Everyone is different ..but in the same disease ...you wil have answers here soon..for myself it started with azulfidine ...then all teh others now Methotrexate , predinisone .and next bilogics ..for myself again..i am never in complete remission...
wihsing you a better day .
Tami

Thank you Tami. I may be wishing for too much.. to be without pain.... it could always be worse. Thankful it isnt.

If this is your third day on 10 mg prednisone, you should probably be feeling better. Chances are that they will start you on methotrexate at your next appointment. It seems to be the main "first line" drug. Agree with Tami-never pain free, just hoping for manageable. Have also been through the "don't mention it" stuff-still have a friend who thinks I have a torn meniscus. That explains the knees but what about the hands, feet, ankles? Best of luck, try to stay as active as you can.

Good morning to you as well, Deanma,

Normally, once steroids are started, relief is felt within twenty four hours. I have no way of knowing but perhaps your Rheumy is starting steroids to see if any benefit has been provided. A positive response to steroids is further evidence of RA or another auto-immune disorder because the steroids have just lowered your immune response. With a lower immune response, your body should quit attacking itself as much thereby reducing an inflammatory response. Lastly, with a reduced inflammatory response, your body would have reduced swelling and thereby, reduced pain.

It is very possible that you will be started on a DMARD in two weeks. The possibilities are Plaquenil, Azulfadine, and Methotrexate. There are different reasons to start each of these medications. For example, if you are having really bad bowel inflammation also, your Rheumy may start you on Azulfadine as this is the best of the three for your bowels. But, nobody here can tell you definitively which DMARD your Rheumy prefers.

To further answer your questions: you may or may not always have achy joints as we are all different. It all depends on your bodily response to the prescribed medications. Sadly, a lot of us still have a lot of pain and fatigue even with treatments on-going.

As far as a flare: mine are sometimes preceded by a feverish feeling but not always. I had a flare last week and it was the worst feeling in the world. I could not get out of bed for three days due to the pain. For me, the only remedy I have found to stop a flare is a steroid taper. In last week's case it was a 30mg taper. But, some people refuse to take steroids due to the long term harm done to your body.

I was out of work last week as well.

I think I hit on all of your questions. Now, let me please offer my welcome to the board. I think you will like it here as there are some pretty awesome people hanging around!

I sure hope you feel better soon.

Regards,
TheWino

Tough questions. Each person is different, I've had pain but was not a full 'flare". I'm in one now & it's the worst yet, head to toes pain.
Now for me 10mg would not help much. I'm sure it would help me some but not to any real degree.
I take til the second day of prednisone for any good relief.
My dr does the 15mg, 10, 5mg for three weeks.
I'm not feeling the relief I was on the 15 anymore .

You should feel some degree of relief. If your dr mentioned starting DMARDS be sure it's brought up. I'm sure he's going to see how your doing.
No people don't get it. We do without a doubt.
Best of luck, Sammy

Thank you for your replies. I actually feel better today. Thankfully! Ur replies help me so much. Its my third day on pred. I will fill out a loa intermittant one....boss mad at my absences.

Hi Deanma, welcome to this wonderful board.... sorry you have to come here but glad you found this great group of helpful folks. I have had RA for many years. I have had some good and some bad years...I was off all meds for about the last 5 years and was doing fine pain wise but the meds made me sick so I stopped them. But I did feel fairly good for those 5 years so I guess you can call it remission...but now I have been in pain for 6 to 8 months and in the worse flare I have ever had. . So the best thing is to find a wonderful Doctor that you like working with and that is helping you to get out of the pain as much as possible...like it has been stated we are all very different so work closely with your doctor. When folks don't see something wrong with our body to make us hurt so bad they really wonder how it can be that bad. Well some times we just wish we could give them our bodies just for a short time and they would get it figured out real quick. Well it looks as if you are just starting out so you will have to learn as you go...I have only been on this site for about 8 months now reading and learning as I go... I have learned lot from this great group of folks myself plus the support is over the top here. So feel welcome to ask as many questions as you need because it sure helps when you get to hear how others have handled what you might be going through. Wishing you pain free days in the near future.