PMR without ever taking prednisone

@bren2023, I'm sure you are not alone with the PMR symptoms but normal labs. Quite a few others have mentioned PMR with normal blood work if you want to scan through the comments and discussions - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/?search=pmr+with+normal+esr+and+crp. There are other conditions that have similar symptoms as PMR:
-- 5 Diseases That Can Mimic Polymyalgia Rheumatica: https://www.everydayhealth.com/rheumatic-diseases/diseases-that-can-mimic-polymyalgia-rheumatica/

You mentioned in a previous post that you have seen multiple primary care docs and a rheumatologist. Did your rheumatologist also agree that you don't have PMR or suggest any other treatments besides prednisone that might help?

The rheumatologist I saw in 2023 said I have fibromyalgia but I don't have the right symptoms. I have all the symptoms of PMR instead. That was in Tucson and I have moved to Gilbert since. I saw pc dr yesterday.
I just got my blood tests results and everything is negative.I’m trying to get an appt with rheumatologist. I don’t know what is wrong with me. So much pain and my legs are so weak. I can’t believe the test are neg for inflammation.

When I had fibromyalgia I was treated by a physician with dry needling in the muscles. It’s a painful procedure but I slowly improved. No drugs other than Tylenol

It took 4 months to get my diagnosis of PMR because I had negative labs and I only hurt while in bed! My pain was always bilateral in my upper legs and upper arms. Tylenol and Advil did nothing for the pain, but prednisone was immediately effective. I started with 10 mg. and it took about a year to taper off of it.

You need get a new doctor who knows that PMR sometimes doesn’t show abnormal labs, and get on Pred asap.

It is very surprising that you haven't been trialled on a dose of prednisone as that should be part of the diagnostic routine in hard to diagnose cases of PMR. Some people's CRP and ESR rates just don't change, but PMR will respond quickly to the appropriate dose of prednisone and from what I have read fibromyalgia doesn't.

I was diagnosed with PMR about 3 or 4 years ago. I had muscle weakness and pain all over 24/7. My CRP and other inflammatory markers were through the roof. At the same time, I was seeing a doctor for weight loss who used an anti-inflammatory diet and exercise approach. So, I used the dietary approach and aquatic exercise instead of steroids to manage my PMR. I also believe in the healing power of prayer. So, after a year, the PMR went into remission, and I also lost the weight I wanted. I still eat healthy for the most part. I check my CRP regularly, and it has remained within normal limits. Obesity and consuming excessive amounts of sugary foods are big factors in causing inflammation. Taking steroids for me was not the solution. Too many negatives with those drugs. I also later developed an autoimmune skin disease unrelated, but declined steroid treatment, and it's being managed well by my dermatologist. This isn't the approach for everybody, but it's working for me.

Yes, unfortunately not for everybody. I wish diet and exercise could be the panacea. I was on a low carb, low sugar, no alcohol clean food diet for 3 years prior to PMR hitting, and exercised regularly: lost the middle-age spread, blood pressure and cholesterol down to normal and stable, was back within BMI. On check-ups, the doctor used to tell me the blood test results were some of the best he'd seen for the age group. Then PMR hit out of the blue and there was nowhere to go but steroids to get rid of the excruciating muscular pain and reduce the exceedingly high CRP rate (over 100 at the peak). The only changes left to make to the diet were to add in some more low inflammatory food based supplements like turmeric, fish oil, and blue berries. I still think an improved diet offers huge benefits when taking large amounts of steroids: my blood test results after two years are not showing some of the more common side effects.
In summary, I'd probably say that diet and exercise lead to general health gains beyond expectations but haven't done anything to alleviate PMR or reduce the duration of the illness to date. Bur it has helped with steroid side-effects.