musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
Polymyalgia Rheumatica
Symptoms and Signs of Polymyalgia Rheumatica
Polymyalgia rheumatica is characterized by bilateral proximal aching of the shoulder and hip girdle muscles and the back (upper and lower) and neck muscles. Stiffness in the morning is typical and lasts > 60 minutes. Shoulder symptoms reflect proximal bursitis (eg, subdeltoid, subacromial) and less often bicipital tenosynovitis or joint synovitis. Discomfort may awaken patients from sleep and is worse in the morning; occasionally it is severe enough to prevent patients from getting out of bed and from doing simple activities. The pain may make patients feel weak, but objective muscle weakness is not a feature of the disorder. 