Good luck. RA has been around a long time. Particularly the damage it does to hands and joints. I think Dr's tend to make that association first when in the hands. But hand and knee pain particularly are definitely part of PMR. I could not even close my fist. If you have the PMR markers and have been diagnosed with PMR then Meloxicam may not work. RA sufferers have many drugs to choose from. MTX , Humira, LDN, etc. Newer biologics might work. Corticosteroids appear to be all that works if the PMR becomes advanced. It was to hard for me. 4 hours later no pain at all.

I was put on Meloxicam before I was diagnosed with PMR. In preparation to taking prednisone after diagnosis I quit taking the Meloxicam and was surprised at how much it had been helping with the pain. But the prednisone took me from nonfunctional to functional with few side effects. I do not regret it at all. Everyone needs to decide for themselves.