Would welcome advice on what I term residual pmr pain in one hip/buttock please.

Many of us have suffered a glitch at this stage of reduction. I had to go back to 10 and when it happened again at the 7-8 level was told to stay on 10 for three months. That did the trick for me. Hope you get to a satisfactory regime very soon.

One-sided pain isn't really typical of PMR itself but often one of the "add-ons" that tend to occur more frequently in people who have PMR - such as myofascial pain syndrome, piriformis syndrome or bursitis. I found all of them improved at higher doses of pred and returned as the dose got lower. The first two are dealt with by the physiotherapy department at my local hospital and hip bursitis has been knocked on the head very effectively by steroid injections. I'd had bad bursitis with the PMR and it took about 6 months to fade with the oral pred. It reappeared a few years ago and when I asked what pain killers I could use I was told "NONE" (I am on anticoagulant therapy so NSAIDs are a no-no), Half an hour later I was sitting in the ED waiting for the duty orthopaedic doctor to give me steroid shots! My GP has also given me a couple but she is rheumatology trained. But I do think they are worth it.

I had hip pain which vanished with pred, but returned with reduced dose.  It was sorted through physiotherapy.  Before PMR and pre-diagnosis it had been so bad I thought i should be getting in line for a hip replacement until x-ray showed my hips are one area of my body with no sign of osteoarthritis.  I believe the pain was caused by a nerve being irritated or compressed in my spine.  I also had some very tight, spasmed muscles in my back which the physiotherapist released through dry needling.  

I am thinking that the one side that is tighter, stiffer is the one that has bothered you in the past and PMR always goes to those ancient sites and seems to inflame these old places. It is always a conundrum as to whether it is your typical muscle skeletal, fascia problem or the PMR I would  go for a few weeks 8, 7, 8 7,  77  taper very slowly.  Good luck Great that you are moving a great deal