Both the inflammatory rheumatic diseases polimialgia reumatica and giant cell arteritis (GCA) are often overlapping conditions with undiscovered causative factors. There are some clinical indicators that are common to both conditions and they typically occur in adults over the age of fifty years. As far as the incidence of both disorders in America and England it is estimated that GCA occurs approximately 200 cases per 1 million people. For polimialgia reumatica depending on the country of choice the annual incidence can be anywhere from 120 – 1120 per million.
Polimialgia reumatica can prove harder to diagnose than giant cell arteritis. For gca a common symptom is a non typical headache that has a distinctly painful feel to it. This often goes in combination with elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and high C-reactive protein levels on blood testing. A terrible consequence of gca is visual loss which occurs in under twenty percent of cases and is why this disorder is called a rheumatologic emergency. There can be other associated symptoms such as numbness in the jaw or mouth which is a consequence of less blood to the head because of the inflamed arteries. With further testing it is often revealed that fifty percent of GCA sufferes have inflammation of the main arteries throughout the body
Polimialgia reumatica on the other hand presents with stiffness and aching of the neck, shoulders and hips. Associated with this by one third of patients is weight loss, fever and mental disturbances like depression. There may be no known cause for the onset. The symptoms may appear almost overnight or develop over a period of a few days. Although pain and stiffness may feel like they are originating in the joints or bones, that is not the case. Polimialgia reumatica only affects the muscles or the muscle attachment to the bone called the tendon. It is usually present on both sides of the body. Often a final diagnosis may take some time as other conditions such as neurological, hormonal and endocrine are ruled out.
Polimialgia reumatica and GCA are both commonly treated with corticosteroids. With the desired treatment regime achieving as low a dose as possible as soon as can be done. Because of the fear of drug toxicity it is desirable to achieve the lowest dose that will still provide maximum symptomatic relief. At this present time there is no best method to achieve this other than a little experimentation on the patient. It is common for a high or medium dose to be initially given then see how the patient responds then lower the dose and continue to carefully monitor the patient.
About half of polimialgia reumatica sufferers and 1/3rd of GCA sufferers will have a reappearance of their symptoms within the first year of treatment when their medication is lowered. This is associated with lowering medication below seven and a half mg per day.
As a adjunct to pharmaceutical treatment for Polimialgia reumatica there can be some benefit in changing lifestyle, adjusting dietary habits and adding nutritional supplements. Stress or anxiety can activate some pro-inflammatory conditions within the body, so learning to increase relaxation in your life can be beneficial. Decreased take away or processed foods and supplying your body with more key vitamins and minerals can only serve to help your body during the healing process. There are a few supplements that have been shown to help with inflammation and decreasing that in the body.
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Tags: alternative, arthritis, health, medical, pain, polymyalgia