9-10-2024 awoke to stiff neck, painful arms and hips. Cannot raise my arms above my head without extreme pain. Arms feel like they are being ripped off when I try to raise them up. Massage helps a little. Heat helps a bit.. I can’t dress myself and have a hard time bathing and walking up stairs or for very far. Huge fatigue and loss of appetite. My cardiologist says not to use Ibuprofin since I have had a cardiac issue and a stent put in. Oxycodone takes away about 10% of my pain. Doctor tested for PMR but the test came back negative, Doctor started me on Prednisone 20mg tapering down to 5mg. 50 to 60% pain relief, but when tapering off, the pain comes back. When the pain started shortly after the Flu vaccine, I talked to my doctor and he assurred me that the vaccine is not the problem but, I have taken several flu shots over the the last several decades with no problems but, the Senior flu vaccine is the only thing that was different and now I have PMR and I can’t get off the Predisone without the pain returning. I am still working with my doctor to see about maybe taking a bigger dose but I am gaining weight at an alarming pace for the Prednisone, but what else can I do? This is not what I want but waht now?