@dave923

There might be at least four different cases of being in remission ... maybe more.

The first is "remission on steroids" ... I don't think it means "no pain" but maybe it means "no relapses."

The second kind of remission is "steroid free remission." Once again it has more to do with not having a relapse of symptoms as opposed to not having any pain at all.

I'm probably considered to be in a steroid free remission but I am still on a medication called Actemra (tocilizumab). You could say I'm in remission with a medication but not prednisone. Therefore. I'm in a "steroid free remission induced by another medication." I do much better being off prednisone while still being treated with a biologic.

Lastly, there are people in remission without needing any medication. Those people might be said to be in a "medication free remission" which might be the best type of remission.

Keep in mind that there is no cure for PMR so remission is the best thing we can hope for. Also, having some pain is probably a "fact of life." I had pain before PMR was diagnosed so I never expected to be completely "pain free" with or without PMR and prednisone.