What can trigger PMR?
The cause of PMR is uncertain but it is believed to be an autoimmune disease in which the body’s own immune system attacks healthy tissues. Genetic and environmental factors (such as infections) are thought to play important roles.
Does PMR shorten your life?
PMR is usually a self-limiting disease. If untreated, patients will have an impaired quality of life. With early diagnosis and correct therapy, patients have an excellent prognosis. The average length of disease is 3 years.
What type of cancer is associated with PMR?
Seven studies reported an association between PMR and specific types of cancer, such as leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloproliferative disease and specified solid tumours, although nine studies found either no or negative association between cancer and PMR.
Is polymyalgia caused by stress?
Inflammatory conditions such as PMR can result or flare up from excessive stress.
Can PMR be misdiagnosed?
Overdiagnosis of PMR may cause more problems compared to underdiagnosis. The 2012 PMR criteria proposed by European League against Rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology aim to minimize the role of clinical intuition and build on more objective features. However, questions arise if this is possible in PMR.
Can polymyalgia be mistaken for rheumatoid arthritis?
Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) occurs exclusively in people over the age of 50 years, in contrast to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with typical onset between 30 and 50 years of age. However, other symptom characteristics often overlap, making differential diagnoses difficult to decipher.
Does exercise help polymyalgia?
If you have polymyalgia rheumatica, you’ll need to find the right balance between rest and activity. Too much exercise is likely to make your symptoms worse, but activity usually helps to ease pain and stiffness in the muscles of the shoulders, hips and thighs.
Does alcohol make PMR worse?
However, because treatment for PMR may include steroids, which can make you more prone to osteoporosis, it’s important to limit alcohol because it can also reduce bone density.
