I had PMR for a year before I got diagnosed. I thought it was due to other problems, such as getting older. About 7 months after the PMR started, I got additional symptoms of GCA, such as pain in my face, night sweats, tenderness around my ears, etc. Eventually I had to go to the emergency room for episodes of temporary vision loss. Fortunately they saved my vision with infusions of high dose methylprednisolone. The risk of not being treated for PMR is developing GCA. Google says 10-20 percent of people with PMR will develop GCA. But even people being treated for PMR can still develop GCA.

My quality of life was much, much better after I started treatment for PMR and GCA than before. I was treated with prednisone and Actemra. I tried treating myself with time released acetaminophen, but it really didn't help much.