Clicks and pops in and around shoulder anyone else ?

I experience this as well. I was diagnosed with PMR around June or July 2023, and am hopeful that it will start to disappear sometime in 2026. It’s a little bit unclear if the clicking and popping is related to the PMR or a motorcycle accident, I suffered, also in 2023. I do experience overall body aches and pains that I know are related to my PMR. Currently, I am considering consultation with a chiropractor, more to address my shoulder and upper back condition and restricted flexibility, not so much my PMR per se.

I have mostly recovered from PMR which started in November of 2023. My shoulders have been quite stiff, sore and noisy (clicks and pops) for all of 2025. At first I thought it was lingering PMR so I probably stayed on low dose prednisone (1-2mg/day) for a few months longer than needed. My rhuematologist reccomended PT to resolve pain and increase strength, it's been a long haul but it's working. Good luck!

I tried the chiropractor and acupuncture along with physical therapy. unfortunately the PT did not do hands on and I am not good about DIY. do it yourself The PT is available online since they didn't do any hands on and charged excessively. Bob and Brad Physical Therapists.

My MRI in December 2025 showed why my left shoulder pops, clicks, etc when under any strain or when extending my left arm above my head. My left shoulder joint is "Bone on Bone" and the Ortho Surgeon thinks I should opt for the procedure where they reverse the shoulder joint and bone intersection. I know of several friends that had this type procedure and they are quite pleased with the result: speed of recovery and relative painless PT. So as soon as I get a new DEXA that is favorable and an OK from my Oncologist (I have recently been diagnosed with CLL) I will opt for that procedure.

62 yrs old...Newly diagnosed by my neurologist after excruciating pain for 8 weeks. On 60mg prednisone for the past 4 weeks awaiting Rheumatologist appointment for a treatment plan. Tapered down to 40mg now that giant cell arteritis has been ruled out, but I'm starting to feel the pain return in the upper body shoulders. The clicking happens each time I reach for something or try to put on a cardigan, etc.

@mwhite6262 how was gca ruled out ? Normally they do a biopsy , but they can't if your allready on pred. They did an ultrasound on me and found it. But you should still be pain free at 40mg. (At least , I would think so)

They did the artery biopsy last week. No signs of gca. Once that result was communicated they immediately dropped me to 40mg from 60mg. Wondering if dropping that much at once is why the pain is returning. Prior I had no treatment with almost 8 weeks of limited mobility with excruciating pain because they were doing bloodwork, MRIs CT scans trying to determine what was happening to me by process of elimination. Finally landings on PMR then aggressively addressing it with 60mg prednisone until they ruled out GCA. My rheumatologist appointment isn't until mid March with the limited providers we have, so my Neurologist is managing this until she can hand me off to the other specialist. She's monitoring my bloodwork, which still shows extremely high inflammation. If I'm feeling pain again after tapering down to 40mg, I'm wondering if she'll recommend going up to 50mg or if I have to power through at 40mg.

I had been in the 60mg for about 3 days then they did the biopsy. Hopefully it's not a false negative if 3 days of prednisone skued the results, but they felt pretty confident I was clear. Fingers crossed. Timing it appears is everything.

@mwhite6262 I'm sure you know, a sign of gca is the really bad temple headaches and jaw claudification (can't open your mouth wide ). Along with the sides of your neck.
Normally pmr is fixed with 15 or 20 mg. So 40 seems pretty high.
I hope they get it sorted for you. I did 60 for a mnth, then 50 for a mnth, then 40, 30, 20 each a month, then down by 1 every month till I hit 0. But I had a flare, ... been doing this for 7 years (mine started at 62 also) that's why I'm on kevzara trying to get completly off of it. (I've got other posts about that) but I'm on a 1 month break because of bloodwork, and am hurting (even though I'm at 5mg of pred)

7 years!? Wowsa. On the GCA...I do not bad headaches, but I have been having the jaw pain for sure. They surgically removed part of my artery in the left temple for biopsy. (10 stitches to be removed next week.) They did one side only. Said all was clear. I continue to mention the jaw pain. Most of the pain that returned after dropping to 40mg from 60mg is in my shoulders and arms. (I feel an increase of pain in my lower back/hips as well.) Hopefully it will level out. I do not have a follow up with my doctor for a couple more weeks so I guess depending on how I feel at that time will determine if my Neurologist will decide to adjust my dosage. She's managing this until my Rheumatologist appointment, which isn't until mid March. I've read and been told by her about the non prednisone option as a potential solution my rheumatologist may recommend, which is probably the kevzara you mentioned.