Polimialgia Reumatica Complications And Treatment
Both the inflammatory rheumatic diseases polimialgia reumatica and giant cell arteritis
(GCA) are often overlapping conditions with undiscovered causative factors. There are some clinical indicators that are common to both conditions and they typically occur in adults over the age of fifty years. As far as the incidence of both disorders in America and England it is estimated that GCA occurs approximately 200 cases per 1 million people. For polimialgia reumatica depending on the country of choice the annual incidence can be anywhere from 120 - 1120 per million.
Giant cell arterits on average is an easier diagnosis to come to than polimialgia reumatica. A painful new type of headache is the most tell tale sign of gca. Blood testing will often show elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and high C-reactive protein levels. Something that must be noted is a consequence of GCA that is visual loss, which unfortunately occurs in fifteen percent of all cases. For this reason GCA is treated as a rheumatologic emergency. Other symptoms that may be experienced include tingling of the tongue or lips which results from decreased blood to the head from inflamed blood vessels. Upon further testing it can be found that half of GCA sufferers have their main arteries also inflamed throughout the body.
Polimialgia reumatica on the other hand presents with stiffness and aching of the neck, shoulders and hips. Associated with this by one third of patients is weight loss, fever and mental disturbances like depression. There may be no known cause for the onset. The symptoms may appear almost overnight or develop over a period of a few days. Although pain and stiffness may feel like they are originating in the joints or bones, that is not the case. Polimialgia reumatica only affects the muscles or the muscle attachment to the bone called the tendon. It is usually present on both sides of the body. Often a final diagnosis may take some time as other conditions such as neurological, hormonal and endocrine are ruled out.
Both polimialgia reumatica and GCA are typically treated with corticosteroids. Although the goal is to lessen the amount of corticosteroid to a maintenance level as soon as possible. This is done to try and prevent coricosteroid toxicity and therefore the goal is to find the lowest dose possible that still alleviates symptoms. Currently there is no definitive protocol for this method and it will involve some trial and error. Usually a medium to high starting dose will be used to begin with, followed by careful monitoring of symptoms and side effects.
About half of polimialgia reumatica sufferers and 1/3rd of GCA sufferers will have a reappearance of their symptoms within the first year of treatment when their medication is lowered. This is associated with lowering medication below seven and a half mg per day.
For those looking to naturally compliment the effects of medication for polimialgia reumatica, there are a few things that can be done such as dietary modification, lifestyle changes and supplementation. Inflammation can often be aggravated by stress, so learning to be more relaxed and calm can benefit an inflamed system. More fruit and vegetable in the diet will supply additional nutrients to help your body during this healing period. And adding some anti-inflammatory supplements can also assist in reducing the aches and pains.
Polimialgia Reumatica Complications And Treatment
By: Peter Alexis
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