I was diagnosed with PMR on Dec. 12th last year. I believe I had it for many months before then, but because I was 90 yrs old thought it was part of being so old. However, I became ill with shingles which prompted a doctor visit which culminated in the PMR diagnosis after a blood test. My symptoms were almost unbearable pain, especially at night, in thighs buttocks and shoulders. The pain would expand in a lesser degree into other parts of my limbs. My doctor immediately put me on a three day dosage of 20mg to calm down the inflammation. It worked. After first dose I slept for 12 hours instead of 2-3 hrs. I am trying to taper myself off the Pred. I am down to 3.75mg in the morning and 2.5 in the evening. Do have some discomfit, but can manage to do my errands, volunteer work etc. In another week or two I will try to lessen dose. If I have to increase again, so be it. I just have to learn to live with it as I can not "will" it away, no matter how hard I try. Hope this helps you. 🙂 Also, I eat a good diet, almost completely vegetarian, organic, with a very small amount of range free meat. Exercise helps.