I am not good at a short answer. I was seeing an orthopedic for my pain and had MRI of my shoulders and xrays of my knees. Basically bursitis some arthritis but nothing serious for being 70. Small slap tear in my right shoulder. He suggested a rheumatologist. I went to Mayo phoenix. Waiting on that appointment I self diagnosed myself and started on Dexamethasone. Pain was gone in 4 hrs. I was on Dex about 4 weeks before I saw the rhumy. I didnt show any markers. But he agreed after running a boat load of tests that I had PMR. I had complained to him I thought the dex was making me light headed. He ordered an ultrasound of my neck and thyroid. I was 100% blocked in the right carotid and 70% in the left. He then sent me to cardiologist at Mayo that cleaned out the left. He also sent me to a urologist at Mayo. I had prostate cancer 8 months before PMR.
Just after I finished tapering steroids I had pain in my abdomen. I thought it was prednisone flare. So I kept putting up with it. Then I started running a heavy fever. I went to emergency and I had a 9mm kidney stone with an infected kidney. Had to have surgery for that. So steroids may not have caused all my problems but they sure can mask many things. I seem to be good now. Survived the cancer and survived PMR and steroids. 72 and kicking.