Hi, I had severe burning, itching pain and stiffness in hands a couple of months after starting Prednisone for classic PMR. It has continued now for 5 months regardless of Prednisone dose. The other PMR symptoms disappear on higher doses but the hand symptoms remain. Rheumy says its PMR but it feels different, more like a sudden onset arthritis. Pain, stiffness and weakness in the morning, improves slightly as day progresses. It could be Rheumatoid Arthritis but I'm seronegative for RA at this stage.