Well thought out suggestions for a history and inventory of symptoms. Onset of the first symptoms and any possible inciting conditions are also of interest.
Family history with PMR in my mother was important
in my case. I payed out of pocket to check IL-6 level at
a reference lab to consider therapy options.
There is no test or perfect screening algorithm for PMR.
It can take time for patient and physician to arrive at
the diagnosis with an outlier that has an atypical course.
Response to an adequate dose of steroid remains an
important point in diagnosis.