I knew something was going on with my legs (weakness) for awhile but it was complicated due to drug reactions from new glaucoma treatment. (Don't let them tell you there are no reactions to those drugs!) Then after a bad flare of Crohn's resulting in appendix removal and taper off steroids, suddenly I could not longer pickup my 35 lb western saddle because of pain in my biceps. Not a gradual thing at all. I knew something was wrong but what?! Took 4 yrs and a 2nd Rhuemy to nail it. 20mgs of methyl prednisalone and 2 days and pain was gone. During the 4 nonproductive years, I talked Rhuemy into supplying Low Dose Naltrexon (I ended up with 2 mg). It stopped (2 days again) my ache when I wasn't moving (trying to sleep). Also, it healed my small intestine which was full of small ulcers. So, now the Crohn's is inactive. Look into it, amazine drug. I did without during hip replacement and after 3 weeks was hurting all over again. ( Before pred) so I got back to it as soon as I cleared the opiates. Hope all that helps.