• Winter A

• Polymyalgia Rheumatica

This case discusses a 70-year-old male, a pre-existing patient at a chiropractic clinic, who presented with a 24-h history of localised pain and stiffness in his neck and low back that had commenced the previous day after a long flight. His history and examination findings pointed to a straightforward biomechanical diagnosis, for which he was treated over the course of 6 weeks. During that period, his symptoms fluctuated and he subsequently began to report bilateral groin pain and subjective weakness in both thighs. Referral for blood tests confirmed the presence of PMR, despite the atypical symptomatology, and he was immediately placed on steroid therapy.

This report highlights the discrepancy between this patient's case and the classic presentation of a patient with PMR. It also highlights the under-reporting of this disease in the chiropractic literature, despite it being a common disorder, suggesting the diagnosis may be missed within chiropractic practices, and puts forward some recommendations as to how chiropractors might be able to minimise the risk of missing this or similar conditions in patients presenting to their clinics.

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