User:Mr. Ibrahem/Polymyalgia rheumatica

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is a syndrome with pain and stiffness, usually in the neck, shoulders, and hips. Other symptoms may include fever, weakness, and weight loss. The onset can be sudden or gradual. Often stiffness is greatest first thing in the morning. PMR may be complicated by temporal arteritis, an inflammation of blood vessels which can cause blindness if not treated.

While the exact cause is unclear, the disorder is believed to be related to immune, genetic, environmental, and age related factors. One theory is that certain infections may act as a trigger. While there is no definitive test, C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) can be useful.

PMR is usually treated with corticosteroids taken by mouth. Most people need to continue the corticosteroid treatment for six month to two years. The use of NSAIDs may also help but are generally not sufficient on their own. PMR usually resolves within a few years, but treatment results in faster symptom improvement.

PMR is most common in those over the age of 50, particularly in those between the ages of 70 and 80. Persons of Northern European descent are at greatest risk with about 6 per 1,000 people over the age of 50 affected. The disease is uncommon in other ethnic groups. Women are more commonly affected than men. Descriptions of PMR are believed to date from as early as 1888 by Bruce with the current name attributed to Barber in 1957. It takes its name from the Greek word Πολυμυαλγία polymyalgia, which means "pain in many muscles".