Polymyalgia rheumatica

A rare rheumatologic disease characterized by bilateral morning stiffness which lasts > 45-60 min of duration associated with a subacute-onset of severe pain with active movements, typically affecting the shoulders, proximal upper limbs, neck and/or, less commonly, the pelvic girdle and proximal aspects of thighs, which are exacerbated with inactivity and improve progressively over the day. Muscle tenderness, peripheral synovitis, arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome or distal tenosynovitis, as well as non-specific symptoms, such as fatigue, asthenia, malaise, low-grade fever, anorexia and weight loss, may be associated. Acute phase reactants (erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein) are increased.