I found it very stressful to push my doctor to order tests he didn't want to, but I insisted and was so glad I did. If untreated, Giant Cell Arteritis (the companion disease of PMR) can cause blindness or stroke. When I first had symptoms of PMR I went to Physical Therapy, but it didn't help at all because the immune system is attacking blood vessels and restricting blood flow. Good luck! Pain for five years is too much.