I am fairly new to this disease, diagnosed last December, SED rate 57. After 2 months of prednisone it was down to 26, My doctor wants it below 20. I started on 40mg of prednisone for 3 days and then down to 20mg. I have been tapering down since then. I found that the unpleasant things happening to my body were not just from the disease, but also side effects of the prednisone. I concentrate on diet, no sugar, extremely small amount of processed food, 2 slices of good bakery bread for morning toast, lots of fresh vegetables and fruit (organic) and anti-inflammation herbs and spices. I had no direction on tapering. I went down fairly fast to 10mg. After that I have tapered .5mg periodically, depends how I am doing. Two days ago I started on 3mg., 2 in morning 1 in evening. Morning stiffness and some incipient early morning leg cramping, but nothing unbearable, not like the original pain. Don't know if any of this helps you, as we are all different, especially in what we conceive as "pain." I can live with a certain level of discomfit, If I can stop taking prednisone, which is definitely not good for my eyes and heart. Lots of luck on your research and treatment. Maggie T :).