Hi. I have RA and your description of her pain sites certainly is consistent with my pain. As far as ruling out PMR on the basis of one steroid regiment that was ineffective, well that seems odd to me too. With autoimmune disease there isn’t one magic bullet that works for everyone every time. Granted I have RA. But there's a hairs breadth of difference to PMR in my experience. I have hip and shoulder pain more commonly associated with PMR but it is a routine pain area for me - particularly when I flare.

Have you considered getting a second opinion From another Rheumatologist? Where do you live?