One day you're mowing the lawn or walking the dog, the next day the pain in your shoulders and hips means you can barely stand or lift anything at all. Everyday activities like brushing your teeth become a challenge and are suddenly obstacles to be overcome.
Nobody knows what causes it to occur.
Climbing stairs, walking, and getting in and out of the bath all become uncomfortable or impossible to do and many previously active people suddenly find themselves housebound. The symptoms are worse first thing in the morning, which means it's often difficult for someone to get out of bed. They also tend to be bad after sitting down for a prolonged period of time, which again makes it difficult perform a simple task such as getting out of a chair or off the sofa. In addition to the pain and stiffness, many people also suffer extreme tiredness, feel very unwell, and sometimes loose weight too. A miserable condition that appears out of the blue, with no known cause, and that can't be prevented.