My doctor has always emphasized that she is treating the condition and not the symptoms. Of course, when the pain got really bad at one point I increased the Prednisone. However, going to reduce my 1 mg to 1/2 today. Moderate pain in shoulders and upper arms and hands. I have bursitis in my knees, along with old stress fracture that won't heal. Nobody knows the full nature of this beast and PMR can certainly affect different people in different ways. The only reason I will go back on this Prednisone when I'm done, is if pain becomes unmanageable or if Sed rate and CRP go up. More concerned about my type 2 diabetes, and osteoporosis. Fun times.