I live on the west coast of British Columbia and have often wondered if climate has anything to do with PMR? Before being diagnosed, I took lots of ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac, nothing worked except the prednisone. I took it for 12 years. Lucky for me, I did not get the eye problem, but did experience every other side effect. Taking the main dose all at once did not alleviate my pain, but taking half in the morning and the other half at night helped a lot. I experienced 2 flare-ups and had to start over again with the original dose of 20 mgs. When decreasing, I only decreased by .5 mg and then only after 6 weeks or longer and stayed on a maintenance dose of 1 mg for almost 2 years. I have been off for 2 years. After being diagnosed, the rheumatologist told me that it does come back, I am 78 now, sure hope not!! Reading a support group from all over the world helped a lot and prednisone is certainly the drug of choice.