Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is a common inflammatory rheumatic disease. Imaging studies have revealed that PMR should not be viewed as a mysterious source of pain and stiffness. Instead, PMR symptoms are linked to inflammation around joints (bursitis, tenosynovitis, tendinitis), which can be accompanied by mild joint synovitis.
Symptoms for polymyalgia rheumatica
Symptoms of polymyalgia rheumatica result in inflammation of the joints and surrounding tissues. It can cause pain and stiffness in the hips, thighs, buttocks, neck, upper arms and shoulders. Other symptoms of polymyalgia rheumatica may include:
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Poor appetite
- Weight loss.
In addition, polymyalgia rheumatica may also occur with another serious condition called giant cell arteritis, also known as temporal arteritis, which involves inflammation of the blood vessels. Some of the symptoms of giant cell arteritis are:
- Severe headaches
- Tenderness at the temples, the soft part of the head at the side of the eyes
- Pain in the jaw, tongue or side of the face when chewing
- Pain in the scalp
- Blurred or double vision or vision loss.