@ropnrose

I was on the decline after the age of 50 but still going strong in the sense that I thought I was invincible. I already had inflammatory arthritis that was diagnosed when I was 32. PMR was diagnosed when I was 52. I had a lot of "mystery pains" in the interim between the ages of 32 to 52. I took high doses of prednisone intermittently but I was always able to stop prednisone within a couple of weeks. The pain would disappear temporarily but it would recur 1-2 times per year.

After I was diagnosed with PMR, I took moderately high doses of prednisone every day for 12 years. I thought I was even more invincible and told people that daily Prednisone was a "blessing." I was wrong about prednisone being a blessing but it was better than nothing. Prednisone nearly killed me once or twice so that was when I had to admit that I wasn't invincible.

I also had a long conversation with someone who' had an adrenal crisis because of her long term prednisone use. She set me on a straight path such that I actively pursued ways to be able to discontinue Prednisone. A couple of surgeries helped to reduce my prednisone dose. It took me a couple of years but I eventually got off Prednisone thanks to the biologic I currently take. I have been off Prednisone for 6 years and currently feel more like my chronological age of almost 72. Not too bad considering the circumstances because I was telling people I would not live to be 70.

I was part of the "no pain ... no gain" mentality before PMR was diagnosed. After PMR was diagnosed, I forgot about all the pain I had before PMR. People encouraged me to take more Prednisone whenever I had pain. In retrospect, taking more prednisone wasn't the best thing I could have done.

I'm glad my doctors didn't ever stop trying to get me off Prednisone.