I was dx with JRA at age 12. It was pretty much isolated to my knees (sometimes hand would flare and had consistent swelling in ankle for years)which was mostly managed with cortisone injections every few months with some other stuff along the way (gold, vioxx, plaquenil, etc.). With my first pregnancy, I think I had a cortisone injection in both knees either right before I found out I was pg or maybe right before I got pg) and had no issues or flares during pregnancy. After I gave birth to a healthy girl, I had a post partum flare where the RA went to more joints so ended up on prednisone and enbrel when DD was 8 months (and fyi...I continued to breastfeed).
The enbrel was a miracle for me...I could jog, do yoga, I never felt better. In fact, I got down to one shot every other week.
Now I'm pregnant again - 9 weeks (I was surprised it was first try since last time it took almost a year and now I'm 4 years older!) and I was totally unprepared. I had my last enbrel shot 2-3 days after I conceived and about 3 weeks later my knees have flared, however, none of my other joints have been effected. My Rheumatologist and OB/GYN both think that the cortisone injection would be my best option although my OB thinks I should try and wait for 12 weeks. Some days are worse than others. It seems if I sleep about 12 hours and hardly move, I get a couple good days in until I overdue it again (I'm a fulltime working mom of a 3 yo).
I've pretty much resigned myself to the fact that I can get through 3 more weeks as long as I can continue walking and getting to work but my question is regarding cortisone injections at all during pregnancy. There is just no research on it except that in first trimester it could cause cleft palate/lip. I think the dosage is 40 mg per knee and just curious what anyone knew about local injections and if its possible to do a smaller dose or should it be spread out over a couple days, weeks, etc. I know lots of people have used prednisone but my drs seem to believe the cortisone injection is safer.
Thoughts???
I am sorry that I do not have any advice for you but I would like to welcome you and congratulate you!! I have a 4 1/2 and 2 1/2 year old. There are well more people on here with more experience than me to guide you. Welcome!!
Folk lore has it that things of this nature go into remission during pregnancy. My sisters hip has been bothering her for months. She had her baby on the 19 th of this month. Is it possible that by the next trimester you could be in remission? I know there is a tendency to get hit hard after giving birth.