How long has PMR lasted - I'm trying to find the average

Been on prednisone for 4 years and about to come off. I have been reluctant to cut back and come off if the med. as I can't really believe PMR is coming to an end.

Hitting PMR hard in the early stages has some merits. My ophthalmolgist and I successfully took this approach to treat an "aggressive" form of uveitis which is another type of autoimmune condition. We responded with aggressive treatment every time uveitis flared. High dose prednisone ... fast taper worked well for uveitis compared with the more tentative approach of low dose .. slow taper usually done for PMR..

The problem with PMR is it sometimes takes months or years to be diagnosed. During the time from onset to treatment, PMR becomes well established with widespread chronic inflammation. For my type of uveitis I was seen, diagnosed with treatment started in a matter of a few hours.

There has been no research done that provides any insight into prednisone dose and tapering strategies for PMR. The low dose ... slow tapering strategy has been done the same way for many years. There isn't any research that says this approach works better to achieve remission compared to other approaches.

See the treatment section in the following link:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/polymyalgia-rheumatica/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20376545

@dadcue, all really good points. And you’re fortunate your ophthalmologist took a aggressive approach for your eye condition. I feel fortunate too that my doctor knew the best approach to PMR.

I've had PMR since May. CRP of 140 down to 8. Pain almost gone. Pred dose from 60 to 7.5, currently. I've studied the disease religously for 6 months. I have been to several top autoimmune clinics and currently have an autoimmune specialist and am part of a global program geared towards healing the gut biome and healing the stomach wall lining. I feel like there is light at the end of the tunnel but also am aware that going from 7mg to 0 is the hardest part.

Starting year two. Thought I was closing in on remission. But flared at 8mg prednisone and the pain has returned. I’m basically starting over with a new medication.

@tjmjsjwj. I was diagnosed with PMR in Feb 2023 and I asked my doctor how long I would have to take prednisone/how long would PMR last. She said about a year. I asked her if it was likely it be a shorter period of time. She said rarely. I took my last dose of 1/2 mg Nov 30. Continue being positive!

That is incredible! Did you change your diet over the course of the 9 months?

7 years and no remission for me.

Good morning. Diagnosed in Jan 23. Got all the way to no prednisone in September for 5 weeks and then got slammed. Started back at 20 mg BUT with the new Kevzara injection twice a month. As of yesterday all my numbers are moving in the right direction. My Sed is 6 and CRP is back in normal zone as well as H&H. Had my 4th injection of Kevzara this morning, absolutely no side effects and tapered to 5mg of prednisone for the next 2 weeks. Plan is to move to 2.5 in two weeks later and then be off prednisone shortly after Jan 1 with Kevzara as the only med. Doc did not send me to a Rheumatologist because in his experience they tend to be very conservative about trying new things.
Good luck and Merry Christmas

@tjmjsjwj. Thank you for your reply. I was also treated by my internist and I had total confidence in her approach. I tolerated prednisone well so didn’t have to take any alternatives. I put myself on a vitamin regimen that boosted my immune system and I had my blood tested monthly; my numbers continued to improve dramatically. I’ve read accounts, on this site, of people dealing with PMR for years. I mentioned this to my doctor and she said ‘let’s focus on you’.
Best of health to you!