PMR
Supporting someone with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR)
Know the warning signs today. Have a plan together for the steroid years in four weeks.
25 situations with what to say · 24 straight answers · a 4-week plan with something to do together each session · 10 cards and plans · with Family: short videos to share with the rest of the family
Reviewed 2026-11-09 · next review 2027-11-09
The 4-week plan
Week 1
Understand and believe
- What PMR is
- Mornings, and a day from the inside
- "It's just getting old"
Week 2
Talk
- Validation: the skill that helps most Free
- What to say instead Free
- When it goes wrong
Week 3
Plan together
- The steroid journey
- Help without taking over
- Relapses and red flags
Week 4
Family and you
- Partners, children, carers
- The wider family
- Looking after yourself
Right now: situation cards
- New headache, sore scalp, jaw pain or a change in sight Free
- They cancelled plans again Free
- They're in a lot of pain right now Free
- They snapped at me
- They're crying and I don't know why
- They say "I feel useless" or "I'm a burden"
- A relative says they just need to push themselves Free
- Someone says "But they look so well"
- There's a family event tonight
- The children are asking questions
- There's a doctor's appointment tomorrow
- They want to try a treatment I'm unsure about
- Sex and closeness have stopped
- It's a good day and they want to do everything
- They have a new or different symptom
- I'm angry, and then I feel guilty Free
- I'm running on empty
- Part of me doubts it's that bad
- They talk about not wanting to live Free
- The steroid tablets have run out, or they want to stop
- The stiffness has come back as the dose comes down
- They're not themselves on the steroids
- They won't make a fuss
- It's a really stiff morning Free
- They've been near chickenpox or shingles
Toolkit
- PMR: red flags and relapse plan
- Say this, not that
- PMR: myths and facts
- What I need on a bad morning
- Our weekly check-in
- Steroid dose diary
- Who does what
- Questions for the appointment
- Explaining PMR to children and grandchildren
- Where to find help
With Family
- Four extra logins for relatives
- Share links to the short videos for anyone who doubts
- A story to read aloud to children
- Letter templates for work, school and family
Questions families ask
- Is PMR a real illness, or just getting older?
- What causes PMR?
- How is PMR diagnosed?
- Will it go away?
- Is it my fault, or theirs?
- Will I get it too?
- Why are mornings so much worse?
- Why are they so tired?
- Why do they seem so low?
- What is giant cell arteritis, and why does it matter?
- What are the warning signs of GCA?
- When is it not "just the PMR"?
- What actually helps?
- Why steroids, if they have side effects?
- How long will they be on steroids?
- Can they just stop the steroids once they feel well?
- What side effects should we watch for?
- The steroids are changing their mood. What should we do?
- Why do they need bone protection?
- Are they more likely to catch things?
- What is a relapse, and what should we do?
- Should they rest or keep moving?
- How can I help from a distance?
- Where can I get support for myself?
Free to read
The start, two sessions on what to say, 7 situation cards, 9 questions and the card "PMR: red flags and relapse plan". Open them in the app; no payment needed.
Start free