What is polymyalgia rheumatica and who does it affect?
Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is a condition which causes inflammation of large muscles. ‘Poly’ means many, and ‘myalgia’ means muscle pain. The cause of PMR is not known. PMR mainly affects people over the age of 65. It is rare in people under 50. About 1 in 1,000 people over the age of 50 develop PMR each year. Women are three times more likely to be affected than men.
