Unhappily there don’t seem to be alternatives to the standard treatment. But it does seem clear that experiences of those of us living within the PMR/Prednisolone bubble are very variable. For what it’s worth, here is my own current assessment of my own case. First, I do take seriously the long term risks said to be involved in continuing high doses of Prednisolone - though I haven’t been aware of any unwanted side effects from Pred during my 10 month reduction from 15mg to 5mg daily. So I am obediently reducing the dose in monthly decrements. I’m far from certain how effective it is, but I’m not game to experiment with cold turkey cessation. I cannot remember how bad the pain was before Pred. Bad, but not excruciating. Since commencing Pred and progressing down through the tapering dosage the pain I suffer seems pretty constant in intensity but over the months the locus has extended from shoulders and hips to knees, wrists and now - fingers. No swelling, just pain. Worst in the mornings; but alleviated by vigorous exercise. In my more discouraged moments I’m inclined to believe that the sole purpose of this tapering Pred therapy is to accustom me to living and functioning with a level of pain that, pre-PMR, I would once have found intolerable. It’s encouraging, in an odd sort of way, to discover how much one can still do and how much enjoyment remains in one’s life.