Polymyalgia rheumatica (which takes its name from the word πολυμυαλγία polymyalgia which means pain in many muscles in medical-scientific Greek) abbreviated as PMR, is a syndrome with pain or stiffness, usually in the neck, shoulders, upper arms, and hips, but which may occur all over the body.olymyalgia rheumatica (which takes its name from the word πολυμυαλγία polymyalgia which means pain in many muscles in medical-scientific Greek) abbreviated as PMR, is a syndrome with pain or stiffness, usually in the neck, shoulders, upper arms, and hips, but which may occur all over the body.