I empathized immediately when you said "I went from a healthy person to an old woman at age 62". My symptoms started at age 47! I am now 50. I was enjoying tennis, golf, hiking, exercising (I'm not the model of fitness but consider myself active!) and that all stopped for a while. Even now, I am still struggling to find the right amount and type of exercise so that I can get back to the sports I love. I'll give you a little bit more of my story....

Once diagnosed, I was put on 25 mg for 2 weeks (and felt amazing within days) and weaned down to 10 mg - if I recall within 4 months. I stabilized there for a few months and within year of diagnosis I was taking between 8 and 6 mg. Because I was on 25 mg for such a short time and quickly reduced, I never saw any side effects such as zits, weight gain or trouble sleeping. We monitored my blood sugar and that never got high. While I was on the prednisone, I was able to stay active...played tennis, paddle tennis, golf, I walked 2-3 miles several times a week for exercise and did basic strength training. The prednisone was managing the inflammation very well.

I was on the 6-8 mg for 2 years (since my diagnosis) and my dr wasn't concerned about me staying on them. But I was. Even low dose prednisone has side effects and I was worried about those: things like thinning of skin and muscle/connective tissue which could lead to tears. I switched doctors who agreed that I should try another medication (he also doesn't feel PMR is my true diagnosis because of my age and the length of time I have been suffering - it usually goes away after 2 years).

So I went off the prednisone and after trying other drugs, am now on Actemra and plaquinel. Going off the prednisone was terrible...it certainly was doing its job and it took me a while to find the right drugs to keep me comfortable and I am still trying to regain the mobility and strength from the 9 or so months it took to find the right drugs. That is a whole other story and I hope your PMR just runs its course and you get off the prednisone.

So...based on my experience, you may not experience any of the side effects commonly associated with prednisone. I think those are more common at the higher dosage levels. Try to use the least amount that you can and still do the things you want to do.

This was a long response but hopefully you find my experience helpful. Good luck.

Prednisone when I was on made my knees hurt worse after half hour All it did for me was weight gain but not increased appetite I was also on methotrexate and didn't help my hair thinned and had people ask what is wrong So exhausted all the time and pain in all joint

I have hips left shoulder and in the knee. Lower back. The Humira I think became in effective.

Thank you for that usfull information

I was just diagnosed with PMR in January of this year, and have been on Prednisone for two weeks after first seeing the doctor. I had the same problem as you...shoulders and hips and totally aware of it all the time. I went from a healthy person to an old woman at age 62. I want to ask you....how long did it take for the "bad" effects of Prednisone to start, such as zits, weight gain, non-sleep, bad effects on blood sugar and bones....etc. What bad symptoms from the drug happened to you? I told the rhuemy that I didn't want to be on a high dose of the stuff, so he put me on 10. I hope to avoid side effects...still waiting for everything to go bad with the Prednisone. It does work but I still have a lingering ache in my shoulder sockets.