Internally Peer Reviewed Some women, more often then men, age 60 to 70 complain of difficulty combing their hair and rising from the bed or chair. They may be fatigued and have lost weight. Aching to severe pain with tenderness occurs in their neck, shoulders, upper arms, hips and thighs. Some patients have pain on chewing. Maybe it starts on one side but in a few weeks both sides are involved.
Movement becomes difficult in the morning or after periods of inactivity.
There may be fever and depression. Headache is common. The disease is almost unknown in blacks and in persons under 50. This illness was described by Dr. Bruce at Strathpepper Spa in Scotland in 1888. He called it senile rheumatic gout, but it has gone under many names.