Polymyalgia rheumatica

Symptoms often start suddenly and get worse without treatment. The most common symptoms are muscle pain and stiffness in the neck, shoulders, or hips. These symptoms are worse in the morning. And they affect both sides of the body–for example, both shoulders, not just one.

Other symptoms may include:

• Tiredness and lack of energy.
• Fever.
• Weight loss.
• Swelling in the knees, wrists, or ankles.

PMR is treated with steroid medicines, which reduce inflammation. Long-term treatment with these medicines will put you at risk for bone thinning (osteoporosis). Your doctor may recommend medicine to prevent this. They may also suggest you take medicine to help protect your digestive tract, such as a proton pump inhibitor or an H2 blocker.

To protect your bones while you are being treated with steroid medicines:

• Be sure you get enough calcium and vitamin D. Calcium can help prevent bone thinning. Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium.
• Ask your doctor if you need to take calcium and vitamin D supplements. Calcium supplements may interfere with your body's ability to absorb biophosphonates. So take your calcium and vitamin D supplement at least 30 minutes after you take your bisphosphonate.
• Get regular weight-bearing exercise, such as walking, dancing, or weight lifting. This will help keep your bones strong and may also help your mood.
• Don't smoke, and avoid being around tobacco smoke.
• Limit alcohol. It's a good idea to have no more than one beer or one glass of wine each day.

Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:

• You have a headache, jaw pain, or problems seeing.

Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:

• Your joint and muscle pain or stiffness gets worse.
• You have side effects from your corticosteroid medicine, such as:
  • Signs of diabetes (feeling thirsty all the time, needing to urinate often).
  • Signs of infection (fever, chills, cough, burning during urination, severe sore throat, or skin infection).
  • A large weight gain.
  • Mood changes.
  • Trouble sleeping.
  • Bruising easily.
• You have any other problems with your medicine.
• You do not get better as expected.