The so called background pain, usually experience during sleep and first thing in the AM, is minor when compared to full blown flare up...something not to complain about and usually goes away my mid-morning returning in the late evening at current dosage...wrt tapering my GP had me taper to 10 mg from 20 mg which created a full blown PMR flare up which needed 40 mg/day for 3 day get back to managing w/20 mg/day. So while waiting for the appointment with the Rhuemy I decided to taper to 15 mg/day from 20 mg/day...if I understand my Rhuemy's email I'm to stay at 15 mg prednisone, splitting the dosage, until I see her again on Sept 15th..I'll have had a month+ of Plaquenil plus Tylenol Arthritis as needed also...I am making changes to the diet, albeit small. Trying to start walking everyday but the malaise created by the prednisone is overbearing so much so I take a nap most days to clear my mind. Thanks for the URL...