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Hi @msvl1998, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Far be it for me to call prednisone the devil. When my PMR was active, prednisone was the magic "make it go away" pill. Weight gain was the only side effect I had and after the first occurrence I was ready when it came out of remission the second time so I was able to stay on top of the weight gain issue.
When my PMR was active, mild exercise was essential in staying flexible and being able to move. Even today with the PMR in remission I have to move around some so my joints don't stiffen up. I find riding my recumbent exercise bike really helps me keep the joints flexible. My thoughts are that the prednisone and exercise go together to help treat the condition.
Arthritis Foundation has some information you are probably already familiar with on PMR:
-- https://www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/types/polymyalgia-rheumatica/
It sounds like your PMR is still active. Are you trying to taper off of prednisone?
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I have had a "wake-up call" As my daughter has said, "you cannot always will pain away." Shortly after diagnosis of PMR, I thought, " I am mentally and physically strong so I can start getting off prednisone all by myself" ( My doctor is very hard to contact.) So I have been rapidly lowering dose until not taking it at all. This last week, I have been almost comatose with pain and stiffness once again. I have learnt my lesson. Yesterday I started back on 5mg in the morning, think I might do better to split that between morning and evening. I will see my physician in about 10 days, when I plan to have a long discussion with him on laying out future behavior. I do dislike prednisone very much as it affects my vision, but can actually function quite well when taking it.