But do continue to experience stiff ness shoulders and hips in the mornings. Any advice and/or suggestions would be appreciated.
The shoulder and hip stiffness is also a part of PMR so it sounds as if the pMR is still active. The cytokines - inflammatory substances - are shed in the body in the early morning, about 4.30am. The longer you leave it before taking the pred the longer it will take to combat that stiffness. Some people find that taking it as soon as they wake first thing in the morning and then settling down for another couple of hours before getting up means the stiffness is gone by then. Others find taking their pred at night does the trick. Studies have shown that the optimum time to take the pred dose to avoid any morning stiffness is 2am, this means the peak blood level of pred happens about 4am - and it is ready and waiting for the cytokines arriving on the scene,
As EileenH has said probably not gone completely.
Have you tried a warm shower when you get up?
no advice, just congrats for making it this far. totally impressed! :D