It sounds like he needs to be on prednisone. It would be very difficult to wait another 3 weeks. I have learned to be more assertive. Some ideas would be to call the rheumatologists office and talk to a nurse who could help facilitate an earlier visit, call GP’s office and push for the GP to push the rheumatologist office for an earlier appointment or consider an emergency room who often can push you to a specialist. I am on my 3rd bout of PMR and have tried other methods of relief, but to date only the prednisone has relieved symptoms. Accupuncture, which can stimulate immune system, actually made it worse for me.

Hi @kbuzard, a dramatic response to steroids with a cessation of symptoms is used to confirm the diagnosis of PMR. (Cecil and Goldman's Textbook of Medicine). It's about three weeks until your husband can see the Rheumatologist, Can you ask his physician to keep him on the steroid til then, maybe with a slight taper after a couple of weeks? Was he on prednisone? Since PMR is an autoimmune disorder, you don't want to stimulate the immune system further. I read somewhere that acupuncture can do that. I was not diagnosed for a year and lived with the pain and stiffness of PMR everyday. I purchased an infrared heating pad (Thermotex Platinum - made in Canada) and that relieved my pain while I used it. I moved it to different parts of my body as needed. The last time I saw my Rheumatologist, I told him there is nothing like the pain of PMR. It would ease up a little in the evenings, but the pain and stiffness returned every morning with a vengeance. I feel for him, and you, as you are feeling his pain and trying hard to help him. I wish you the best.