Hi, @barry51 I’m sorry to hear about your autoimmune disease. Sure puts a kink in getting older! I had so many plans, now I’m just looking at modifying them. I’ve told myself that this is the new me and my new reality. I have CLIPPERS disease which affected everything. I don’t have pain, but... I would suggest that you take the methotrexate as recommended by your doctors. Several people with my disease use it and they’re doing OK. I use rituximab twice a year and hope to taper off prednisone. I know that this will be a lifelong condition I have 😪 and rituxan is helping! Long-term prednisone has its own problems, so have a good discussion with your doctor about methotrexate. I wish you the best. Becky

Hi Barry
Mine started 2 years ago the same way. I was the most active woman i knew...travelling solo to India and Kenya...had my own business..building rock walls and gardens..etc etc. Then such a sudden screatching halt! The pain from head to toe, debilitating fatigue, i couldnt even bend over. 20 mg of prednisone and voila! I was back to myslf. I have been trying to reduce ever since and am now at 7mg. Today i am in pain but will take a T3 and that will clear up the day without upping the pred. I dont know that i will ever get completely off it, but i take comfort in knowing the side effects under about 9mg are negligible. I tòo have pain in my fingers and cant wear rings anymore because of the swelling. But
.....i give thanks everyday that it is not worse...and that it is not life threatening. Good luck with your reduction! I hope one day to be off it too!

I have been down to 2.5 for several weeks. I wake up stiff and achy, but am putting up with it hoping it will get better. I do feel brighter and more hopeful after my coffee and toast. I am trying several different aids. Along with my good fresh organic diet, I am taking increased doses of turmeric and last week started on CBD oil three times a day. From what I have researched neither can hurt, even if they do not help. I keep hoping. The hardest part to endure is not to be able and active as I used to be. The most I can manage these days are short walks by the river or in a local park. 🙂

Hello Barry my name is Beryl ....well I have just read your post , and by the way welcome , it's the sort of feeling that we all get ......difficult to judge about the methotrexate my Doc said it wasn't right for me so I presume that yours has thought it over and thinks it is right for you , but ask him why it is right for you ......
We all appear to be very fit before this strikes .....I asked my doc why is this so .....he said we don't know you work it out and tell me ......ok......
As for how and when you will be without PMR we are all different Barry and no one is the same ,some get over this thing in one or two years, that is what I was told at the beginning....well I am one of the lucky ones and have had it for ten ......but you know one of the things that helps is trying to feel as normal in yourself as possible .....don't stop laughing and having a good time attitude helps ......hark at me going on ......well my thoughts with many others are with you ......good luck with your recovery.....Beryl

There's hope! I was diagnosed at 57 ,great health and then PMR/GCA came into my life. Johns Hopkins suggested I take 200 mg celebrex to help me taper. (other two other attempts at tapering did not work under 5mg). It worked. I also went to an extreme diet, no dairy, wheat, sugar, soy. Anti inflammatory diet didn't help me. I finally have lost 19 pounds of the 30 I gained on pred over 3 years. I didn't think I could do it ,but whatever ,it's working. I still have a martini a few times a week and some dark chocolate.. Don't give up or you will feel more stiff and pained. Prayers for you, if you don't mind.