Hi there. According to my doctor it’s a 1-2 yr journey but I was lucky. I started on 15mg and from my first blood tests my levels became normal. He reduced it to 12.5mh after a month (first blood test). Then another month down to 10mg. From that point it was a slow taper. After 1 yr I was off it with none of the side effects you worry about but I took calcium with vitamin D, kept exercising and monitored everything. I checked my eyes twice and have a few cataracts that are age related no prednisone caused. I had stiffness but not terrible pain when I finished it. The hip and pelvic pain has now gone - it went after two months. I’m just waiting for my shoulders and upper arms to get better although they already have. I was told that the inflammation will not go away without prednisone. Expect some fatigue later in the tapering after the glory highs of the pain relief in the early stages. If you are basically healthy otherwise it should be ok. Good luck.