Do we actually “recover”?

Great question @rocksology. For me, it's TBD - to be determined. I've had 2 occurrences of PMR. One that started in 2007 and ended 3 and half years later when it went into remission. It reared it's ugly head again in 2018 and went into remission after 1 and half years. I'm 82 now and it's still in remission and I'm hoping it will stay that way. During my second time around with PMR I decided I needed to make some lifestyle changes and hopefully that was what helped me get off of prednisone sooner the second time around and is helping me stay in remission. Only time will tell. Most of the changes I made were losing a lot of weight through lowering the amount of carbs I eat and intermittent fasting plus more regular exercise.

I shared my story of my health journey in the Low-carb healthy fat living. Intermittent fasting. What’s your why? discussion here - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/336050/

I can only speak for myself, but I had a mild case to begin with, which began after my second COVID mRNA vaccination in 2021. It took about a year to taper off of 10 mg. of prednisone. It flared up again when I caught COVID about a year later, but I was able to taper off 2 mg. in a couple of months. Recently I tweaked my back and had some pain for about a week. I think that this inflammation somehow sparked my PMR because I experienced shoulder and wrist/hand pain for a couple of days. I actually had to take 2 mg. of prednisone for a couple of days to relieve my pain because Advil did not work.
As John stated, I do think that my diet and lifestyle has helped me fight this disease--I'm a registered dietitian who eats primarily an organic whole foods, plant-based diet, focusing on anti-inflammatory foods. Hope this helps you in some way.

I was diagnosed in March 2025. I seem to have both PMR and osteoarthritis - PMR affecting neck and shoulders, osteo in knees and wrists. Diclofenac helped osteo but not PMR. Trial taper of Pred did the opposite. Inflammation markers are high after finishing a 3 week trial of steroids (no NSAID). Trial started at 20mg, tapering to 0 within 3 weeks (fast). PMR pain was nearly gone in 3 days, but slowly returned at about 10mg, worse at 5, worse still at zero. Now back on Pred starting at 15 mg, tapering to 10mg in two weeks. Will repeat labs and go from there. I add an occasional Tylenol if really needed. I am 77, formerly healthy, decent lifestyle. I did have four Covid shots/boosters 2020 through 2022. In 2023 MAY have had Covid, then suffered hearing loss in left ear (treated with steroids but didn't help), then had shingles (another course of steroids). Joint pain began in July of 2024. First visit with rheumatologist was January 2025. I will mention that my dad had PMR at about this age. He was successfully treated and lived another 20 years. Died of something unrelated.

I think you should check out out if your network options if you haven’t. The longer you delay treatment the more difficult it is to get it under control- this is a long process. And when you get the tapering point that’s equally long. From everything I’ve researched if you ever get back to any normal it’s a new normal. Like maybe 80% of how you were prior to PMR. And don’t you wonder where this came from? And the numbers seem to be rising. 🤔

This is not scientific, but I believe my mother and her mother had PMR when it was called bursitis. I did not know my grandmother but I believe my mother got prednisone and lived another 35 years without mentioning her ‘bursitis’ symptoms again. Unfortunately, she died a year before I got PMR, so I couldn’t talk with her about it.

WOW, sounds a lot like I've been through!
What I'm understanding is PMR is a individual health issue! Treating is a individual issue also.

God Bless everyone that is challenged with this condition.

I’m quite sure I know what triggered it in me. I have had 3 lumbar surgeries and cervical surgery since 2010. Those triggered chronic pain syndrome which turned to chronic inflammation. Thus, PMR. I’ve also had ankle surgery, brain surgery, and hand surgery. My health in the last 11 years has nose dived as the PMR continued to get worse. Doctors all blamed Chronic Pain Syndrome instead of asking why it continued to get worse.
My Medicare will cover any doctor who accepts Medicare, there are just no Rheumatologists within 200 miles of me!

I live in a big city (Portland, Oregon) but had to wait 2.5 months for a rheumatologist and then
than weeks for testing. To be honest, I've had more help from my PCP who is willing to educate herself about PMR and prednisone.