What should you know about polymyalgia rheumatica and temporal arteritis?

Polymyalgia rheumatica mainly causes aching and stiffness around the shoulders, neck and hips. Temporal arteritis, also called giant cell arteritis, is inflammation of arteries, often involving vessels around the head. It may cause a new persistent headache, scalp tenderness, jaw pain when chewing, visual disturbance or unusual tiredness. The two conditions can occur in the same person, so a change from limb stiffness to head, jaw or eye symptoms matters. Diagnosis uses the history, examination and appropriate tests; do not wait for symptoms to become severe before seeking advice.

Contact a clinician promptly if you have new shoulder or hip stiffness plus a new headache, scalp tenderness or jaw discomfort. Write down when symptoms began and whether vision has changed. Take prescribed treatment exactly as directed and attend monitoring appointments, because treatment may need adjustment and can have effects that require review. Once your clinician confirms that movement is safe, [Physiotherapy](/treatments/physiotherapy-and-rehabilitation/physiotherapy/) can help maintain mobility and confidence.

Treat sudden or temporary vision loss, double vision, severe new headache, jaw pain with chewing, weakness, numbness, confusion or difficulty speaking as urgent warning signs. Seek emergency help for sudden vision change or neurological symptoms. [Morning joint stiffness](/symptoms/morning-joint-stiffness/) and [muscle weakness](/symptoms/muscle-weakness/) without these warning signs still warrant a routine clinical assessment when persistent.

Could my symptoms suggest temporal arteritis as well as polymyalgia rheumatica? Which symptoms mean I should seek emergency help? What monitoring will treatment require? When can I begin exercise?