I believe I have had PMR for a least a year. Up until 6 months ago I thought the pain was caused from overexercising(My PP agreed). In hindsite, I feel sure I had PRM all along. When I went to ER with extreme pain in both shoulders and both hips the ER physician in a few minutes know it was PMR. He put me on 15mg Prednisone and recommended I see my PP. I had an apppointmet with my orthopedic surgeon and he scheduled me with a rumatologist which I really like. She kept me on 15 mg for 2 weeks and thn on 12.5mg for 2 weeks and the pains came back. She had me go back on 15 and the pains went away. I reduced the predensone in 3 weeks to 12.5 with no problem. I did my own tapering after that. I have been reducing prednisone 2.5 mg every 2 weeks with no problem. I will be down to 6mg this Thursday. At this point I will reduce 1mg every 2 weeks and see what happens. I personally believe for me that reducing dosage about 2-3mg every 2-3 weeks and see what happens with each taper. If pain returns go back to the prevous level and continue in this patern. When I get to 5mg then tapering must be slower, using trial and error. I think each person is diferent and that trial and error is appropriate. Good luck