Just to add another experience of joint pain without heat or swelling: I was only diagnosed at the end of May, but the joint pain I had pre-prednisone was exactly what you are describing. I didn't have any heat or swelling--it was just painful to move (particularly my hips and knees). I'm only 27, was at a healthy weight and was very active at the time, so the sharp pains were definitely not just part of the aging process for me.
When I tried to taper off prednisone too fast my joint pain returned. After talking to my doctor I went on a slower taper and the pain went away again. This happened when I was at 40mg of pred--now I'm down to 15.
"Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the whole earth revolves—slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future. Live the actual moment. Only this actual moment is life." -Thich Nhat Hanh
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