Ever heard of PMR or GCA?
No – neither had I until a friend of mine became a sufferer.
Polymyalgia Rheumatica or PMR is a rheumatic condition which attacks twice as many females as males aged 55 and over. The average age of onset is round about 70 years. It affects 1 in 2000 people. It can start slowly with flu like symptoms and it can start so suddenly that one morning you find you cannot get out of bed because you are so stiff and sore.
Giant Cell Arteritis, GCA or Temporal Arteritis affects the same group of people as PMR. You can have it without PMR but they often go together. GCA is characterised by severe headache, inflammation of the temporal arteries, pain in the muscles of the head and sometimes jaw stiffness
I am pleased to be able to give some publicity to this local support group (to which my friend belongs) whose web site contains useful information and contacts. Maybe someone you know will find it helpful.