I was diagnosed with PMR in early January 2025 with PMR.

Hi. I am in the UK and after having all the classic symptom's of PMR, the Dr prescribed steroids and referred me to a rheumatologist. However, they did not seem to accept I had the condition as I was only 53 at the time. And apparently it only effects women over 60. So after following a steeply reducing steroid reduction (every 2 weeks), so they could check if it was something else. I got to the point (at 6mg) where I could hardly move without my daughters help. They then put me back up to 15mg and after a year I am back to square 1 (and now on a 4 week reduction programme). Interestingly, my brother developed the condition 6 months before me at the age of 55, and he had even more of a problem with the consultants, as he did not make the age category and he was male. We also feel this condition could be as a result of the covid vaccines. In addition, since developing PMR, I have come across at least 5+ people in there 50's and one in there 40's who have classic PMR symptoms.

Hi. I am in the UK and after having all the classic symptom's of PMR, the Dr prescribed steroids and referred me to a rheumatologist. However, they did not seem to accept I had the condition as I was only 53 at the time. And apparently it only effects women over 60. So after following a steeply reducing steroid reduction (every 2 weeks), so they could check if it was something else. I got to the point (at 6mg) where I could hardly move without my daughters help. They then put me back up to 15mg and after a year I am back to square 1 (and now on a 4 week reduction programme). Interestingly, my brother developed the condition 6 months before me at the age of 55, and he had even more of a problem with the consultants, as he did not make the age category and he was male. We also feel this condition could be as a result of the covid vaccines. In addition, since developing PMR, I have come across at least 5+ people in there 50's and one in there 40's who have classic PMR symptoms.

Welcome @rinnie, My PMR has been in remission for a little over six years now but I have learned so much about the condition from other members here on Connect. Probably one of the biggest challenges we all have is controlling the symptoms while tapering off of prednisone. @dadcue started a discussion that really resonated with me and hopefully will give you a little more information to help your current tapering schedule. Check out the articles listed in the description of the following discussion.
-- How to Slowly and Safely Taper Off Prednisone but ... no set rules.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/how-to-slowly-and-safely-taper-off-prednisone-but-no-set-rules/
Also, I think this post by Mike @dadcue has a helpful video that makes it a little easier to understand how to safely taper off of prednisone - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/1520541/.

@rinnie
Hi, your muscle weakness sounds very similar to what I experience. I’m on hydrocortisone for adrenal insufficiency and sometimes have issues with potassium imbalances. Both high potassium (hyperkalemia) and low potassium (hypokalemia) can significantly disrupt sodium channel function, which can lead to muscle weakness.

You might want to ask your PCP if they could run a mineral/electrolyte test for you.

Since I’ve been in contact with several other people with similar experiences, I wrote this short summary.
Potassium Imbalance and Sodium Channel Dysfunction: Causes, Effects, Testing, and Treatments for Muscle Weakness https://swaresearch.blogspot.com/2025/01/potassium-imbalance-and-sodium-channel.html