The pain is not a sharp pain to me; it is more a severe soreness of my muscles when I move them. It was primarily my thighs, triceps, biceps and traps area. I have been on Prednisone close too two years now and have been almost pain free. I have also been lifting weights since I have been on the prednisone. I think it is more of the prednisone than the weightlifting which is easing the pain. If your sed rate and c reactive protein levels are normal, I doubt it is PMR. My levels were thru the roof. I hope my comments help you. Lots of luck.