Paula
If you really do have Polymyalgia, prednisone will keep iit under control..if pred provides no relief then it is probably something else.A dose of 5 mg. is a very small dose and the side effects would be of very little risk. I am finally getting over PMR..it will be 5 years this Sept that I woke up with it one morning. I started on 60 mg..then came down gradually to about 10mg...took me over 3 years to get down to where I am now..1 1/2 to 2 mg daily. I have lost the weight I gained from the prednisone but it took some effort. My eyes and bones are still OK after 5 years on it. There is nothing else that really works for PMR. It will leave your body when it is ready to go and I tried everything to get rid of it but no luck. I hope to be off prednisone by the end of the year, but a dose of 1 or 2 mg is insignificant as far as damage so when I can get off it without flareups, I will. Be sure to take extra calcium, and I also take flaxseed oil which I think may be one reason I am feeling better. Good luck!