How is PMR treated?
If PMR is suspected, a trial of low-dose corticosteroids is given. If PMR is present, these medications will control the pain quickly. The response to corticosteroids can be dramatic – sometimes patients are better after only one dose – but improvement can be slower. However, if symptoms have not been completely relieved after 2 to 3 weeks of treatment, the diagnosis of PMR must be called into question. When symptoms have been controlled, the dose of corticosteroid medication is decreased gradually. The goal is to find the lowest dose that keeps the individual comfortable. Some people can stop corticosteroids within a year, but most will need a small amount of this medication for 2 to 3 years, sometimes longer, to keep aching and stiffness under control.
