Persistent pain signals serious blood vessel condition
2:11 p.m. Thursday, April 19, 2007
Persistent stiffness and pain in the neck, shoulders, hips and lower back may be the sign of a serious condition that could lead to blindness.
PMR or polymyalgia rheumatica, in inflammation of the blood vessels, is an affliction sometimes misdiagnosed as arthritis.
"Some people will dismiss it as arthritis, but it's not arthritis," said Dr. Deborah Anderson, a physician at St. Francis Health Center.
Fast Facts
- PMR affects around 4 per 1,000 people over the age of 50, but is rare under this age. The peak age PMR occurs tends to be between 40 and 59.
- There is no known cause for PMR, but it can be treated.
- About 50 percent of patients require two or three years of medication and 30 percent need even longer.
Source: Netdoctor.co.uk
It tends to occur in people over 50 and can last up to five years. However, Anderson says the condition usually goes away after three years.
PMR can be linked to temporal arthritis, an inflammation of vessels that can lead to blindness.
"Get to your doctor immediately," Anderson said, if you have had a significant ache that hasn't gone away for longer than a month.
Pain relieves for arthritis won't do any good for PMR, but Prednisone, a type of steroid, is effective.
Doctors aren't sure of the cause, but a simple blood test will confirm whether or not you suffer from PMR.
Anderson emphasizes that PMR is rare.
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