What exactly is Polymyalgia and what, if any, are the treatments?

Polymyalgia Rheumatica is an inflammatory disease which may occur suddenly in older persons with symptoms of extreme morning stiffness and pain especially in the shoulder and/or hip regions of the body. The pain is usually not associated with joint swelling or tenderness and is nearly always relieved dramatically with the treatment of 10-15 mg of prednisone daily. Laboratory tests done by a physician will reveal increased levels of inflammation as noted by the "erythrocyte sedimentation rate" or the "C-reactive protein" tests. The disease usually lasts for several months to a year and the symptoms may return as the dose of prednisone is reduced over time. Sometimes the doctor will add other medications for the symptoms including "non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs" or "disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs" to allow for a more rapid reduction of the prednisone dosage, as long-term prednisone therapy can lead to reduction of bone mass and increase the risk of fractures.