Hi everyone. I thought I was a pretty healthy and active person. Hospital nurse for 25 years and single Mom since my daughter was 2. I am 74 and the only medication I have had to take is for the chronic discomfort from hauling on people for those 25 years. I have well compensated cirrhosis. I had rotator cuff surgery in August of 24. The orthopedics told me I would need joint replacements some day. After my physical therapy was completed, I joined the senior center and signed up for some activity classes. The second day I went, I started to feel 'droopy' is my description of my arm and leg muscles. I thought it was just from starting the classes. Then I went to the next class "cardio drumming' and didn't think my legs were gonna hold me up. I had never felt like that before. It wasn't tiredness, it was like the muscles were so done in they were giving up. It took me a few days to get over it. From my doctor to the Rheumatologist. Who I wanted to talk to about my hands because they were hurting so much. I have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. During his evaluation I told him about the experience with the work out. So I had bloodwork for PMR but my markers were all negative. Because of the MRI findings of bursitis, fluid etc he diagnosed me with PMR and I started on Prednisone. Not a high dose, I think 20 mg but it helped tremendously with the discomfort and I was on it with tapering for a year. Some shoulder discomfort came back right away and I was relating it more to the arthritis because it occurred mostly with activity and was gone the next day. But now I don't know what to think. My shoulders and neck are so painful by the end of the day and I am waking at night from the pain. And I take MSContin 15mg at night to cover my other issues. It brings tears to my eyes it hurts so much. I have to come out on the sofa where I can sleep in a more elevated position without the pressure on my left shoulder (the worst one). By the time I was done with the prednisone my hair was falling out terribly, a side effect. I hated being on prednisone. It changed my personality I was so hyper on even lower doses. I won't take it again. The other meds are tough on the liver and I won't take them. I was in liver failure once and I won't risk it. I have a follow up with the Rheumatologist but right now I'm pretty miserable by the end of the day. It's such a weird pain because it starts in my shoulders and goes down into my biceps. The sharp pain in the middle of the night is directly on the shoulder because I can't sleep on my back so it's sides only. Some days I feel like I'm just a big whiny whimp. I don't think my family really understands how PMR makes you feel. Feels pretty lonely many days.