Anyone familiar with this? I am 71 years old and started having pains in my buttocks and back of thighs. Thought it was from taking statins, but checking on the net I came up with this form of arthritis which affects mostly women in their 70's. I am baffled. Seeing a new doctor tomorrow.

It is more likely to be from the statins you are taking rather than polymyalgia rheumatica.

Have your doctor do an enzyme test. Many people have pains from statins.

I agree it's probably the statins. Just hope you don't have polymyalgia because they only give prednisone for that and that drug is horrible. I've seen it destroy my mothers health in just a few years. The pain from the multiple bone fractures due to prednisone bone destroying and the muscle atrophy is actually worse than the polymyalgia. She is now barely able to use a walker to go to the bathroom and to shower, my dad has to do everything else for her. Hopefully she can maintain that little bit of mobility since my dad can't lift her if she falls again.

The only time I'd say take the prednisone is if there is Giant Cell present, and you only need the drug a short time for that.

If you do have polymyalgia, I'd suggest OTC stuff first and as long as there is no Giant Cell, use the OTC stuff as long as you need because polymyalgia tends to go away on it's own in 6 months-2yrs. in most cases I've read. Prednisone is a strong drug, will do the trick but will ruin your body in the long run if you stay on it, even maintenance dose, which my mom is still on.