When To Call A Professional

If you have joint or muscle pain that is severe or sudden, especially if it prevents you from participating in your normal activities, contact your doctor for an evaluation. This may be an urgent condition if you have symptoms such as fever, visual problems or headache because these symptoms suggest that you could have giant cell arteritis.

Prognosis

Although treatment may be required for years, the outlook for people with polymyalgia rheumatica is excellent.

If you have giant cell arteritis, you may lose vision in one eye or, more rarely, in both eyes, especially if treatment is delayed.

Additional Info

American College of Rheumatology 1800 Century Place, Suite 250 Atlanta, GA 30345 Phone: (404) 633-3777 Fax: (404) 633-1870 E-Mail: acr@rheumatology.orghttp://www.rheumatology.org/

Arthritis Foundation P.O. Box 7669 Atlanta, GA 30357-0669 Phone: (404) 872-7100 Toll-Free: (800) 283-7800 http://www.arthritis.org/