Zocor and family history

I am 55 and was prescribed 40mg per day of Zocor. I am physically fit and thin, but high cholesterol is in my family history. After about 2 months on the drug, my cholesterol improved dramatically. However, I have had increasing joint pain everywhere....even in my wrists. I could not even get up and down well, as my knees hurt. I thought I was getting cancer or something.....my mother is very ill and they gave her many medications that I was trying to monitor. One of them was Zocor. I read the side effects and was appalled. I stopped taking the Zocor just 2 days ago and I already feel so much better! Not sure how I am going to deal with the high cholesterol, but I will not take this drug unless I can take a small dose. I will have to ask my doctor about that.