I had and still have a chronic inflammatory disease for nearly 20 years before PMR was diagnosed. My flares were treated with a high dose of prednisone followed by a fast taper. I never had any problems tapering off prednisone. In fact, my ophthalmologist who prescribed prednisone for uveitis said I was "skilled" with prednisone tapers. I could go from 60 mg to zero in a month or two to achieve remission of uveitis. I failed to mention the mysterious back and joint pain I was having whenever uveitis flared up. The pain had a way of disappearing after prednisone was used to treat uveitis.

I never had a primary care doctor, rheumatologist, cardiologist or any other -ologist except for my ophthalmologist during these 20 years. I stopped seeing a neurologist after a couple of years. I decided they had nothing useful for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia (TN) because prednisone wasn't used to treat it. I took massive amounts of prednisone on an intermittent short term basis to achieve a temporary remission of flares of uveitis, TN, back pain and other large joint pain. I never needed prednisone on a long term basis until PMR was diagnosed.

A rheumatologist got involved when PMR was diagnosed. I wasn't able to taper off Prednisone quickly for 12 years after being diagnosed with PMR. My rheumatologist didn't want me to taper off quickly and insisted I needed prednisone for a year or two. . Many -ologists followed in rapid succession for "idiopathic things." This included a cardiologist for my blood pressure and cardiac problems and both a pulmonologist and a hematologist for my idiopathic pulmonary embolism.

I got off prednisone 3 years ago after taking prednisone for 12 years for PMR. I have stopped all three of my BP medications, atorvastatin and warfarin in the past three years. Apparently my risk of cardiovascular disease has decreased since I tapered off prednisone. They say my cardiovascular risk will decrease more with diet and exercise and if I can continue to reduce my weight.

I'm still being treated for PMR but not with prednisone anymore.