PMR (polymyalgia rheumatica)
Wednesday 23rd September 2026
PMR (polymyalgia rheumatica) is an inflammatory condition that mainly affects people over 50.
The simplest way to think of it is: your immune system causes inflammation around the shoulders, hips and nearby tissues, making the muscles feel painful and stiff. It isn't actually a disease that damages the muscles themselves.
Typical PMR symptoms are:
Pain and stiffness in the shoulders and upper arms, often on both sides.
Pain/stiffness around the hips, thighs and sometimes the neck.
It is usually worst first thing in the morning or after you've been sitting or lying still.
Moving around often gradually makes things easier.
Some people also feel unusually tired or generally under the weather.