Polymyalgia Rheumatica: Causes, Tests and Treatment
By John Hewitt
()
About this ebook
Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is a condition that causes pain and stiffness in the muscles around the, neck, shoulders, upper arms, hips, buttocks, or thighs. The term literally means “rheumatic type of pain in many muscles.”
Polymyalgia rheumatica is a medical condition which is potentially treatable. If it is diagnosed correctly and then lifestyle changes are made or the proper medication is taken to tackle it, it is a manageable condition and you can live a happy and normal life even if you have PMR.
John Hewitt
'John Hewitt outstrips the categories we keep invoking for him, such as “doyen of Ulster poets” or “conscience of the Planter tradition”. He becomes, instead, the universal poet, servant of the medium, renewer of the forms, discoverer of the nugget of harmony in the language and in ourselves.’ Seamus Heaney 'The constant subjects of his poetry are historical isolation and private loneliness. When he uses one as a metaphor for the other, he writes with an unforgettable mixture of courage and perception.' Eavan Boland ‘John Hewitt the poet made himself heard in a land of bellowers without raising his voice. He held out the creative hand rather than the clenched fist.’ Michael Longley John Hewitt, father figure to a generation of poets such as Seamus Heaney and Michael Longley, is widely acknowledged as a poetic icon and creative catalyst within the canon of Irish poetry. Edited, with a new introduction, by acclaimed poets Michael Longley and Frank Ormsby, Selected Poems is testament to Hewitt’s remarkable legacy, and a celebration of a unique, compelling and still urgent voice in Irish poetry.
Read more from John Hewitt
Scoliosis: Causes, Tests and Treatments Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAddison's Disease: Causes, Tests and Treatments Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPolymyalgia Rheumatica: Causes, Tests, and Treatment Options Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5John Hewitt Selected Poems Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCanine Parvovirus: Causes, Tests and Treatments Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Pectus Excavatum: Causes, Tests and Treatment Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBlepharitis: Causes, Tests and Treatments Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPolymyositis: Causes, Tests and Treatments Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to Polymyalgia Rheumatica
Related ebooks
ENHANZE® Drug Delivery Technology: Advancing Subcutaneous Drug Delivery using Recombinant Human Hyaluronidase PH20 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSubscription Management A Clear and Concise Reference Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsProcessing and Impact on Antioxidants in Beverages Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFrontiers in Natural Product Chemistry: Volume 9 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsUnderage Drinking Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRoots as Vegetables: Growing Practices and Food Uses Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAn Ounce of Prevention: Mainly for Men Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAlcohol, Drugs, Genes and the Clinical Laboratory: An Overview for Healthcare and Safety Professionals Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Handbook of Probiotics and Prebiotics Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSuperfoods Inc Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Pill Popping Syndrome: Getting Rid of the Habit of Eating Unnecessary Pills/Drugs Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Coffee Entrepreneur: Part Two of an Australian LIfe Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsNightshade Vegetables: Growing Practices and Food Uses Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEvidence Based Health Tips Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGluten-Free All-in-One For Dummies Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Human Microbiota and Chronic Disease: Dysbiosis as a Cause of Human Pathology Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHow Diets Affect Human Health and Environmental Sustainability Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPlant Bioactives and Drug Discovery: Principles, Practice, and Perspectives Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSuperScrimpers Soda Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMicrobiome Therapeutics: Personalized Therapy Beyond Conventional Approaches Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFood Industry R&D: A New Approach Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCancer-Leading Proteases: Structures, Functions, and Inhibition Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMicrobial Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGin Cocktails: A Beginners Guide to Gin Cocktail Recipes & Home Bar Basics Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsReset Your Body's Clock: To Be Younger, Healthier and Live Longer with Nutritional Science Advances Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHerbal Cures: Exploring the use of herbs for healing and well-being. Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMicroneedles for Drug and Vaccine Delivery and Patient Monitoring Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Wellness For You
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Brain Hacks: 200+ Ways to Boost Your Brain Power Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Illustrated Easy Way to Stop Drinking: Free At Last! Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Woman's Guide to Oral Sex: Your guide to incredible, exhilarating, sensational sex Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Sex Hacks: Over 100 Tricks, Shortcuts, and Secrets to Set Your Sex Life on Fire Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5When the Body Says No Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Secret Language of Your Body: The Essential Guide to Health and Wellness Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Big Book of 30-Day Challenges: 60 Habit-Forming Programs to Live an Infinitely Better Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mating in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How Am I Doing?: 40 Conversations to Have with Yourself Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Diabetes Code: Prevent and Reverse Type 2 Diabetes Naturally Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Glucose Revolution: The Life-Changing Power of Balancing Your Blood Sugar Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Thinner Leaner Stronger: The Simple Science of Building the Ultimate Female Body Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Summary of Anna Lembke's Dopamine Nation Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Deep Nutrition: Why Your Genes Need Traditional Food Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How Not to Diet: The Groundbreaking Science of Healthy, Permanent Weight Loss Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Alchemy of Herbs - A Beginner's Guide: Healing Herbs to Know, Grow, and Use Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Summary of Lindsay C. Gibson's Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Wim Hof Method: Activate Your Full Human Potential Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Healthy as F*ck: The Habits You Need to Get Lean, Stay Healthy, and Kick Ass at Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for Polymyalgia Rheumatica
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
Polymyalgia Rheumatica - John Hewitt
Polymyalgia Rheumatica: Causes, Tests and Treatment
John Hewitt, MA
John Greenspan, MD (Ed.)
Smashwords Edition
****
Copyright 2012 John Hewitt, MA; John Greenspan, MD (Ed.)
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Contents
One: What is Polymyalgia rheumatica?
Two: Why do you get PMR?
Three: Common symptoms for PMR
Four: How can I know if I have polymyalgia rheumatica?
Five: Treatment
Six: Notes on Side-effects of Steroids
Seven: Self help treatment
Eight: Things you should avoid during PMR
Appendix A: Organizations Related to PMR
Appendix B: Internet Resources / Further Reading
Glossary of Medical Terms
One: What is Polymyalgia rheumatica?
Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is a condition that causes pain and stiffness in the muscles around the, neck, shoulders, upper arms, hips, buttocks, or thighs. The term literally means rheumatic type of pain in many muscles.
Usually, you have less chance of suffering from this condition if you are below the age of 50. The average age of diagnosis is about 70 years. It is rarely known to have occurred in people ages below 50 and is more prevalent among women. In fact, women are two times more likely to develop the condition than men. According to some researchers, women and men of Northern European or Scandinavian descent have a higher probability of incurring PMR than those of other descent.
Polymyalgia rheumatica is a medical condition which is potentially treatable. If it is diagnosed correctly and then lifestyle changes are made or the proper medication is taken to tackle it, it is a manageable condition and you can live a happy and normal life even if you have PMR.
Polymyalgia rheumatica can occur overnight at times. You may sleep fine one day and find the next morning that you are unable to move due to severe stiffness of your shoulder and hip muscles. You may feel severe pain and difficulty in raising your arms above your head because of the stiffness.
PMR causes severe pain and can greatly hamper your social life. The first symptom is usually moderate to severe pain in the shoulders. The pain also may occur in the neck, lower back, buttocks, hips, or thighs. There may be general symptoms, such as low-grade fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, unintended weight loss, or depression. If you have PMR, you need to be very careful with dietary habits and daily routine. You may also acquire insomnia which causes fatigue and tiredness.
The pain of PMR usually occurs in the morning, or after prolonged inactivity, such as a long car ride.
If you are suffering from PMR, you will find it extremely hard to get up from the bed in the morning or do any other activity that involves the movement of shoulders or hips. As the day goes on, the intensity of the pain and the stiffness of the muscles subside and you will gradually be able to be more active. Towards the evening, you’ll be able to walk around and perform activities like a person without PMR.
Occasionally, doctors may mistake polymyalgia rheumatica with fibromyalgia, a condition exhibiting somewhat similar symptoms. Fibromyalgia causes muscle stiffness and pain but no inflammation. This can lead to a misdiagnosis and wrong treatment while the actual condition -- polymyalgia rheumatic -- remains untreated. The difficulty of the diagnosis is further complicated by the fact that polymyalgia rheumatica symptoms are similar to those of a number of other diseases and these symptoms are not easily found in the physical examination. A number of tests and a proper diagnosis by a doctor can sufficiently establish whether or not you have PMR.
People suffering from PMR may become isolated in their social lives because of its effects. You may find it increasingly hard to take part in daily activities and may suffer with sleeplessness, fatigue, pain and depression. Because of such inhibitions, PMR sufferers may also develop other related conditions which are a result of weak mental health. Psychological problems in PMR can be because of two reasons: either because you may develop giant cell arteritis after you acquire PMR; or else, your mental health may be affected adversely because of the loss of appetite and insomnia which accompany PMR. Therefore, it is very important to get treated for the condition as soon as possible.
Complications related to PMR:
About 20% of patients who have PMR may also have