I think I have a very unusual presentation of PMR and have often wondered if I have PMR or something else. I would appreciate any comments on my history. About 35 years ago I started to have pain for no reason in (shoulder girdle and hip girdle. I went to see a Rheumatologist who Rx prednisone (P) 10 mg per day immediately because description and type of pain I described was straight out of a text book even though I had no idea of what PMR was. We found out later due to blood tests ordered at that first appointment that my Sed rate and CRP were normal and have always been normal. Within 6 hours of taking prednisone, I was a new man. The results were so amazing that my wife saw the difference before I told her what I was doing. Now the strangeness begins. I tapered off P and all was fine for about a year and then PMR returned. I went on P and things were fine for a year. This cycle went on for 20 years with the time between P becoming less. In the last 35 years I have seen 3 other rheumatologists and about 10 years ago went on 2.5 mg of P daily and just recently I have gone on 5 mg of P daily since the pain and stiffness have gotten worse. The second rheumatologist I saw did the most complete physical examination I have every had related to PMR and after being one on one with him for an hour and 40 minutes he said, "I don't think you have PMR, but I do not know what you have." The third rheumatologist I saw said that if my symptoms were solved by 2.5 mg of P that anything else he could do would not be as good due to side effects and cost. The last rheumatologist I saw realized that I was stiff and in pain and decided to go on 5 mg of P and see how my bone density responds in a year. After 10 years on 2.5 mg P per day my bone density was normal or above normal for a 77 yo male. Probably due to the excessive amount of exercise I do 5-6 days a week.
I think I have PMR, but the presentation I do not think is usual and the last rheumatologist first thought that I didn't have PMR, and still is not convinced due to the early on set of the disease. I probably had PMR before I was 40 since I thought the pain I was having was due to the excessive amount of exercise I have done my whole life.