Hi @warriorsue333 so sorry to hear about all your mom's suffering. I experienced the bad effects of prdenisone on the high dosage, 40 mg. Around 10 mg, they started to go away. Eye problems can indicate Giant Cell Arteritis, which can lead to blindness or stroke. 30% of people with PMR develop GCA. You should let the doctor know about those symptoms if you haven't, but you seem to have everything covered. I did read a summary of a paper in the Lancet Rheumatologist about a drug called tocilizumab possibly replacing prednisone for GCA, but it is in the early stages of being studied. I never did try accupuncture. I ate a plant based diet, took supplements, exercised, but still wound up with PMR and GCA. There are genetic markers. A new study (Dr. Andrew Weill summarized) found that omega 3 fatty acids

I’m on my 3rd bout of PMR, slowly decreasing prednisone. I had an interesting experience with accupuncture between 2nd and 3rd bouts when I thought I was in remission, but having lots of knee pain/leg pain. I signed up for 3 sessions and after each I would have unusual pain the next day. My acupuncturist had no answers, but in another conversation said that accupuncture stimulates the immune system so can make autoimmune conditions worse. I was diagnosed with PMR 4 months later. I realized later that the PMR was there and the accupuncture did not help, actually made it worse. So would not suggest accupuncture for PMR, though I have used it for different things