From what i can see on other forums besides this one, bilateral hand symptoms are very common, debilitating and confusing for treating Doctors. There doesnt seem to be much research on the subject. I had no hand issues before PMR, it came on sudddenly a month after starting Prednisone, very severe pain at 1 am as my morning dose of Prednisone wore off. Hand xrays showed nothing..9 months later the stiffness and pain persists but is tolerable. It doesnt respond as well to the Pred as the hips and shoulders, i put this down to the fact that we have more pain receptors in the hands than anywhere else in the body.