica.
    • Depression is one symptom of polymyalgia rheumatica.
      By: Photographee.eu
      Depression is one symptom of polymyalgia rheumatica.
    • If untreated, polymyalgia rheumatica may make a person feel tired and rundown, as if they have a general feeling of malaise.
      By: miya227
      If untreated, polymyalgia rheumatica may make a person feel tired and rundown, as if they have a general feeling of malaise.
    • Polymyalgia rheumatica symptoms may include fever.
      By: JackF
      Polymyalgia rheumatica symptoms may include fever.
    • Polymyalgia rheumatica symptoms can make feel people like they're coming down with the flu.
      By: Farina3000
      Polymyalgia rheumatica symptoms can make feel people like they're coming down with the flu.