If someone close to me asked the questions you ask, having lived through PMR and come out fine, I say go now to Urgent Care for Pain, to a pain management expert doctor, hope they give you a Prednisone (or similar drug) INJECTION, not an oral med. Then see the rheumatologist. This is what I would do for myself, if I had PMR again. My opinion is that dealing with the rheumatologist while in less pain works better. But we are all different and who knows whether you would react as I did. .