Polymyalgia rheumatica history and symptoms
|
Polymyalgia Rheumatica Microchapters |
|
Diagnosis |
|---|
|
Treatment |
|
Case Studies |
|
Polymyalgia rheumatica history and symptoms On the Web |
|
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Polymyalgia rheumatica history and symptoms |
|
Risk calculators and risk factors for Polymyalgia rheumatica history and symptoms |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
History and Symptoms
There are a wide range of symptoms that indicate if a person has polymyalgia rheumatica. The symptoms include pain and stiffness in the muscles, usually in the neck, shoulders, and hips. The pain is moderate to severe, and may inhibit the activity of the person. These symptoms usually occur in the morning, or after sleeping. Fatigue and lack of appetite are also signs of polymyalgia rheumatica. Lack of appetite could lead to unintentional weight loss. Anemia is another sign of polymyalgia rheumatica. An overall feeling of illness and a slight fever are also signs of this disorder.
Studies have shown that about 15% of people who are diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica also have temporal arteritis, and about 50% of people with temporal arteritis have polymyalgia rheumatica. Some symptoms of temporal arteritis include severeheadaches, scalp tenderness, jaw or facial soreness, distorted vision or aching in the limbs caused by decreased blood flow, and fatigue.
- Symmetric aching/stiffness of axial & proximal limb musculature
- Shoulder girdle, neck, hip girdle
- Morning stiffness, gelling
- Muscle strength intact, though may be limited by pain
- Synovitis in knees, wrists, sterno-clavicular (SC) joints, hips/shoulders
- Distal extremity swelling (tenosynovitis)
- Malaise, fatigue, weight loss in > 50%