HI guys, I wanted to ask any long term pred users who have been unable to tolerate any other DMARDS long term, if they have any joint damage/deformity? Regards Janie.
I have been on pred for 8 years and have relatively undamaged bones, mainly ligament damage and tendons, and joint pain and swelling, no actual erosions that I am aware of. My RD told me that this was one of the better side effects that has been discovered by accident. That is nice to know considering pred has given me so many co-morbidities.
I have quite of bit of joint damage/deformity from having uncontrolled RA. I used a low dose of Prednisone for almost 8 years and it didn't prevent the damage.Thanks Lynn, I am sorry to hear that though. Were you on any other dmards? What do you take now? Regards Janie.
I've had refractory Ra for about 8 years. I tried and failed pretty much everything, except MTX. I have been using Rituxan since last June and it is working quite well for me now. It did take 6 months for it to start working, but the last 5 1/2 months have been wondeful. I no longer use MTX or prednisone.(my choice concerning the prednisone)
hi janie i have used pred for 13yrs mainly whith dmrds.. i am now just taking
pred.. my dosage was 7.5mg daily whith a dmrd for about 11yrs then
up to 20mg daily whith no dmrd for about 1 year and now 20mg for 1 day
and 10mg daily 6 days.. whith no dmrd... depomdrol injections were given
if things got bad.. i got joint damage early on.. but recent xrays on knees and hips
are not as bad as they expected. i read your post about your xrays.
i wonderd if you take fosamax for osteoporosis i allso take calcichew whith b12.
i have little weight gain and awaiting my dexa scan only 2nd one in 13yrs
and i had to push for it.. my joint damge is
both wrists near fused and osteoarthritis in them
mild erosions of
jaw
shoulders
elbows
hips
knees
ankles
arthritis of the spine
slight instability of the neck
my fingers have faired well.. 1ruptured tendon. and they lock up now and then..
i have read that some people will get joint pain and inflamation but little or no
joint damage...allso prednisone when used during the first 2 yrs of ra is making
a better outcome on joint erosion..
Boney
What role has predisone played in your osteoporosis Janie? Don't you have a hard time with fractures? Haven't you had numerous fractures in your feet? Has predisone played a role in that?I am only 3yrs into prednisone with no bone damage. I have troubles where i swell up when i take things like plaq or mtx etc. They are trying arava, but nothing really helping but the prednisone.