Dear Kittyiki, your post is three years old, but hope you are still available for comment. I, too, have polymyalgia rheumatica, and have been on prednisone for 2 years. I am your age. I fear I will go completely bald if I do not get off it. Went from 15 mg and now down to 5 mg, which does not completely get rid of the pain but makes it manageable. I am begging my doctor to start weaning me off completely. My question - have you found any other med that will relieve the PM symptoms? My best remedy is exercise, but very difficult to make oneself do it when you in so much pain and you think everything will break if you move. However, when I do force myself to do gentle exercise - on a stationary bike or just walking, it does help somewhat. The less I move, the worse the muscle and tissue pain becomes. I hope your PM has gone away, as my doctor says it sometimes does go away on its own. Would appreciate anyone's advice for anything else that will relieve polymyalgia rheumatica (cause or symptoms) -- While the prednisone relieves the pain, it is very harmful to the body in every other way.