Can Polymyalgia Rheumatica Recur?

About Polymyalgia Rheumatica

Polymyalgia Rheumatica is an inflammatory disorder characterized by severe muscle pain and stiffness in various areas of the body. This condition affects mostly the shoulders, neck, arms, and hips. The symptoms of polymyalgia rheumatica are of sudden onset and seem to be worse in the morning but gradually get better as the day goes on. This condition in most of the cases affects people above the age of 60 and is extremely rare in people under the age of 50. Females are more affected by Polymyalgia Rheumatica than males.

Polymyalgia Rheumatica is in majority of the cases associated with a medical condition called Temporal Arteritis. Temporal Arteritis causes inflammation of the blood vessels in various areas of the body including the neck and arms resulting in pain. While this condition can be treated completely, there is always a doubt whether it can recur after the treatments are stopped.

Can Polymyalgia Rheumatica Recur?

Can Polymyalgia Rheumatica Recur?

The frontline treatment for Polymyalgia Rheumatica is administration of corticosteroids normally prednisolone. This drug works by blocking certain chemicals which cause inflammation in the body. The condition is not completely cured but this drug definitely improves the symptoms to a significant degree. The symptoms of Polymyalgia Rheumatica start to improve within a week of starting the medication, although the affected individual may have to take the medications for up to two years.

There have been cases where this condition improves by itself. However, there is always a chance of Polymyalgia Rheumatica recurring after the treatment stops. This is known as a relapse of Polymyalgia Rheumatica. In conclusion, Polymyalgia Rheumatica is a condition which has a tendency to recur once treatment for it stops. However, such cases are few.

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Team PainAssist
Team PainAssist
Written, Edited or Reviewed By: Team PainAssist, Pain Assist Inc. This article does not provide medical advice. See disclaimer
Last Modified On:June 15, 2021

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