I would be interested in reading a reply from the group as I am experiencing a similar problem. I started prednisone one year ago and am currently taking 2 mgs daily. This does not totally eliminate the pain but make life's tasks manageable. About two weeks ago my knees started cracking and popping when rising from a sitting to standing position. I share your concern about damage caused by the disease or prednisone and will discuss this with my doctor at the next visit.

I have had a lot of cracking and popping lately in my shoulders and shoulder blades. I have been on prednisone for 15 months, down to 7.5 mg. This is my fourth attempt to get below 8 mg. This is the part of my body that has been most affected by the PMR all along. I'm not sure what it means as it could be a lot of things. If I'm finally improving the muscles may be loosening up and causing all the joints to move differently. It could be a result of muscle weakness and tightness from moving less over many months due to pain. Inflammation could be getting worse as I decrease the prednisone and that is causing the muscles to work differently. I'm not really worried about joint damage, just waiting to see what happens as I drop the prednisone. I am getting a DEXA scan done next month to see what the prednisone has done to my bones. I had a previous scan in 2019 for comparison.

I am having issues with connective tissue around my knees so asked my doctor for consideration of an MRI to determine exactly what is going on. I feel stiffness in both knees but no outward signs ( like warmth, redness or swelling). Something is going on but I must admit I was diagnosed with knee bursitis prior to being on the prednisone this July. Now, unfortunately it is worse and I am on 15mg of prednisone day so one would think that would help.