I suddenly had pain in my shoulders, which progressed down to my wrists and hands. The back of my neck and shoulders were constantly burning and knotted. The pain spread to my hips and buttocks and it was very difficult to get up from a chair and even the toilet. I couldn't sleep because of the pain and couldn't even move to change my position. I needed help to get dressed, and most other activities of daily living. I was finally diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica after a nightmarish three months. I'm now on prednisone taper, and I've got my life back.

I am recovering from my fourth attack of polymyalgia rheumatica. Apart from the aches and pains I also get disoriented and confused. I have a lot of discomfort in the liver area. I find the attacks come on quite suddenly although this last attach, which happened after three years, was accompanied by an infection that put me in the hospital for three weeks. I also lost weight around the hips.

I was at work when it started. I walked from the back to the front of the store, and by the time I got there, I was on my knees. It took three months to find out I had polymyalgia rheumatica. That was six years ago. I am trying to wean off prednisone. I take two tabs a day. I am in a lot of pain, which I guess will never go away.

With my polymyalgia rheumatica, I started having pains in my back, then shoulders, hips, groin, and the back of my legs. It seemed that even my joints in my fingers, wrists and knees were very painful, the worst being upon getting up in the morning, or sitting at my job for a few hours.

I had polymyalgia rheumatica about five years ago, and after six months on natural treatments, I was completely free of symptoms. Just recently I am experiencing a lot of muscle pain and stiffness in my right arm, shoulders, and low back. I'm going to have a blood test to see if it's back. I am 76 years of age and live a fairly active life.