Pseudo polyarthrite rhizomelique

[Suzyhayes]

My friend has been diagnosed with this condition. Does anyone have it and what treatment is effective.

She has pain in the shoulders, arms, hips and thighs. She has had cortisone tablets which help with the pain but can anyone suggest any other therapies.

[CarolineC57]

Hi Suzyhayes - I googled this as I hadn't heard of it, but it sounded similar to polymyalgia rheumatica. Anyway, it sounds like this is the same thing. A few French websites popped up when I googled it. My French isn't very good but one I looked at mentioned ploymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), so I assume this is the same thing only in French!

A few years ago, my doctor suspected I had this. You are correct that the main symptoms are severe pains in shoulders and hips. They tried me on steroids (prednisilone) which I was on for a year (you have to wean yourself off them very gradually). I felt wonderful for 2 weeks ... then dreadful for the rest of the time. Eventually, they decided my pain problems were something else altogether.

But if your friend does have PMR then the best thing she can take is the recommended steroids. If she does have it (unlike me), she should feel better taking them. Without steroids, there's a danger that another more serious condition called giant cell arteritis (which affects the arteries in the temple) might arise. Your friend should be under the care of a rheumatologist to oversee this.

I don't know about alternative treatments for PMR. It might be worth asking her doctor if physiotherapy is recommended.

[Suzyhayes in reply to CarolineC57]

Thanks for your advice. Her husband is a rheumatologist so she should be in good hands.

[Bobcat38]

Hi have not looked up your problem but pseudo basically

Means, you have symptoms

Of polyarthrite rhizomelique

But it is a problem that mimics

The symptoms of the above,

But has another cause, sometimes known, but can be unknown.

Regards Bryan