@mlz

I try not to dwell on the side effects of prednisone too much. When I do write about the side effects it is about "long term prednisone use" and not "short term prednisone use." The side effects from my long term prednisone use were a huge negative in my life. On the other hand, the pain relief that prednisone provided was a huge positive. When I weigh out the positives and negatives in those terms it makes me neutral.

I mostly wish to share my positive experience of being off prednisone for the last 5 years. The biologic I currently take has greatly enhanced my quality of life. The equation is different when I weigh the positives of pain relief + being on a biologic + being OFF prednisone. When there are 3 big positives with only a couple of small negatives ...the net result is hugely positive!

There needs to be alternatives to long term prednisone to treat PMR/GCA.