I'm relatively new here. PMR symptoms came on like a tsunami in mid-November. After dozens of tests, my GP suspected PMR and started me on 20mg of Prednisone. It helped for 2 days, then I the debilitating pain returned. Saw a rheumatologist in mid-December who diagnosed PMR and said I was likely prednisone resistant, so he started me on 8mg of Medrol. Same thing.... better for a couple days, then intense pain returned. Increased Medrol to 48mg for 2 days, tapering by 8mg every 2 days until I got to 8mg. That was brutal - horrible side effects to the high dose steroids but the pain was significantly reduced. I had to stall and increase a few times but got to 8mg with tolerable pain after about 4 weeks. Stayed on 8mg for about a month and then started tapering by 1mg every week or two until I got to 4mg (3 weeks ago). I'm achy and stiff in the mornings but it's very tolerable and I’m ready to go lower and see what happens.

My goal is to get completely off Medrol in the next couple of months. My rheumatologist said if I'm able to, then I do not/did not have PMR because EVERYONE needs long term steroids/biologics (minimum of 1 yr, usually longer). That deflated me because I’m sure I have PMR.

Hope to find others who were successful in getting off steroids in less than a year.

Grateful for all the helpful information and stories shared!