I don't believe contact with dirt has anything to do with getting PMR. I Had my 91st birthday this past January, so I have been doing it for a long, long time. Actually there is a theory out there that we have become so sanitary/clean that we tend to get more illnesses than our forefathers. My understanding of PMR is that there is no known cause, but that many people who suffer from it have undergone some stress in the body that triggers the autoimmune system to "misfire." I now believe that I was suffering from PMR long before diagnosis. I kept telling myself my pains were due to aging, I was very active. It was not until the pain in my thighs and shoulders became so unbearable that I could not sleep at all that I went to the doctor and found my SED rate was at 57 . After Prednisone 2 weeks ago it was down to 26, but it has to go under 20. I too have osteoarthritis. Mine is in my hips and lower back. This is giving me some pain/discomfit right now, but I think that is because I overdid yesterday. I finally touched my toes, but instead of doing it once and being satisfied, I did it 11 times. To-day is overcast, but warm, so I plan to take Lily dog to the park and see how far I can walk, slowly, before I have to rest. Hope you are feeling considerably better to-day 🙂