79 here. Have osteoporosis, but didn't see any real choice because the PMR could get worse, and I was in a lot of pain. Was also afraid of Giant Cell Whatever. Started with 15mg end June, which was increased to 25mg after a week because change was minimal. A few days after that, improvement was very noticeable. Now I'm down to 10mg, entirely functional and almost without discomfort other than minor shoulder and arm aches. Most of the day, I don't think about having PMR. Now I mow the lawn vs. the earlier time when it was a struggle to put on clothes.

Are you only supposed to take 5mg as your starting dosage?

It took over 4 months to diagnose my PMR. I could barely walk. I was so sedentary and in bed for extended periods of time. I even developed a decubitus on my back side. My rheumatologist missed my PMR. It was my PCP who diagnosed my PMR and started me on 15 mg of prednisone a day. Within 36 hours, my pain was reduced by 90%. I took it for 4 months, than began a slow taper off of it. That was 3 years ago. I have not had any signs or symptoms of PMR since then.

The prednisone was not fun, and I developed a ‘double’ colon infection which required a 3 day hospitalization. Even with that, the prednisone was so very helpful and worth the side effects.

I hope you are able to get your PMR under control quickly.

Hi Fam, I was recently diagnosed (May 2023) and am/was a very healthy 76 year old. I too was reluctant to take medication (prednisone) but the pain was so unbearable and limiting I had no choice. I started at 30 mg with a slow taper. Fast forward and now I am at 8 mg. I have experienced no pain or flares and can almost forget I have PMR…haha. I see my rheumatologist once every 6 weeks and get blood work done for that visit. Her goal is to reduce prednisone to 0 mg. I am tapering 1 mg per month. We shall see. Because of the possible side effects of prednisone I am taking calcium, vit D, vit K, pepcid and fozamax. So far I haven’t noticed side effects. Am also following a modified Mediterranean Diet with little or no salt or sugar. Good Luck and have patience. Liz Ward

Hi @fam8284, I understand your reluctance to take Prednisone, but most people who suffer from PMR experience a dramatic relief from symptoms after taking it. 5 mg sounds like a low dose - I think the usual for PMR is 15 -10 mg.
I had PMR, then GCA for a year, undiagnosed, so no prednisone, just constant pain and other strange symptoms. Was diagnosed with GCA after a temporal artery biopsy and put on 40 mg, with tapering down every two weeks. I was on it a year and a half, and have been off prednisone now for nearly a year.
My mother-in-law had GCA as well and didn't want to take the prednisone, but was told she could go blind or have a stroke if she didn't. She took the Prednisone and was cured of GCA eventually with no flareups,. She lived to be nearly 100.
I hope our stories help you make a decision.