Signs to Look Out For That Might Suggest You Have Polymyalgia Rheumatica 🩺⚠️
Some pains seem trivial at first: a slightly stiff shoulder upon waking, difficulty raising your arms, or even a persistent feeling of fatigue. However, behind these seemingly harmless signs may lie a much more serious inflammatory disease: polymyalgia rheumatica. Mainly affecting people over 65, it is still too often misunderstood or confused with other disorders. What if your body is sending you warning signals that you don’t perceive? 👀
When Pain Becomes Unusual 😖
It often begins with a marked and persistent pain in the shoulder, as if an invisible weight were preventing you from moving freely. This symmetrical discomfort—that is, felt on both sides of the body—makes simple actions like putting on a coat or reaching for a shelf particularly difficult. At night, the pain intensifies and disrupts sleep, making it difficult to rest 💤. Over time, it can spread to the arms, creating a feeling of constant tension, comparable to a persistent muscle cramp.
A Disease That Spreads to the Hips and Beyond 🦵💢
This problem doesn’t stop at the shoulders. Many people also experience widespread pain in the hips, thighs, buttocks, and even the neck. Imagine having to get out of a deep armchair or bend down to pick up an object: actions that were once trivial suddenly become everyday obstacles 🚫. The body seems to protest with every movement, especially after sitting for a long time or upon waking. This widespread pain is reminiscent of that felt after an intense workout—except here, it doesn’t go away.
Morning Stiffness: A Key Signal 🌅🧊
In the morning, the body feels frozen, as if the joints refuse to unlock. This stiffness can last for more than an hour after waking. Many describe a sensation of “muscle freezing,” as if their muscles had been tense all night ❄️. Moving becomes a real warm-up. Fortunately, small, gentle movements can sometimes temporarily relieve this discomfort. However, without medical attention, this stiffness can progress to a gradual loss of mobility.
Increasingly Restricted Movements 🚶♂️🛑
Little by little, the person begins to avoid certain movements to avoid rekindling the pain. As a result, the muscles weaken and movements become more limited. Climbing stairs, raising your arms to comb your hair, or even getting up from a low chair become real difficulties. It’s a bit like wearing armor that’s too rigid: you feel stuck in your own body 🧍♀️.
Joints Can Also Suffer 🤲
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