Polymyalgia rheumatica is a rheumatic disorder that is associated with moderate to severe muscle pain and stiffness in the neck, shoulder, and hip area.
Stiffness is most noticeable in the morning.
In other people, polymyalgia rheumatica develops more gradually. The fact that polymyalgia rheumatica is rare in people under the age of 50 suggests it may be linked to the aging process. Polymyalgia rheumatica may go away without treatment in one to several years. But with treatment, the symptoms of polymyalgia rheumatica disappear quickly. This swelling causes the arteries to narrow, reducing blood flow.