medrol burst pak question? | Arthritis Information

Sorry you didn't get relief Sno! I got 2 painfree days on the increase to 10 mgs a day prednisone. Now I'm back to waking up to painful hands. during the day they just hurt with movement but I do see visible swelling on the sides of my hands above the wrist bones.

Nothing like you are experiencing- not "flare" magnitude but I will bring this up to my RD who I see on Thursday. I would suggest asking him just for a steady dose but it doesn't really seem like it's working for me....

Snow,

You sure are brave to drive with that kind of all over flare. I don't see why you can't. Do you have refills? If not the RD may just place at 10 mg longer and do a slower taper. It is what I recently did. down to 5 mg now for the last month.

I think it is the weather too. I noticed we have all been flaring here recently.

feel better soon

SnowOwl,

Don't feel that way, a flare is a flare they all hurt -- a lot!

Your friend is lucky to have you. Not many poeple like that anymore.

Anyways, hope you get some relief from the flare soon. Take it easy.

[QUOTE=SnowOwl]Hi. Can a person reasonably request a second round of methylprednisolone? I started a burst pak last Monday, tapered down from a starting dose of 24mg through Saturday. I'm still in a world of hurt here. Today I made a left turn in the car and an ice pick of pain shot through my right elbow as I turned the steering wheel (manual steering) and that arm went numb briefly. Knees are aching and cramping, wrists stinging and aching, shoulders, well forget the list, it all hurts. This is the flare from hell. If one burst pak didn't help as much as hoped, will a second round be worth anything? Thanks for any experiences or advice, man this stuff sucks! Hugs to you Snow, I am sorry you feel so rotten. I think the weather effects me for sure! I have been having a pretty bad flare too. I am seeing buds on my trees so we aren't too far from spring! Hang in there friend! Weeellll.... nothing other that advil, skelaxan and r-n-r. I tried to get through to my RD, but she has no appt. open til April (sheesh!). So I e-mailed her today, usually takes a day or 2 to get back to me. I don't like pain killers, mainly cause they don't seem to like me! I know my flare is because I am off the MTX (going off made all rashes disappear!) and the Humira is not enough... What to do? I worry about the high inflammatory process going on, so I hope she has answers soon!

I am with you on the steroids, I hate/love them!
Yes Sno- your appointment is too far into the future to wait. Please give a call- that's what he's there for. Let us know what he says.
What will I do next? Well I'm sure we will be going head to head about increasing the MTX vs. starting a biologic I think. Especially seeing the swelling in my hands looking like Stage I RA hands. Sounds like the disease needs to be put in it's place. All that talk about damage happening the most in the first 3 years, etc...

Hope you feel better soon!
I am so sorry you are in flares.... but what the heck is an RD for if you can't get to them and get relief when you feel really bad??

I've only had one flare after my onset flare and my RD saw me the day I called in..

I hope you can get in or get an RX for relief!!

I commiserate with you. I wish I could tell you something that you could do. But I have nothing. I am learning to navigate through the drugs used to treat out arthritis. I do not feel qualified for lack of experience. With that said, I want to let you know that I hope you get this flare by the horns and get it resolved soon. I would CALL the doctor. I am sooooo sorry and I UNDERSTAND your pain and frustration. All the best to you.

Tink