**Polymyalgia rheumatica** is an inflammatory disease that is mostly seen in the elderly. This condition usually leads to pain and stiffness in the shoulder and upper back or hip area. Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) leads to widespread pain, stiffness and flu-like symptoms.. This disease is usually seen in people around 70 years old and rarely affects people under 50 years old.. Sometimes this disease remains between one and five years in people.. but the duration of this disease varies from person to person. Usually 15% of people with PMR develop a serious condition called temporal arthritis. The cause of polymyalgia rheumatica The cause of PMR disease is not known.. but doctors think that autoimmunity plays an important role in causing such a problem. Autoimmunity means the attack of the body's immune system on healthy tissues... Genetic and environmental factors such as infections play a very important role. Since the possibility of this disease occurring in people under 50 is very rare, the cause of its occurrence can also be related to the aging process. What are the symptoms of polymyalgia rheumatica? Symptoms of PMR are caused by inflammation of the joint and its surrounding tissues and usually start slowly or suddenly. Usually, the feeling of stiffness in the morning and prolonged immobility lead to worsening of the patient's condition. The feeling of pain and stiffness causes the non-use of some parts of the body, which ultimately leads to muscle weakness.. Most people with polymyalgia rheumatica feel pain and stiffness in the following two areas: - lesson - Neck - Ran - upper arm and shoulder Other symptoms of PMR include: - Low appetite - weight loss - fatigue - Fever Sometimes polymyalgia rheumatica occurs together with another serious disease called temporal arthritis, which creates dangerous conditions for a person. New and persistent headaches, especially on the side of the head, skin sensitivity, vision changes or jaw pain when eating can be serious symptoms of this disease. How to diagnose polymyalgia rheumatica When you see a pain specialist, he will ask you about your symptoms and medical history...he will also do a physical exam. Blood tests are done to check the level of inflammation and rule out possible conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus that lead to PMR symptoms. How is polymyalgia rheumatica treated? The goal of treatment is to reduce pain, inflammation, stiffness, pain, fatigue, and finally improve fever. Usually, treatment methods include anti-inflammatory drugs and exercise. Corticosteroids are strong anti-inflammatory drugs that reduce inflammation, stiffness, and pain.... After symptoms improve, the dose of the prescribed medication is reduced.... Sometimes, the mild type of PMR is prescribed by a pain specialist with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce symptoms.. Exercise and adequate rest both play a very important role in the treatment of polymyalgia rheumatica. The importance of doing sports can be mentioned to maintain flexibility of joints, muscle strength and essential functions of the body. Cycling, walking and exercising in the pool are some of the recommended exercises for exercise despite having this disease. Also, you should have enough rest after exercise so that you can perform your exercises sufficiently and with energy in other cases. Care tips for people with polymyalgia rheumatica If you've had treatment, the symptoms will lessen or go away completely within a few days... Without treatment, it usually goes away on its own after a year. But sometimes it takes up to five years, the duration of this disease is different for each person. To control this disease, you should have these items in your daily schedule: - proper nutrition - sports activity - Timely and complete use of prescribed drugs - Adequate rest When the feeling of stiffness in the body is removed, you can go about your daily activities, including exercise. Familiarity with temporal arthritis As we mentioned throughout the article, sometimes some people with polymyalgia rheumatica also suffer from temporal arthritis, so we have given explanations to get more familiar with this disease. 1 out of every 5 people with polymyalgia rheumatica will develop a more serious disease called temporal arthritis, in which the arteries of the head and neck become inflamed. Symptoms of temporal arthritis are: - Sudden and severe headache (scalp pain and sensitivity) - Jaw muscle pain when eating - creating vision problems such as diplopia or reduced vision If you have any of these symptoms, see your doctor right away for treatment... Unlike polymyalgia rheumatica, temporal arthritis requires immediate medical attention. Because if the treatment is not done on time, it will lead to permanent loss of vision.