Golf and PMR

68 year old avid male golfer diagnosed with PMR in Nov 2025. Began 15 mg of Prednisone daily. Played pretty well thru the Nashville winter with shoulder pain. By April 2026, I was down to 5 mg Prednisone daily but the tapering has been painful and my golf game has blown up. I'm really fatigued after walking 9 (approx 2.5 miles). I've gone from being a single digit handicapper to about 14...that's a big change. No parts of my game are exempted from the PMR and Prednisone. Taking Prednisone in the morning before golf is disastrous. The drug enhances my frustration with all the little things (wind, poor lies, course condition) that normally have little mental affect. Lots of swing adjustments and no consistency. Frustrating. Golf is not as fun as it used to be...but it's still golf. I don't plan to stop.

4 1/2/yrs PMR. Currently on 5mg, was down 2 1/2mg had a cold slight flare up went up to 5 mg. I play golf walk 18 holes, plus go to the gym and do Circuit training, I realize with PMR I’m going to hurt not matter what. I’m very lucky that I have a small prescription to Norco and on golf days if I’m hurting I take 1/2 Tab. It takes the edge off so that I can play. Tylenol or even Advil does nothing for that deep ache.
I’ll be dam if I’m going to give up what I love to do. I’m 77yrs I’m going to enjoy what years I have. I’m lucky to have a doctor (GP) who understand my needs. She watches out for me.

@curlyqlinda1 in answer to all things golf…..me too.
Are you pain free at anytime? I am pain free with the biologic Kevzara shots, no prednisone.
I have found that my discomfort is at wake up time .(5 am.) I take 2 Tylenol of Arthritis, and by the time I get to to golf course (10am), it’s minimal. I keep the Tylenol with me and take 2 at the turn if need be. Follow bottle with Dr ok. Seems to keep me comfortable.
Me thinks you need to get to pain free state beforehand.
Love my golf too 80yo.

@gwl PMR robs us. As an outdoor enthusiast hiking 7 miles a day, to some days barely making it out of bed the transition has been a mental game altogether. I see posts on here with the word “back” which will never return. Adapting mentally is the most important aspect of my healing, having a great attitude. Keep golfing even if your performance is embarrassing, find joy and humor. It’s helped me!

@clendenin well said…I try not to let PMR be the center of my life, rather life, with an aside of PMR….hard to achieve but worth it,
A quote from here somewhere.
“I grew to realize that my mind was not in charge, my body was.”
Lastly….
“my favorite, and now MOTTO for this last quarter “ Looking for medical-life balance in my golden years and it's elusive. I did not retire to have medical problems consume my waking hours.”

@gwl
Sympathy on the golf struggle. First time around in 2024 (I was 77) the summer heat really got to me on the course (I was on 15mg) Now I’m tapering down from 60 after a temporal artery biopsy for GCA.(Thankfully negative). Not at all sure with my first game will be like. Here in MA spring is moving slowly.

@gud2gro know 🙇🏼‍♀️ Massachusetts spring, if that’s what you call it.
Heat and humidity was a killer for me too.
From my experience , your first game will be wonderful because you are OUTSIDE, getting a good wlk with good friends who support you everyday. 🤞
It’s not abt score.

@gwl
PMR pain is almost non-existent when I'm playing golf....mostly hand and finger pain. Fatigue and Prednisone side affects are the main drivers. However, within a couple hours after I finish golf, with inactivity, the shoulders start becoming painful again. When I was first diagnosed six months ago, I had pain in both shoulders and both hips. The hips are good now. Sure wish the shoulders would catch up.

I golf 2 times a week. Currently at 4 mg and Rinvoq. My GCA is mostly in the head and not my limbs. I evolved from PMR to GCA. Early PMR was painful until Prednisone kicked in. My game was never single digits but it is often a struggle to get out there. I still try to do what I’ve always done. Half of this disease is keeping a good mental attitude. I know it’s hard but what’s the alternative?

Nice reply and well said. You my friend, have the right perspective.