Waking up with stiff, aching shoulders and hips is easy to write off as just getting older. But for many older adults, that pain and stiffness may point to something more specific: polymyalgia rheumatica, an inflammatory condition that can come on quickly and interfere with everyday movement, from getting out of bed to reaching overhead.
What Most Patients Don’t Know: Polymyalgia rheumatica is frequently mistaken for normal aging, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or fibromyalgia. Because the symptoms, shoulder and hip pain, morning stiffness, overlap so closely with these more familiar conditions, it often goes unrecognized, delaying treatment that could bring real relief.
It’s also connected to a related condition called giant cell arteritis. Patients managing polymyalgia rheumatica should understand the warning signs of this related condition and talk with their care team about what symptoms would need urgent attention.
What OAOC Does Differently: Our rheumatology team looks at the full picture, not just isolated joint pain. Diagnosis combines a careful review of symptom patterns with inflammation markers found through blood testing, to confirm polymyalgia rheumatica accurately rather than defaulting to an aging or arthritis explanation.
“Polymyalgia rheumatica is one of those conditions where the right diagnosis changes everything. Patients often come in thinking this is just what getting older feels like, and once we identify it and start treatment, many feel significantly better within a short time.” — Dr. Arinola Dada
Treatment also accounts for the whole patient. Because long-term steroid use can present its own challenges, care includes attention to exercise, calcium, and vitamin D to support bone health throughout treatment. Ongoing clinical research is also working toward additional treatment options beyond long-term prednisone use.
One patient in her eighties came to OAOC with shoulder and hip pain she assumed was simply age catching up with her. Once properly diagnosed and treated, she regained the ability to walk, socialize, and enjoy the activities she loved.
Watch the Full Conversation: Dr. Dada and Dr. Usmani go in depth on this topic, including its symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and connection to a related condition called giant cell arteritis, on the Healthy Joints Healthy Life Show. 📺 Watch on YouTube
What You Should Do Next: If you or someone you know is experiencing unexplained shoulder and hip pain or stiffness, especially if it appeared suddenly and hasn’t improved, it’s worth a conversation with a rheumatologist. Early diagnosis makes a meaningful difference in how quickly this condition responds to treatment.
The team at Overlake Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center is here to give you answers, an accurate diagnosis, and a treatment plan that protects your joints for the long term.
📞 (425) 453-0766 📧 psr@overlakearthritis.com 🌐 www.overlakearthritis.com
If you have been watching a symptom and wondering whether it is worth mentioning, it is. That call could make a decade of difference.
Have questions? Our rheumatology team at OAOC is here to help. Call (425) 453-0766 or email psr@overlakearthritis.com