Dear Dr. Gott: I hope you can give me some information on the condition I have had for almost a year. My doctor calls it PMR — polymyalgia rheumatica. I’d never heard of it. I think it has something to do with my muscles. She put me on prednisone, a steroid medicine (which I hear has side effects like all medicines). I understand prednisone doesn’t alleviate the problem, it only eases the pain and helps me get around better.What I gather is that there is very little known about PMR. She said it could last from one to four years. It’s in the upper parts of my arms and in my knees. When I sit down, I can’t get up without help; my knees won’t bend, and I can’t take tub baths because I can’t get out of the tub. When I try to put my socks and shoes on and bend down to pick them up, it feels like my stride is going to break. I’m in a lot of pain. I do hope you may inform me more about my condition. Reply: PMR falls into the arthritis category and is an auto-immune disorder that causes stiffness and pain in the joints and muscles of your hips, neck and shoulders. Some individuals might experience fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss and slight fever. No one knows the exact cause of PMR, but it is understood that cells that are part of the body’s immune system malfunction. The disorder occurs more often in women than in men, and more often in the elderly. It is marked by inflammation of normal tissues. The condition is diagnosed through a blood test, such as an erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) or C-reactive protein (CRP), to determine the presence of protein indicating inflammation. Early stage PMR can often be handled by reducing swelling with the use of Advil or Motrin. Severe cases like yours are managed with steroids, such as prednisone. The drugs are almost always very successful. However, as you may know, steroids can have profound metabolic effects and should be taken in the smallest dosage needed for pain relief. While you seem to have good medical supervision and management with the help of your doctor, it appears you have numerous questions that have not been answered regarding your condition and future care. It is vital you make a list of all the concerns you might have. If you have access to a computer, investigate your condition. If not, contact the Arthritis Foundation at 800-283-7800. Learn what PMR is all about. Then make an appointment with your doctor. Go over the list to get the answers you need if you are to be an informed patient. While you might trust your physician, you must be familiar with your ailment. Good luck. To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Consumer Tips on Medicines”. Other readers who would like a copy should send a long, self-addressed, stamped envelope and $2 to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, Ohio 44092-0167. Be sure to mention the title.

Dr. Gott is a practising physician and the author of the new book “Dr. Gott’s No Flour, No Sugar Diet”. Contact Dr. Gott c/o United Media, 200 Madison Avenue, fourth floor, New York, New York 10016.