Lifestyle

6 Signs of Polymyalgia Rheumatica Most People Blame on Aging Joints

By Erica Coleman · October 20, 2026

Waking up stiff after 65 is easy to shrug off. But when stiffness in the shoulders and hips arrives suddenly and makes it hard to get dressed, it may be a treatable condition with a long name: polymyalgia rheumatica, or PMR.

The Arthritis Foundation calls PMR nearly as common as rheumatoid arthritis but far less well known. It is an inflammatory condition that the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases says almost always occurs in people older than 50, typically in their late 60s and 70s. The Mayo Clinic says women are about two to three times more likely to get it than men, and it is most common in white people of Northern European descent.

Part of the reason it gets missed is that PMR doesn’t cause swollen joints the way other types of arthritis do, which makes it hard to diagnose, according to the Arthritis Foundation. Here are six signs to know.

Aching in both shoulders and the neck. NIAMS lists pain and stiffness in the shoulders, neck, upper arms, and hip area. Mayo says the symptoms most often affect both sides of the body.

Morning stiffness that lasts an hour or more. NIAMS says the pain and stiffness are usually worse on waking or after resting and usually last an hour or more. The American College of Rheumatology notes that a long car ride can make it worse, and that the aches tend to ease as the day goes on.

Trouble lifting your arms. NIAMS says it is typical to have difficulty raising your arms above your shoulders. Brushing your hair or putting on a shirt can become a chore.

Struggling to get up. Mayo lists pain in the hips, buttocks, and thighs. The ACR says the stiffness can make it hard to get in and out of a car, rise from a sofa, or put on socks, and it can disturb sleep.

It came on fast. NIAMS says the symptoms usually appear over a few days and sometimes overnight. The Arthritis Foundation lists sudden morning stiffness lasting more than 45 minutes among the factors doctors weigh when diagnosing PMR.

Feeling like you have the flu. NIAMS lists low-grade fever, weakness, loss of appetite, and weight loss. The Arthritis Foundation says about one-third of patients have these whole-body symptoms.

There is no single test for PMR. Doctors often check blood markers of inflammation called the sed rate and C-reactive protein, the ACR says, though not everyone with PMR has high levels. The ACR says PMR inflammation responds quickly to treatment. MedlinePlus says low doses of corticosteroids such as prednisone can markedly ease symptoms, often within a day or two, and that treatment generally continues for one to two years. Without treatment, PMR does not get better. The ACR says over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen and naproxen are not effective for it.

Steroids carry their own risks, including bone loss, high blood pressure, and weight gain, so the ACR recommends regular checkups while you take them. Older patients may need medicine to protect their bones.

PMR has a more dangerous relative. About 10% of people with PMR also have giant cell arteritis, an inflammation of arteries, especially in the head, NIAMS says. Its warning signs are a new headache, often at the temples, scalp tenderness, jaw pain when chewing, and vision problems. NIAMS says vision symptoms need care right away, because without treatment they can lead to permanent vision loss within hours or days.

If your shoulders and hips stiffened up seemingly overnight, don’t wait it out. Tell your doctor how quickly it started.

This article is for general information and is not medical advice. If you have sudden vision changes, double vision, or a new severe headache, seek medical care right away. This article was produced with the assistance of AI and fact-checked against the sources cited by LightWave Reports.