Final answer:
The most likely diagnosis for an elderly woman with pain and stiffness of the shoulders and hips, anemia, and an elevated ESR is Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR).
Step-by-step explanation:
The most likely diagnosis for an elderly woman presenting with pain and stiffness of the shoulders and hips, along with anemia and an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), is Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR).
PMR is an inflammatory condition that primarily affects the shoulders and hips, leading to pain, stiffness, and difficulty in lifting the arms above the head. It is more common in older individuals, typically occurring after the age of 50. A key diagnostic feature of PMR is the presence of elevated levels of ESR, reflecting the underlying inflammation in the body.
Other conditions such as Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and Osteoarthritis (OA) can also cause joint pain and stiffness, but these conditions do not typically present with anemia and an elevated ESR.