It is very concerning that even with your relatively low numbers the pain is slowly increasing. I'm so sorry! The daytime pain is frustrating, but I'm finding the nighttime pain is a real nightmare. Being unable to shift myself in bed without horrendous bicep and shoulder pain is agonizing and infuriating. I had no idea we used our arms so much in our sleep. Once the nighttime pain hits (usually between 3 and 4 a.m.) there is NO going back to sleep and the lack of sleep is taking its toll. My CRP is "normal" (whatever that is) and my ESR is 46, which my doctor says is typical for this unwanted disorder. And yes, the only one of my friends and family who ever heard of it is a nurse who has a friend with it. The widespread ignorance of PMR seems odd as repeated websites all say it is a "very common" occurrence in people over 70. Well, it's clearly not as common as arthritis or even rheumatoid arthritis. I am very glad not to have RA - PMR is quite inconvenient enough. I just started with prednisone today, so haven't had to deal with the side effects yet.

I was feeling very down today about the whole RMA thing, but as I was driving along I saw two white haired, elderly men, one in a wheelchair and another standing by him. The gentleman in the wheelchair was holding a sign that mentioned God (I couldn't read most of it - but he wasn't asking for a handout) and both men were smiling and waving at drivers as they pulled up to the light. The one standing flashed me such a genuine smile and accompanied it with the deaf sign for "I love you." I felt like I'd utterly lost my smile, and he was lending me one of his, so I waved and flashed him the hand sign in return. I was SO touched. They clearly hadn't much between them by way of worldly goods, but they were giving out what they had - blessing others. Sometimes the kindness of strangers knocks me over. It helped balance me a bit.

Thanks for taking the time to write me, and to read this, which is much much longer than I intended it to be.