My recent experience: I've been diagnosed with PMR, and started on prednisone a week ago today. I took 10 mg the first two days, then went to 20 mg, after discussion with my doctor.

The pain, while significantly diminished, is still there, and I am still fatigued. I'm grateful for the relief, and hopeful for further improvement, but progress is not as fast as I hoped.

The pain in the 3 weeks before being diagnosed and treated with prednisone, was SEVERE and 24/7. It felt like I had broken bones. I found hot baths were helpful, and ibuprofen did reduce the pain, but still left me very miserable indeed.

My c-reactive protein, which peaked at 34.7 mg/dL is now down to 3 mg/dL (Kaiser says less than 0.5 mg/dL is normal). It seems the prednisone is really helping.

I am 63 years old, with a northern European background, so apparently I am in the genetically predisposed group, although I am male.

Reading other's experiences is very helpful, and comments are welcome.