What you are experiencing is not normal. It saddens me to read the replies and how this disease is being treated by doctors/rheumys. Big picture: according to Mayo Clinic, the average duration of PMR is 5.9 years and the only treatment is prednisone. We try to taper to find the lowest dose where we are mostly comfortable. We shouldn't reduce prednisone if we are experiencing pain. So for example, I found complete relief with my initial dose of 15 mgs. (some people need more). When I dropped to 12.5 I felt some pain, but not enough to increase. I've struggled trying to get below 10 mgs. for several years now and I still take 11-12 mgs. daily. Do I want to take less? Yes, but I don't get to determine my taper. My body does. If you take less prednisone than your body needs to deal with the inflammation, the inflammation continues to build and you'll have a flare. My hope is that you'll find a rheumatologist who will help you figure out what's best for your body and not follow the limited and sometimes errant medical literature.