I was 52 when I was diagnosed with PMR. I had worse things that were wrong with me prior to being diagnosed with PMR. I have called PMR a "blessing" because I was able to legitimately take prednisone for PMR pain.

When I confessed to a doctor about all the prednisone I was taking leading up to being diagnosed with PMR --- I was immediately referred to a rheumatologist. I'm eternally grateful to the rheumatologists who have taken care of me for 20 years. I'm still alive at the age of 72 and I have been prednisone free for the last 5 years.

There are worse things than PMR that can happen. GCA is scary too. Don't be afraid of prednisone but sometimes prednisone can also be scary. My recommendation is to take prednisone for fast relief from the pain.

Don't expect to be pain free because of your back problem. I have severe spinal stenosis with a spinal fusion surgery still pending. I'm personally more afraid of back surgery than PMR.

I don't know how comforting this is but PMR will go into remission with enough prednisone. Then you need to figure out how to taper off prednisone. I have been there ... I did that ... it wasn't as bad as it may seem.

Hopefully your PMR will go into remission soon and you can taper off prednisone. There are mild and uncomplicated cases of PMR so hopefully that will be the experience you will have.