PMR at a young age

I don't think the age limitation for PMR is set in stone. It is possible to be diagnosed with PMR before the age of 50 but it is rare. I was 52 when I was diagnosed so I was young for PMR too.

I can relate to you because my problems started when I was young, There are other conditions that are similar to PMR. Have your doctors ever considered Juvenile Spondyloarthritis? There are several types of spondyloarthritis and they are very similar to PMR.
https://spondylitis.org/about-spondylitis/overview-of-spondyloarthritis/juvenile-spondyloarthritis/
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The thing that seems unfair to me is that having spondyloarthritis at a young age doesn't prevent you from developing PMR when you are older. Some studies suggest that having one autoimmune disorder increases the risk of developing more than one. There are other risk factors that are outlined in the following link.
https://www.autoimmuneinstitute.org/7-ad-risk-factors/

I haven't considered that because I haven't had much joint pain or involvement. Mostly horrible muscle pain especially in shoulders/upper back and hip/thigh area. Muscle cramps ALOT

Hello @kcarman2383, I would like to add my welcome to Connect along with @dadcue and others. I was diagnosed with my first time with PMR at 64. I'm glad to hear that you have a doctor that is listening to you. I can't imagine having the PMR type pain at your young age. There are several other conditions that share similar symptoms with PMR that might be worth discussing with your doctor.
-- Diseases that mimic polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR): https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/diseases-that-mimic-polymyalgia-rheumatica

You mentioned that you've only been on prednisone for a couple of weeks and it seems to be helping. I think that may be a good sign. Keeping a daily log, helped me during the process of tapering off of prednisone. Do you keep a daily log of your level of pain when you get up in the morning along with your dose of prednisone for the day?

I am more of corticosteroid self taught former user. Prednisone can fix almost any inflammatory response. Cancer, PMR, RA, even asthma related issues. It can make you feel better even when nothing is wrong just by dampening your immune response. If it works , I would say that PMR could be included in a diagnosis even at your age but I think your correct in questioning PMR. Your late teens is as early as anyone I have heard about. As you already know this will not be an easy fix. Doctors just dont spend the time to try and deal with tough cases. PMR has been frustrating for most of us. Good luck on your journey.

I was first diagnosed at about 45. Symptoms were straight out of a text book that I never read. Pain across the shoulder and hip girdle for no reason with fatigue. Without doing any lab work the rheumatologist prescribed 10 mg prednisone and withing 6 hours I was a new man. The change was so obvious that my wife noticed it before I told what I did. That was 40 years ago and I have been on and off prednisone for all that time, mostly on. I have seen 5 rheumatologist during the 40 years of treatmnt with different treatments and diagnoses. Currently on Kevzara and down to 2.5 mg of prednisone. I also take Tylenol for pain.

@jfannarbor . I too might be a person who has had PMR off and on since my 40s (20s? 30s?). Currently 63 y.o. and diagnosed in April 2025. Have tapered from 15 mg at start to now at 9 mg, soon to be at 8 mg. Can you tell me about your Kevzara journey? I am hoping to get it approved and start in the near future. BTW, I have EDS (Ehlers Danlos Syndrome) which is punctuated with odd pains in soft tissue. Have had this my entire life and it has explained lots of my pain history (only put this together in the last few years). I am curious how many PMR patients have EDS. Nothing in the literature on a connection.

Just my opinion but……anything is possible. Glad you found a listening doctor who was willing to try prednisone. Document your progress. Do your homework. Good luck. 👍🏻

I started Kevzara in October last year, had to stop due to Total Hip Replacement surgery in December and have reduced my prednisone from 15 mg / day to 2.5 mg per day. The plan is to get to zero prednisone in the near future. Kevzara seems to be working. I am also taking Tylenol about 2000 to 3000 mg per day.

I do not keep a journal of symptoms. I wasn't sure I needed to.

Journal is huge tool. Include weather pain level, all drugs and all activities.