Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR): Meet others & Share Your Story

@jayanthk At 75 I moved just before the pandemic to a house needing lots of work. Being hands-on, I spent years thinking my pain was from increasing age and the demands I was putting on it renovating, moving furniture, landscaping etc. until one night the back of my head hurt so much (to touch) that I couldn't lie down. A low grade fever that sent me to my primary NP and I was diagnosed. I still have some pain, and at 80 the cause is sometimes a toss up. Stress makes it worse. I've had to learn the difference - pain from the PMR (sometimes from inactivity) or overuse? I've had to realize its as much a learning process about my own body as it is a medical condition. Be patient, be observant. It's too easy to resent your own body.

Good morning all,

Happy to have found a like-minded community to share, listen and learn! My PMR journey began in late 2024 when I whole up one morning with acute pain in my right hip. After ruling out fracture, a series of physical therapy treatments and chiropractic sessions, the pain became widespread and completely derailed me emotionally and physically. In July of 2025, I was diagnosed, and like some of you, began with 20mg of prednisone and have tapered to alternating 2/4mg every other day. Inflammation on blood test is now 3 - yay! - and I have basically returned to my normal activities. This is not to say I am pain free by any means. Rheumatologist ordered bone density test and as a result, I am starting on ibandronate in part due to lower bone mass from prednisone use. Do any of you share a similar path, and if so, I’d love to hear your thoughts, thank you.

DX Jan 2020, 60mg Prednisone tapered quickly to 15 mg. Tapering and flaring since then. Currently tapering and stuck at 6.5 due to secondary adrenal insufficiency. Also have IC and HS, Migraines.

Well got that over with, I’m a knitter and doing great. Working at waking up my sound asleep adrenals. Love dogs and leading a super busy life- PMR has been stubborn to say the least. Thinking of Kevzara now that it’s approved in Canada.

Has anyone been put on methotrexate for their PMR? I was diagnosed with PMR in November 2025. Started methotrexate five weeks ago while tapering off the prednisone. Currently at 6mg but constantly feeling pain. They say it takes the methotrexate three months before it helps. Has anyone noticed certain foods causing issues with inflammation? Has anyone ever been told why this has become an issue for you? I want to go away and never come back. Does anyone think that is possible? What helps you manage this? I have noticed that moving helps me feel less pain but sometimes I feel so much pain. It’s hard to move. I do believe sugar and salt cause me issues.

I was diagnosed with PMR in March and SMM in May. Now doing a fast taper. I started at 25mg and now at 12.5mg. I need a clean reading for SMM risk before I can try kevzara or anything else like that, and I have to get off prednisone to do that. I just got a script for LDN to help with any pain from tapering. I have two months to go before my next SMM blood work and I plan to be under 5mg by then and completely off prednisone by the following month. Once I get an accurate assessment of the SMM off prednisone, I can start kevzara if I need it.

@gin3 I don’t take methotrexate, but I find sugar increases my pain every where. I even get horrible headaches. I rarely have sweets anymore, unless fresh fruit

@gin3 sugar definitely for me. I must say - movement helps but only slowly. I find I can walk a mile now but definitely not 1.5 or 2 unless I want lots of pain.
I also my pai is less in my lower body if I have my feet out when I sit.

Hi, I'm new to this chat. I'm male and 63.... I was diagnosed with PMR about 9 months ago. I'm down to 8 mg of Prednisone. ....still experiencing achiness and stiffness, mainly in my shoulders, but nothing unmanageable.....but the fatigue is pretty intense.... I've always been super active and it's been near impossible to go more than 20 minutes at the gym or do any yardwork....super frustrating.....any suggestions to improve my energy/stamina?

@britton62
You are feeling typical symptoms. Only with patience with yourself and time will the symptoms resolve when your body decides reject PMR. Hopefully you can be a candidate for kevzara which will relieve you of prednisone and its wrath on the body.

Hello @britton62, I would like to add my welcome to Connect along with @caroljeand and others. You might want to scan through the discussions on PMR and fatigue here on Connect. Here's a search with the links to the discussions - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/discussions/.