Hi @marymckeith, I'm sorry to hear of your struggle. The black hole for me was psychological, I think, depression. I got out of it because I was in a situation that caused me to experience my power and I didn't collapse. It made me feel alive. It involved gardening. I had to pull a load of weeds in 40 minutes before a contractor brought in backfill for a retaining wall on short notice. I was surprised I could do it.
Prednisone, at the right dosage, is supposed to resolve symptoms of PMR/GCA dramatically. This was my experience. It doesn't mean the disease is gone, but the symptoms are relieved. If symptoms don't respond to prednisone, doctors are advised (Cecil and Goldman's Textbook of Medicine) to consider alternate diagnosis - infection, malignancy,connective tissue disorder, hypothyroidism.
Has your doctor considered any alternatives?