Patient education: Polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis (The Basics)

What are polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis? — Polymyalgia rheumatica is a condition that can cause stiffness and aching in the shoulders, neck, and hips. It can also cause swelling in joints such as the knees, hands, and feet. It usually occurs in people age 50 and older.

Giant cell arteritis is a condition that can cause headaches, trouble seeing, and jaw or arm pain. This condition affects blood vessels, usually in the head and sometimes in the neck. It does not affect blood vessels in the brain. Giant cell arteritis is sometimes called "temporal arteritis" because it often affects a blood vessel in the temple on the side of the head.

Polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis are 2 different conditions. But they sometimes occur together. Usually, these conditions last between 1 and 3 years and then get better. In some people, symptoms improve for a while with treatment, then come back.

What are the symptoms of polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis? — The most common symptoms of polymyalgia rheumatica are:

●Pain and stiffness in the shoulders, hips, neck, or upper part of the body that is usually worse in the morning – These symptoms affect both sides of the body and last 30 minutes or longer after getting up.

●Swelling and stiffness in the knees, hands, wrists, ankles, or feet

●Feeling tired

●Weight loss

●Fever

The most common symptoms of giant cell arteritis are:

●Headaches – The pain is often over the temples (sides of the forehead) but can also be in the front or back of the head. Some people also have pain in the scalp when it is touched.

●Pain in the jaw, especially after chewing or talking

●Pain or weakness in the arm, especially when moving the arm

●Sudden trouble seeing clearly, or trouble seeing out of 1 eye

●A new cough or sore throat

Other symptoms of giant cell arteritis can include:

●Fever

●Feeling tired

●Weight loss

Some people have polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis at the same time.

Are there tests for polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis? — Yes. If your doctor or nurse suspects either of these conditions, they will do an exam and order blood tests. They might also order an ultrasound, MRI, or other imaging test. Imaging tests create pictures of the inside of the body.

To check for giant cell arteritis, the doctor might order a test called a biopsy. For this, the doctor takes a small piece of a blood vessel from under the skin on the side of the head. Then, they look at the tissue under a microscope. Sometimes, ultrasound is used instead of biopsy.

How are polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis treated? — Both are treated with medicines called steroids. These reduce swelling and ease pain. Many people feel better after taking their first dose. But most people need to take them for 1 to 2 years.

Steroids can have side effects, so your doctor will want you to be on the lowest dose possible for the shortest amount of time possible.

Doctors might also prescribe another type of medicine for people with giant cell arteritis. This medicine might be given as a shot. Some people give themselves these shots at home.

What else can I do? — Follow all of your doctor's instructions about treatments and follow-up. Your doctor will want to see you regularly to see how treatment is working.

It's also important to tell your doctor if you have side effects from the treatment or if you develop new symptoms.

More on this topic

Patient education: Vasculitis (The Basics)
Patient education: Headaches in adults (The Basics)

Patient education: Polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Vasculitis (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Headache causes and diagnosis in adults (Beyond the Basics)