Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is an inflammatory rheumatic condition affecting around 4 per 1000 people over the age of 50. It is especially common in Caucasians.
The cause of the disease is still unknown but some people may have a history of parvovirus infection just prior to the onset of symptoms. The main symptoms includes a sudden or abrupt pain and morning stiffness around the shoulders, neck and thighs, a feeling of unwell and tiredness, a loss of appetite and weight, muscle stiffness and difficulty in climbing stairs or getting out of bed.
In western medicine, Corticosteroid drugs, like prednisolone (Deltacortril), are the mainstay of treatment and, in most cases, there's a quick response and improvement. But these drugs do not cure PMR, just suppress the inflammation and the other complaints.However, long time use of prednisolone can cause a series of side effects including weight gain, moon face,hair loss or even blood sugar and pressure increase, osteoporosis etc.
Traditional Chinese Medicine treatment of PMR involves several modalities, such as herbs, acupuncture and moxibustion, acupussure and tuina-massage.For Chinese herbal prescription, Duhuo Jisheng Tang, Mahuang Fuzi Xixin Tang are the commonly used recipe.
A warming acupuncture needle therapy combined with moxibustion are the most selected paradigm
Acupussure and Tuina-massage can be worked as an assisting method to the above therapies. In most cases, good results can be obtained within one to two months of treatment.
