What should you know about steroids for polymyalgia rheumatica?

Polymyalgia rheumatica causes inflammation around the shoulders, hips, and other nearby areas, leading to aching and marked stiffness. Corticosteroids calm that inflammation rather than repairing a joint or muscle injury. Your clinician may use your symptoms, examination, and blood tests to judge the response. A strong improvement can support the diagnosis, but it does not replace follow-up.

Treatment often continues for an extended period. The dose may be reduced in stages when symptoms remain controlled. Symptoms returning during a reduction can mean that the plan needs review; do not change the dose or stop suddenly on your own.

Take the prescribed steroid at the recommended time and keep appointments for review. Tell your clinician about diabetes, high blood pressure, stomach problems, bone thinning, eye disease, infections, or medicines and supplements you use. Longer courses can affect blood sugar, blood pressure, bones, mood, sleep, and infection risk, so monitoring may be part of your care.

Gentle activity can help you maintain movement as pain settles. A physiotherapist can tailor exercises for strength, posture, and daily tasks; see [Physiotherapy](/treatments/physiotherapy-and-rehabilitation/physiotherapy/) for related information.

Contact your clinician promptly if shoulder or hip pain and stiffness return, worsen, or interfere with basic movement while the dose is changing. Seek urgent medical help for a new severe headache, scalp tenderness, jaw pain when chewing, or visual change, because these can signal blood-vessel inflammation associated with polymyalgia rheumatica. Get prompt advice for fever or other signs of infection while taking steroids.

Ask how long the planned course may last, how dose reductions will be scheduled, which monitoring checks you need, and what to do if symptoms return. You can also ask whether bone protection, vaccination advice, or an exercise plan is appropriate for you.