Complications of polymyalgia rheumatica

New headache, scalp tenderness, jaw pain while chewing, or any visual disturbance needs immediate medical assessment because giant cell arteritis can threaten sight. Treatment monitoring also matters even when shoulder and hip symptoms are controlled.

Pain and morning stiffness can reduce walking, dressing, sleep, and other daily activities. Less movement may contribute to loss of strength and confidence. A return of the same pattern during dose reduction may represent relapse, but new symptoms can have another cause and need reassessment.

Steroid medicines control inflammation but can raise blood glucose and blood pressure, weaken bones and muscles, irritate the stomach, affect mood or sleep, and increase susceptibility to infection. Risk varies with dose, treatment length, and personal health factors.

Take steroid medicine on the agreed schedule and never stop it suddenly without clinical guidance. Keep follow-up appointments so symptoms, blood tests, blood pressure, blood glucose, bone health, and medicine effects can be reviewed. Report a symptom return rather than changing the dose yourself.

Maintain comfortable daily movement and rebuild activity gradually as inflammation settles. Physiotherapy may help restore mobility, balance, and strength when stiffness or deconditioning persists. Explain whether difficulty feels like pain-limited movement or true weakness, since that distinction can change the assessment.

Get immediate medical help for new visual loss, blurred or double vision, a new persistent headache, tender scalp, or jaw or tongue pain brought on by chewing or talking. These are warning signs of giant cell arteritis, an inflammation of arteries that may accompany polymyalgia rheumatica.

Seek prompt advice for fever, feeling markedly unwell, black stools, vomiting blood, severe mood change, or symptoms of very high blood glucose such as marked thirst and frequent urination. Do not delay because the usual stiffness seems stable.

Ask how to recognise relapse, what the dose-reduction plan is, which side effects need a call, and how bone protection will be handled. Clarify whom to contact urgently if headache, jaw symptoms, or vision changes develop outside clinic hours.