The main symptom of polymyalgia rheumatica is muscle pain that begins suddenly, especially in the shoulders and neck but also in both hips in some people.
Dear Dr. Roach: I was recently diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica after weeks of intense muscle pain. I’m a 67-year-old female in otherwise good health. My doctor prescribed prednisone, which immediately eliminated the pain and allowed me to resume my everyday life activities pain-free. I have an appointment with a rheumatologist at the end of the month, but I value your medical opinion on this condition.
Laboratory testing for inflammation, such as the C-reactive protein test and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, are almost always very high. The final part of the diagnosis is when treatment with prednisone or another steroid, even at a low dose, rapidly improves the symptoms. Symptoms of GCA include headaches , pain while chewing, or any change in vision, especially transient vision loss.
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