What is PMR and GCA?
Polymyalgia Rheumatica or PMR is a rheumatic condition which attacks twice as many females as males aged 55 and over. The average age of onset is round about 70 years. It affects 1 in 2000 people. It can start slowly with flu like symptoms and it can start so suddenly that one morning you find you cannot get out of bed because you are so stiff and sore. Diagnosis is difficult because other conditions, e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, have similar symptoms. The Doctor makes his diagnosis on the basis of a blood test and other factors. Early morning stiffness which eases as the day progresses is a significant factor along with severe pain in the shoulders, thighs and pelvic area. There is no known cause, no known cure and very little research is being done. The most common treatment is initially a fairly high dose of Prednisolone, a steroid, which is reduced as quickly as possible because of the danger of osteoporosis if taken over long periods of time, along with treatment to avoid osteoporos
