Joanne
I can sympathize with you whole heartedly; however, I think your Doc has your Prednisone dosage much too low if you are suffering that much. I was to the point that I was having to walk with a cane and have help getting in and out of the bed and chairs. My Physician started me with 40 mg. of prednisone and left me on that for a 3 week period and then came down to 30 for 3 weeks and then to 20 for 3 weeks. From there, he is cutting it 1 mg. at a time after a 2 week period. I have no pain and am now down to 17mg daily. I am also on several other medications, Neurontin 1800 mg daily; Ultram 200 mg daily; flexeril 50 mg daily. As soon as they get my Prednisone down to a low level or hopefully, none, he will start decreasing the other medications. I have been suffering with this disease for about 5 or 6 years - even longer than that to a slight degree, but suffering with severe pain (almost unbearable) for the last 2-3 years. I hope they can get your Prednisone level higher so that your pain will subside. Mine subsided on the 40 mg in about 4 or 5 days and has been gone ever since, and as I told you, I was using a cane and I don't even know for sure where my cane is today. I'm just hoping that mine is in remission and stays; however, my Doctor isn't too convinced that it will happen. He tells me that once you have it, it's there for life - that all that can be done is to try to keep it in remission with Prednisone as much as possible. That's a terrible thought, isn't it? Hope you're soon better.