A disease of elderly people characterised by pain and stiffness in the shoulder and hip muscles making them weak and sensitive.
An inflammatory disorder that causes aching and stiffness around the upper arms, neck, and thighs and is the most common hematologic disorder among people over age 50. The cause is unknown. Typically, the pain is most severe in the morning but may continue throughout the day and disturb sleep at night.
A rheumatic disease causing aching and progressive stiffness of the muscles of the shoulders and hips. The condition is most common in the elderly, rarely occurring before the age of 50. The symptoms respond rapidly and effectively to corticosteroid treatment, which must usually be continued for several years. It is often associated with temporal arteritis.
A form of rheumatism characterized by gross early-morning stiffness, which tends to ease off during the day, and pain in the shoulders and sometimes around the hips. It affects women more than men, and is rare under the age of 60. The cause is still obscure. It responds well to prednisolone, but treatment may need to be long continued. On the other hand the condition is not progressive and does not lead to disability.
A rheumatologic illness marked by fevers, malaise, weight loss, muscle pain and stiffness (esp. of the shoulders and pelvis), and morning stiffness. It occurs primarily, but not exclusively, in white individuals over age 60. The cause of the syndrome is unknown. Although there is no single diagnostic test for this condition, patients typically have a markedly elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (>50 mm/hr) and no evidence of another disease (e.g., infection, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, or lupus) as the underlying cause. Patients with the syndrome obtain rapid and durable relief from corticosteroids but usually require a course of treatment lasting 6 to 18 months. Pathologically, and sometimes clinically, the syndrome is related to giant cell arteritis. Mild cases may sometimes respond to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
A rare condition prevalent in older individuals is characterized by pain and stiffness in the muscles of the hips, thighs, shoulders, and neck. Symptoms tend to be more pronounced in the morning. While the exact cause remains elusive, there may be a connection with temporal arteritis. This condition is seldom observed in people under the age of 50.
Confirming the diagnosis can be challenging. It relies on the patient’s medical history, a physical exam, and specific blood tests, including the ESR. If there’s a suspicion of temporal arteritis, a biopsy might be taken from an artery on the side of the scalp for further analysis. Typically, corticosteroid medications can enhance the condition within several days.