Polymyalgia

 Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is a condition that causes pain, stiffness and inflammation in the muscles around the shoulders, neck and hips. It is thought to be a problem with the body's auto-immune system. It is most common in the over 70's.

I contracted PMR, overnight, in the New Year of 2020. One night I went to bed with no symptoms and woke the following morning with every muscle in my body aching. Some, around the upper arms, were painful. A quick look on the internet suggested PMR and proposed a solution in the anti-inflammetry prednisolone. It also suggested that in many cases the disease would disappear of its own volition after a year.

Because of other, underlying, conditions I could not take an anti-inflammetry, relying only on paracetamol for pain relief. gradually as the summer moved on to autumn, the regions of pain gradually decreased until only the left arm, the biceps principally, ached.

Now, a year after the condition first appeared I can report that I am free of PMR, exactly as predicted.