@betsyhase I also have some stiffness and pain in hips when waking or sitting staying in one position for a longer time. When I first started with the pains in shoulders and hips, I was unable to get up off couch or chair with out struggles and then stood wavering for a second or two before I attempted to walk. Also if I put my coffee cup into microwave to heat struggled to raise arms to put in and take out. I do measure my progress with and without prednisone by these struggles. At this time my doctor had my shoulders and hips X-ray’d and some arthritis was found in one side. But pain was too extreme to be causing the immobility and quality of life change so he did blood work and that’s where the markers were found to be really high. Anyway as I move forward I accept the stiffness and pain as long as I am able to do what I did before the PMR. I am just blessed that my pain and stiffness allows for that acceptance