Do not want to take steroids.

After I was diagnosed with PMR I was put on steroids and that was the last thing I wanted. I have since been put on Kevzara and after 4 treatments I am no longer taking steroids. Most of the pain and discomfort I had, in my hips and shoulders, is gone. How long I will have to take Kevzara I have no clue but I will ask my doctor the next time I see him.

I have polymyalgia rheumatica and have had for a couple of years. Until recently I was taking infusions that helped with the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia and polymyalgia rheumatica. I developed kidney infection that was septic and 2 weeks later, a uti infection that was septic so I have discontinued infusions. When I initially had polymyalgia rheumatica I took prednisone and had panic attacks while in bed at night. I stopped taking and although the symptoms have come back, I do not want to take prednisone again. I will just have to tough it out.

Welcome @mbsunburst, You might want to reconsider just trying to tough it out. Can you talk with your rheumatologist for alternatives that might help with the symptoms and inflammation?

I have PMR also and did not want to go on prednisone because of panic attacks I had while on it years ago for something else. I am on Low Dose Naltrexone for the PMR. For me, there have been no side effects and the pain has greatly diminished. I noticed some improvement after a few weeks. I've been taking it for 3 months now and am seeing even more improvement.

Awesome!!!!! I am so glad you found LDN, such an under-rated source of relief with basically no side effects for most. My daughter has long covid and found a wonderful doc at Mt Sinai Hosp in NYC who recommended LDN for her non-stop fatigue, aches, flu-like symptoms, no energy and so much more. It has helped her regain her life! She still has flares, but nothing like before, even planning her wedding for June!
She suggested I contact this doc for PMR, as I also have lifelong panic and anx disorder and want nothing to do with any drugs that could cause anxiety. I was petrified when I heard steroids are drug of choice. I did speak with the doc and she ran a ton of bloodwork that no rheum or other doc had done. She was all for trying LDN. I was doing my research on it when the pain in my legs began to dissipate. For a couple of months now, they are much better. Shoulders, upper arms, rotator cuffs still a problem. But I am grateful for the lifting of pain in my legs and the horrible, crippling Bakers cysts seem to have abated also.
I would take LDN in a minute and still might for my arms if they don't improve soon.
My very best to you!!!! Many docs are using LDN now and recommend it highly. Not going to work for everyone, of course, but I'd try it first before steroids.
May you be painless soon for the rest of your life.

Please see my comment below to robinrae. Hope you find both comments helpful!

completely support you in May 2022 I was started on 20mg prednisone GP said I would gain weight and my sleep would be affected and gave me the tapering regime. Within a few weeks I became breathless lost muscle strength and felt terrible GP thought I had long covid in December 2022 musculoskeletal physician said all my symptoms were side effects of prdnisone and to reduce as soon as I could to stopping, it took mje 2 years to get off it the taper made me so ill that each time i reduce I would spend a couple of days in bed I was told I just had to endure the symptoms and get off it, once you have been on it a few months terribly hard to stop, the side effects of prednisone were wrose than the PMR and 6 months after having stopped I have tendonitis in patella and achilles and forearms hands and wrists, seeing musculoskeletal physician to ensure it improves over time and have gentle physical exercise. I live in NZ where we have Accident Compenasation for in juries and my GP has lodged a reatmet injury claim, Prednsione is obviously a very helpful drug but it is now written in my medical notes I am never to be prescriebd it again unless I have a life threatneing injury, I manage pain with cannabis oil at night, anti flamme ointment and heat. Would never have taken it if I had known all potential side effects good luck

Curious, what is LDN? My poor husband can barely walk as he has no energy. He is currently in prednisone and methotrexate. Every time they reduce dosage his inflammation markers go up. Along with that his double is so thin he bleeds at slightest bump. He is also type two diabetic so heals slowly and I’m afraid he’ll end up with serious infection. We are very discouraged. Thank you

LDN is Low Dose Naltrexone. Full dose naltrexone is used to treat drug or alcohol dependence and has many potential side effects. A usual dose is about 50mg. Low dose naltrexone is about one tenth of that dose, about 4.5mg, and has far fewer side effects.

Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) has been studied for use with various other conditions including Fibromyalgia (auto-immune) and chronic pain:
"Pain Relief: Effective in managing chronic pain conditions.
Low Side-Effect Profile: Generally milder side effects compared to other pain management medications.
Immune Modulation: Helps in regulating the immune system, beneficial for autoimmune disorders."
https://www.dvcstem.com/post/side-effects-of-low-dose-naltrexone
It's use for Polymyalgia Rheumatica has not been fully researched so it's not yet an approved medication for us, but some people have used it for PMR off-label. If I need to try something to get off prednisone, LDN will be the drug I will push to try ahead of the usual "steroid sparing" drugs that have limited success and more potential side effects.