Can I just whine like a 2year old for a minute? I have been decreasing my prednisone by 2.5 mg per week and I am down to 2.5 mg daily now. So that is good right? Except these stupid headachs that I get every night. The last 2 nights, since I went down from 5 to 2.5, I have had to take Tylenol 4 because the HA was that bad. Then there is the little twinges of pain, almost as if to tease me. A little spasm in the foot, a sudden pain in a thumb or finger that disapears as quickly as it appeared. I have been feeling more tired more quickly the past few days too. Is it psychological? I dont want to do anything and I want to do everything. I cant remain on the prednisone. I dont want to either. I dont think I have been on the MTX long enough for it to do anything. And to top it all off, my neck has been really bothering me. This time it has gone on for 2 weeks. It usually comes episodically, lasting for a few days and then retreating for a few weeks. And now that I think of it, 2 weeks ago was when I first decreased the prednisone. This all just really sucks. That is all I can say about it. I think I have a love/hate relationship with prednisone. I just feel crappy and grumpy about the whole thing and wanted to cry and moan like a big baby for a minute. So know that I have put my violin back in its case, cause the sad song just couldnt go on, I will stop here and say goodnight
I've never been prescribed prednisone and sounds like I need to avoid it! After my 'meltdown' at the hospital last week, I have seen my clinical nurse and she gave me another shot of cortisone. I don't know how the two compare in side effects. I know that I have put on loads of weight which I could ill-afford. I'm not quite at my heaviest ever, but only just and that gets me down. I tried to explain that I feel as if I'm lurching from one shot to the next. She also put me on Leflunomide...so I'll have to wait and see if it makes me feel any better. They say it will take 6-8 weeks by which the cortisone will have worn off. For now, I'm just beginning to feel as though I'm coming out of my black hole. Hope you feel better soon. Hugs
I've used it many, many times in short doses. Several weeks at a time...but never long term. Crunch~Hang in there girl. You can do it!! I know the MTX is supposed to help ward off the damage so it is good to hear it will (in theory) stop the inflammation too! I just wish it didnt take so darn long to start working. My RD had mentioned some other meds but then said lets wait and see. Oh wait....Im sorry, I got distracted by that commercial for Tylenol Arthritis. It says that it relieves arthritis pain all day....
I'm just catching up on a weeks worth of 'posts', so am a bit late with this! Thanks for the explanation. Are you a 'medical' person, or just one who researches a lot? You seem to know a lot about various drugs, which is very helpful to all of us here thanks
I waited for 3 months to get approval from my insurance for Remicade, I never really could get it, so I decided to try Enbrel again. I had tried it 2 years ago without much improvement but thought maybe this time.....I have been taking 10 mg pred daily for a few years and would love to reduce it, but everytime I get really bad my Dr tells me to up the Pred to 20 for a few days, but I don't want to do it either!!! I have been extremely bad since Sunday this week and am trying to ride it out without the pred increase!!!! Wow! This makes me dread going to my RA Dr on Tuesday. I think he's going to have to put me on another drug because the plaquenil and prednisone aren't cutting it that much. My insurance doesn't cover alot of the drugs talked about here or are prior auth required. This makes me leery of what he might suggest. Why do insurance companies have to be such $*&#(@&$#??? If we need the meds they shouldn't keep you waiting for ever to get a response. VTmtngrl is a nurse...and I think she reads up on alot of stuff. I havent heard from her in a while though. I think she has been on put not posting. I am guessing it is either a computer thing or a hands and fingers thing. If you read this, VT, we miss ya girl!!!!
As little as 10 years ago, a dx of RA meant a high liklihood one would end up in a wheelchair. That is no longer the case at all. There is much hope now and more on the way.
The differences between Prednisone and Cortisone are quite remarkable. Prednisone work systemically and therefore has systemic effects on the body. Cortisone works locally on the tissues/joints injected. Both reduce inflammation and pain, neither do anything to remit the disease itself.
Copyright ArthritisInsight.com