Connect
Comment receiving replies
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.
Replies to "68 year old avid male golfer diagnosed with PMR in Nov 2025. Began 15 mg of..."
@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.
@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.
Connect
@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!