Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...

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Question

GrammyKat
GrammyKat
Happy New Year everyone!

I know that I should know the answer to this, but my mind is just not pulling it out. How important is it to take the Prednisone? I would like to just deal with this flare with pain pills. I can deal with the outrageous pain all day long until bed time. Then I take 2 gabapentin and 1 percoset. I HATE to take the prednisone. Am I being stupid? I have enough sleep issues anyway without the added ones from that medication.

Thanks in advance, you guys always have good answers.
Kathy
2scicrazed
2scicrazed
My rheumy advised me to only take the prednisone when the pain and inflammation were at a level 8-10 and I couldn't bear it or make it to work.

Now I can't take any painkiller besides enteric coated aspirin - if I could take stronger pain meds I probably wouldn't reach for the pred so quickly when a flare hits.

Prednisone alone does not stop the joint erosion. It only treats the symptoms. Right now only natural remission or aggressive drug induced remission will stop or slow the joint erosion.
GrammyKat
GrammyKat
Thank you, that's what I was hoping for. I have lost most feeling in my hands, where this flare is mostly. That's why I can handle it during the day. But at night..... it's a whole new ballgame. If the Prednisone is only to make me more comfortable, I will skip it until the other areas start in too. I take so much medicine now that I hate to add to it if I don't have to.
carrottop50
carrottop50
My understanding prednisone is to help get rid of the inflammation which can cause the pain... so if you get the inflammation down... it should help with the pain... and pain meds won't help get rid of the inflammation. Are you not on methotraxate or plaquenil??? They would help with the inflammation too. Maybe the best thing is to talk with your doctor and see what other meds might help you... To me pain meds are great for pain but they will not help stop the damage that your body is doing to itself which will make more pain. Prednisone is not a drug I like to use long term but I will use it short term to help with flares. RA is tough to get under control sometimes but I really think that is our goal.
GrammyKat
GrammyKat
Yes, I am on Plaquenil. I had to stop taking MTX but I am now on Arava. But not up to the bigger doses yet. Doctor told me that I would have major flares while in the process. He gave me a hefty prescription of prednisone. I just don't like to take it. I should reach the correct dose about mid January.