Hi @suemck, Welcome to Connect. I had trouble tapering off of prednisone for both occurrences I had with PMR. I cut my 1mg tablets in half and went down by 1/2mg when I was still having pain issues with the PMR. I did live with a little pain, maybe 1-2 on a scale of 1 to 10 which helped me finally taper off. The first occurrence took my 3 years to taper off. The second time I was able to taper off in about 1-1/2 years.

I have no medical background or training but I do have similar symptoms with my hands. I was diagnosed with severe carpal tunnel syndrome in both hands. When diagnosed I was told they could do surgery or try a shot. I think that was 2+ years ago. I had the shot but it really didn't help. Now I'm having the symptom your are having not being able to straighten my hands in the morning...mostly the middle finger on my right hand. I'm thinking this may be Dupuytren's Contracture but I haven't been to the doctor yet to find out. I have my regular checkup in March so will be discussing options with my doctor if it is indeed the issue.

Don't give up on the tapering. You just have to take it one day at a time. Have you made any changes in your diet to help? Here's some ideas.

Medical News Today - What to eat if you have polymyalgia rheumatica
-- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321683

Hi@suemck, I was diagnosed in July 2018 and have been trying to taper down for the last 6 months from 5mg prednisone, it has gone in swings and roundabouts, the method I have used is reducing by 1mg per month once I was down to 10mg, I have got to the 1mg and found it really difficult to just stop as I get a flare up, so what I tried was reducing by days, I took 1mg every day for 2 weeks, then 1mg every alternate day for two weeks and I am now up to 1mg every 4 days. I cannot say I am pain free but it is bearable and subsides over days. I had my CPR level and it is down to 3 so hopefully in a few weeks all going well I can stop completely. I also have had strange pain reducing the prednisone, my knees are very sore and my feet ache, feeling of sharp tingling and heat in my legs, plus my body aches like the flu but not all the time. Think this may be related to my thyroid problem. I wish you every success in getting off the prednisone, but you also have to listen to your body and reduce when you feel the best, its no fun being in bad pain, my original plan was to be off prednisone in a year, but realise now that you also have to be sensible I have found this site a great place to get support and information as there is so little known about PMR and have had very little help or understanding from people around me apart from pills from my Doctor, so being able to talk to like minded people is a god send. Best wishes for a speedy recovery Linda.

For now I would stay on a dose that you feel good at AND do not change that dose and TAPER down slowly. You will feel better and worry less😉