Is PMR a real illness, or just getting older?
It's a real inflammatory condition, not normal ageing. It causes pain, stiffness and inflammation in the muscles around the shoulders, neck and hips, and it has a specific treatment.
Blood tests usually show raised inflammation, and the symptoms improve quickly with steroids, which is part of how it's diagnosed. It can make people feel low, anxious and exhausted as well as stiff. Putting it down to age risks missing treatment, and missing the warning signs of giant cell arteritis.
Sources
- NHS: Polymyalgia rheumatica, overview
- NHS: Polymyalgia rheumatica, diagnosis
- Arthritis UK (formerly Versus Arthritis): Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR)
- US National Institutes of Health (NIAMS): Polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis
- American College of Rheumatology: Polymyalgia rheumatica (patient fact sheet)
Reviewed 2026-11-09 · next review 2027-11-09