Polymyalgia Rheumatica Center - Providence, RIProvidence Rheumatologist Doctors for Polymyalgia RheumaticaType of Physician: Rheumatologist What is a Rheumatologist? A subspecialty certification by the Board of Internal Medicine; practitioners treat diseases of the joints, muscles, bones, and tendons. The rheumatologist diagnoses and treats arthritis, back pain, muscle strains, common athletic injuries, etc. The rheumatologist may work closely with other specialists such as orthopaedic surgeons and physical therapists. Specialty: Rheumatology Common Name: Rheumatologist Doctors in Providence * Anchor Medical Associates  University Medicine Foundation  University Medicine Foundation  University Medicine Foundation  Rheumatology Associates  Rheumatology Associates  Rheumatology Associates  Rheumatology Associates  Rheumatology Associates  University Medical Group  University Medical Group  University Medical Group  Jack Mourad MD  Orthopaedic Associates Inc  Memorial Hospital Internal Medicine  Medical Group of Rhode Island Inc  J Scott Toder MD  Arthritis Center of Rhode Island  Ocean State Health Care Clinics  Ralph A DiGiacomo MD  Kent Rheumotologists  Kent Rheumotologists  Metacom Medical Walk In  Newport Rheumatology Services  Coastal Rheumatology  Coastal Rheumatology Providence, Rhode IslandUpcoming Local Events2012-06-10
2012-06-16
2012-07-03
2012-07-14
2012-07-15
2012-08-19
2012-09-23
2012-09-23
2012-10-13
2012-11-11
Polymyalgia RheumaticaRead the Polymyalgia Rheumatica article » What is polymyalgia rheumatica?Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is a disorder of the muscles and joints characterized by pain and stiffness, affecting both sides of the body, and involving the shoulders, arms, neck, and buttock areas. Patients with polymyalgia rheumatica are typically over the age of 50 years. What causes polymyalgia rheumatica?The cause of polymyalgia rheumatica is not known. Recent research has indicated that genetic (inherited) factors play a role in who becomes afflicted with the illness. Theories have included viral stimulation of the immune system in genetically susceptible individuals. Rarely, polymyalgia rheumatica is associated with a cancer. In this setting, the cancer may be initiating an inflammatory immune response to cause the polymyalgia rheumatica symptoms.
What are symptoms of polymyalgia rheumatica?The onset of the illness can be sudden. A patient may have a healthy history until awakening one morning with stiffness and pain of muscles and joints throughout the body. These symptoms persist and are often accompanied by an intense sensation of fatigue. Some patients notice a gradual loss of appetite, weight, and energy. Depression can occur.
How is polymyalgia rheumatica diagnosed?The doctor frequently notes muscle tenderness and that the motion of the shoulders is limited by pain. The joints are usually not swollen. However, swelling of the small joints of the hands, wrists, and/or knees can occur. Blood testing for inflammation is generally abnormal, as indicated by a significant elevation in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and/or C-reactive protein. There are no specific tests, however, for polymyalgia rheumatica and X-rays... Recommended Reading Related to Polymyalgia RheumaticaDepression facts
Other Related Polymyalgia Rheumatica ArticlesEmergency Contact for Providence
Nearby Providence Hospitals *Hasbro Children's Hospital Rhode Island Hospital Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island Southern New England Rehabilitation Center St Joseph Health Services Providence VA Medical Center Roger Williams Medical Center Butler Hospital The Miriam Hospital Bradley Hospital Our Lady of Fatima Hospital Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island Eleanor Slater Hospital Pastore Center Arbour-Fuller Hospital Kent Hospital Sturdy Memorial Hospital Rehabilitation Hospital of Rhode Island Landmark Medical Center Saint Anne's Hospital Charlton Memorial Hospital Taunton State Hospital Morton Hospital & Medical Center Eleanor Slater Hospital Zambarano Unit Milford Regional Medical Center Newport Hospital Boston VA Healthcare System Brockton  New Bedford Rehabilitation Hospital  Kindred Specialty Hospital Stoughton  Caritas Good Samaritan Medical Center  Day Kimball Hospital  Hubbard Regional Hospital  New England Sinai Hospital & Rehabilitation Center  South County Hospital  Caritas Norwood Hospital  St Luke's Hospital  Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital  Westwood Lodge Hospital  Massachusetts Hospital School  Kindred Specialty Hospital Braintree  Kindred Specialty Hospital Natick  MetroWest Medical Center Framingham Union Hospital  MetroWest Medical Center Leonard Morse Hospital  Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital Westborough  Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital Needham  Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital  VA Boston Healthcare System West Roxbury Campus  South Shore Hospital  Milton Hospital  Westborough State Hospital Featured Articles*Provider Directory Terms of Use: The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval. |
Suggested Reading on Polymyalgia Rheumatica by Our Doctors
-
Related Diseases & Conditions
10 articles-
Depression
- Depression is an illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts and affects the way a person eats and sleeps, the way one feels about oneself, and the way one thinks about things. The principal types of depression are major depression, dysthymia, and bipolar disease (also called manic-depressive disease).
-
Fever
- Although a fever technically is any body temperature above the normal of 98.6 degrees F. (37 degrees C.), in practice a person is usually not considered to have a significant fever until the temperature is above 100.4 degrees F (38 degrees C.). Fever is part of the body's own disease-fighting arsenal: rising body temperatures apparently are capable of killing off many disease- producing organisms.
-
Stroke
- A stroke results from impaired oxygen delivery to brain cells via the bloodstream. A stroke is also referred to as a CVA, or cerebrovascular incident. Symptoms of stroke include: sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg. Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding. Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes, sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance, and/or sudden severe headache with no known cause. A TIA, or transient ischemic attack is a short-lived temporary impairment of the brain caused by loss of blood supply. Stroke is a medical emergency.
-
Vasculitis
- Vasculitis is a general term for a group of uncommon diseases which feature inflammation of the blood vessels. Each form of vasculitis has its own characteristic pattern of symptoms. The diagnosis of vasculitis is definitively established after a biopsy of involved tissue demonstrates the pattern of blood vessel inflammation. Treatment is directed toward decreasing the inflammation of the arteries and improving the function of affected organs.
-
Neck Pain
- Neck pain (cervical pain) may be caused by any number of disorders and diseases. Tenderness is another symptom of neck pain. Though treatment for neck pain really depends upon the cause, treatment typically may involve heat/ice application, traction, physical therapy, cortisone injection, topical anesthetic creams, and muscle relaxants.
-
Cancer
- Cancer is a disease caused by an abnormal growth of cells, also called malignancy. It is a group of 100 different diseases, and is not contagious. Cancer can be treated through chemotherapy, a treatment of drugs that destroy cancer cells.
-
Headache
- Headaches can be divided into two categories: primary headaches and secondary headaches. Migraine headaches, tension headaches, and cluster headaches are considered primary headaches. Secondary headaches are caused by disease. Headache symptoms vary with the headache type. Over-the-counter pain relievers provide short-term relief for most headaches.
-
Pain Management
- Pain management and treatment can be simple or complex, according to its cause. There are two basic types of pain, nociceptive pain and neuropathic pain. Some causes of neuropathic pain includes: complex regional pain syndrome, interstitial cystitis, and irritable bowel syndrome. There are a variety of methods to treat chronic pain, which are dependant on the type of pain experienced.
-
Blindness
- Blindness is the state of being sightless. Causes of blindness include macular degeneration, stroke, cataract, glaucoma, infection and trauma. Symptoms and signs may include eye pain, eye discharge, or the cornea or pupil turning white. Treatment of blindness depends upon the cause of the blindness.
-
Fatigue
- Fatigue can be described in various ways. Sometimes fatigue is described as feeling a lack of energy and motivation (both mental and physical). The causes of fatigue are generally related to a variety of conditions or diseases for example, anemia, mono, medications, sleep problems, cancer, anxiety, heart disease, drug abuse, and more. Treatment of fatigue is generally directed toward the condition or disease that is causing the fatigue.
-
Depression
-
Medications
8 articles -
Procedures & Tests
3 articles -
Pictures, Images & Quizzes
0 articles -
Doctor's & Expert's Views
3 articles -
Health News
1 articles -
Health Features
1 articles
