Polymyalgia Rheumatica affects people over 50 years of age.
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Polymyalgia Rheumatica is a disorder that you do not hear a lot about but it is very painful for those who live with it. Polymyalgia is an inflammatory disorder that causes widespread pain, aching and stiffness in the muscles. Most affected areas of the body include the neck, upper arms, thighs, hips, and shoulders. Pain and stiffness usually begins on one side of the body and continues to spread to both sides. In Polymyalgia, the inflammation occurs when white blood cells attack the lining of the joints. The white blood cells are what help protect our bodies from harmful bacteria and viruses. Obviously this is some sort of dysfunction of the immune system that takes place. Women are affected more than men with Polymyalgia and Caucasians are affected more than other ethnic groups. According to the Mayo Clinic, adults over the age of 50 are more likely to develop Polymyalgia Rheumatica than younger age groups and it is estimated that approximately 1 in 200 people over the age of 50 have this condtiion.
Polymyalgia Rheumatica develops differently for some people. Some people will notice a gradual onset of symptoms while others say their symptoms appeared overnight.
Polymyalgia mimics another rheumatic illness that is better known: Fibromyalgia. The symptoms of Fibromyalgia and Polymyalgia Rheumatica are remarkably similar. The difference is Fibromyalgia cannot be detected in lab work where Polymyalgia can. A diagnosis of Polymyalgia Rheumatica is determined by an elevated sed rate (erythrocyte sedimentation rate). The sed rate measures how quickly your red blood cells settle when placed in a test tube. The blood cells fall faster when inflammation is present and this means an increased sed rate. An increased sed rate alone though does not determine a Polymyalgia diagnosis.
The rheumatoid factor (RF) is also tested to determine a Polymyalgia diagnosis. The rheumatoid factor is a protein made by the immune system that is elevated and present in people who have rheumatoid arthritis. The rheumatoid factor should not be increased in people with Polymyalgia.
Polymyalgia Rheumatica develops differently for some people. Some people will notice a gradual onset of symptoms while others say their symptoms appeared overnight.
Polymyalgia mimics another rheumatic illness that is better known: Fibromyalgia. The symptoms of Fibromyalgia and Polymyalgia Rheumatica are remarkably similar. The difference is Fibromyalgia cannot be detected in lab work where Polymyalgia can. A diagnosis of Polymyalgia Rheumatica is determined by an elevated sed rate (erythrocyte sedimentation rate). The sed rate measures how quickly your red blood cells settle when placed in a test tube. The blood cells fall faster when inflammation is present and this means an increased sed rate. An increased sed rate alone though does not determine a Polymyalgia diagnosis.
The rheumatoid factor (RF) is also tested to determine a Polymyalgia diagnosis. The rheumatoid factor is a protein made by the immune system that is elevated and present in people who have rheumatoid arthritis. The rheumatoid factor should not be increased in people with Polymyalgia.
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