Hi Amber. The best of news from you on your long journey. It is wonderful to know you are now in this place after so much worry. I too have OA in my hands and knees. Exercise helps, especially from the Physiotherapist my GP sent me to. It comes and goes but it's never too bad, it tends to flare and then go away for a while. Well done you. You are going to feel just great when you are off the steriod too. I see my Rheumatologist in March, he is going to start reducing the Azathioprine I think. It will be an interesting year. I will keep you posted. Great news Amber. Autumm

Hi Amberhere, Congratulations on the remission!!! Do stick around and visit us. I am glad you are almost off the Prednisone too. This is very hopeful news. Keep us posted!

Best Wishes

Congratulations, amberhere. This is wonderful news. I trust that you will continue to improve. Best wishes to you.

Hi Amberhere. Yay!! That is wonderful news! I am so happy for you! I will say a prayer for you that you stay well and that your osteoarthritis doesn't cause you too much discomfort. You have been a great help to me on this site. Hearing your update gives me hope for the future. Stay in touch

Thank you everyone, I really appreciate your good wishes and comments. Without this forum, I don't know how I would have coped. I have always said the people on here are truly wonderful and helpful - the amount of support I have had is unbelievable. I will keep on this site as I think it is good to let people know about my experiences as does many people here. Autumm - Good luck with reducing the Azathioprine - I am hoping sometime next year to be reducing the MTX. trpt1 and nanny1611 - thank you - I will keep you posted - SammyW - really glad this gives you hope - this is why I want to keep people posted on my journey and in the not too distant future to have even more good news to help people. Best wishes, Amber

Hi Amber. I'm glad you will be keeping us posted on your journey. How would I know if I was in remission? I'm thinking it would be when all of the main symptoms are gone?

Hi SammyW, sorry took so long to reply. The only way I knew my DM was in remission was by my Rheumy telling me so, I have blood tests every 4 weeks but now he has said I can have it done every 8 weeks. I guess another possible sign is because I managed successfully to taper my steroid (now on 1mg) without flaring. Believe me, it was very difficult as it is hard to decide whether you are flaring or it is withdrawal symptoms. I have now realized it was the steroid giving me a hard time every time I went down even 1/2mg!! It took about 3 to 4 weeks of a bit of pain every time to realize it was the steroid and not the DM causing the problems.

SammyW, another clue to DM remission could be that you feel not too bad in yourself. I unfortunately have now bad hands due to osteoarthritis in my fingers, I still have the DM rash sign (small purple one on my tummy) which I think will never go. The symptoms haven't gone completely, the tops of my arms still hurt but I guess it will never go totally??? Another factor is that I have lost 2 stone in weight which took a while and am still loosing it. This seems to really help my knee pain. Problem is I am also going through the menopause which means plenty of hot flushes!! Hope this helps. Best wishes Amber.

Hi Amberhere,
Thanks for the information. I am tapering prednisone and down to 6.5 mg. I agree that it's really hard to know if I'm flaring or if it's the decrease in prednisone. It's crazy how our bodies are affected by just a decrease of .5 mg! It's such a rollercoaster ride. Every day is a challenge. I am grateful for this site and you for sharing. Take care and sending all good wishes your way.