Related articles: Polymyalgia rheumatica
Definition
Polymyalgia rheumatica is a sudden-onset disease characterized by stiffness in the shoulders, cervical region and pelvis, with widespread muscle pain that seriously compromises movement.
The cause is not known, however, since polymyalgia rheumatica is closely connected to giant cell arteritis, some medical sources consider the two disorders as different phases of the same process.
Polymyalgia rheumatica usually occurs in elderly subjects; almost all patients are older than 50-60 years.
Most common symptoms and signs *
- Anorexia
- Asthenia
- Muscular atrophy
- Increase in the ESR
- Neck pain
- Shoulder pain
- Pelvic pain
- Articolar pains
- Muscle pains
- Edema
- Temperature
- weakness
- Muscular hypotrophy
- Freckles
- Backache
- Weight loss
- Rheumatism
- Joint stiffness
- Stiffness in the muscles of the back and neck
- Night sweats
Further indications
The typical manifestation of polymyalgia rheumatica is the sudden appearance of pain at the level of the shoulders (bilateral) and of the neck, which causes difficulty in raising the arms above the head. The lumbar region (in the upper and lower part), the pelvic girdle and the thighs may also be affected. Morning stiffness is typical and prevents patients from getting out of bed and doing simple activities. Hyposthenia and atrophy are not found.
Most patients report the increase in pain during walking for more than half an hour. The presence of non-specific systemic symptoms (fever, weight loss, anorexia and night sweats) is not uncommon.
In general, the indicators of VES and PCR inflammation are high. The diagnosis is on a clinical basis and is confirmed by the favorable and dramatic response to low-dose corticosteroids (eg prednisone). In fact, after the administration of these drugs, the patient improves within 48 hours. The disease lasts on average 18 months.
