title: Diffuse pain syndromes in the elderly.
abstract: Diffuse pain syndromes are common in older persons. Fibromyalgia and PMR are the most common but other inflammatory, endocrine and neoplastic diseases may cause diffuse pain as well. A thorough history and physical examination, screening laboratories and response to a trial of low-dose steroids may help to differentiate between syndromes. Fibromyalgia may be a secondary phenomenon associated with some of the other diffuse pain syndromes. This should be kept in mind if a patient fails to respond appropriately to treatments directed at a particular disease.
authors.affiliation: Asheville Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center, North Carolina, USA. drkrisg@aol.com
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Gowin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011111:Polymyalgia Rheumatica / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence