What does Poly mean in polymyalgia?

What does Poly mean in polymyalgia?

Polymyalgia rheumatica (poly-my-al-ger ru-mah-ticker), or PMR, is a relatively common condition that causes stiffness and pain in muscles. The word ‘poly’ means many and the word ‘myalgia’ means muscle pain. It can start at any age from 50, but mainly affects people over the age of 70.

Is polymyalgia rheumatica a form of arthritis?

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is an auto-inflammatory rheumatic disease of people over 50 years, presenting with pain and stiffness in the neck, shoulder and hip girdles1. The term PMR was first used to underline that it seemed substantially milder from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as no joint damage had been observed2.

Can polymyalgia be brought on by stress?

Inflammatory conditions such as PMR can result or flare up from excessive stress.

Is exercise good for polymyalgia?

If you have PMR, it’s important to make time for physical activity. You may need to avoid strenuous activities, but light exercise can help improve your symptoms and overall sense of well-being. Some exercises may also help you prevent side effects from medications you’re taking.

Is heat good for polymyalgia?

Learn new ways to manage pain – there are many things you can do to manage pain – and different strategies will work for different situations. For example, heat packs can help ease muscle pain, cold packs can help with inflammation, gentle exercise can help relieve muscle tension.

Can I eat eggs while taking prednisone?

My advice is to limit your food to whole foods: Vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, eggs, fish, meat and a limited amount of whole fresh fruits, healthy fats (such as avocado, olive oil), plain yogurt, kefir and cheeses and whole grains like oats (unsweetened oatmeal) and quinoa.

What is polymyalgia rheumatica in medical terms?

Polymyalgia rheumatica. Overview. Polymyalgia rheumatica is an inflammatory disorder that causes muscle pain and stiffness, especially in the shoulders. Signs and symptoms of polymyalgia rheumatica (pol-e-my-AL-juh rue-MAT-ih-kuh) usually begin quickly and are worse in the morning.

Does polymyalgia rheumatica go away on its own?

Thankfully, it eventually does go away on its own. However, the pain and stiffness can be so severe or disruptive that many people seek treatment. With treatment — usually low-dose steroids such as prednisone — polymyalgia rheumatica symptoms may disappear in just a dose or two.

Can polymyalgia rheumatica cause blindness?

Polymyalgia rheumatica. People who have polymyalgia rheumatica may also have temporal arteritis, an inflammation of blood vessels in the face which can cause blindness if not treated quickly. The pain and stiffness can result in a lowered quality of life, and can lead to depression.

How effective is steroid treatment for polymyalgia rheumatica?

Steroid treatment is usually very effective at treating polymyalgia rheumatica. However, because it can increase your risk of getting osteoporosis, it’s important to think about other risk factors associated with this condition. Smoking or drinking a lot of alcohol will increase your risk of developing osteoporosis.