Having both RA and PMR is more common than you might think! A myRAteam member shared, "My symptoms are like RA, but I've been diagnosed with polymyalgia," highlighting how closely the two can overlap. Another member noted: "I was diagnosed with PMR. My attending physician said I had RA. Thank God I went to a Show Full Answer
Having both RA and PMR is more common than you might think! A myRAteam member shared, "My symptoms are like RA, but I've been diagnosed with polymyalgia," highlighting how closely the two can overlap. Another member noted: "I was diagnosed with PMR. My attending physician said I had RA. Thank God I went to a rheumatologist!"
Both conditions share quite a bit in common, which can make diagnosis tricky:
- Both are autoimmune conditions causing inflammation, pain, and stiffness
- Both are more common in women and people of European descent
- Blood tests like CRP and ESR detect inflammation but can't tell the two apart
- Morning stiffness is a shared symptom in both
The key differences that help doctors tell them apart include which body parts are affected, how long episodes last, and how they respond to treatment. PMR tends to respond dramatically to low-dose steroids, while RA often requires stronger medications like DMARDs or biologics. If you ever feel your treatment isn't quite right for managing both conditions, it's worth checking in with your rheumatologist. They can fine-tune your plan to address both effectively.
July 23
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