Melissa, nobody knows your body like you do. So with that said, you should talk to your rheumi doc first and see what his/her thoughts are. Prednisone isnt something to mess with as it has several dangerous side effects. You might get some help from a steroid based cream. I got a script of it yesterday and within a short time of appling it, I got some much needed releif. I have to be one of the odd balls that cant take any steroids by mouth!
The first part of dealing with RA is to have a good relationship with your RA doc. The second is knowing when to go in and talk to him/her and that he understands what your concerns are.
Good luck to the future.

Hi kchitty, can ou tell me mor about the cream? Right now my ankles, feet, and wrists are bothering me - are the cream designed to address pain and issues with weight bearing joints?
I have an appt scheduled in a few weeks with new rheum (recently moved). I pray that he is a Good Dr, responsive and a listener, even if he's not real comfortable with speaking English.

Melissa - I've used vicodin when the pain was more than I could stand ( I have a high pain threshold). Now I use voltaren cream and that helps a lot. My rheumy prescribed it;

Thanks for the name of the cream. Will ask the rheumy about it and whether it is available. I wonder if it would help my fibro pain as well.

From my understanding, increased fatigue and pain is a sign of a possible flare. My appt isn't until the 4th. Recommendations on how to address things until then?

melissa, the cream is called Betamethasone. I am allergic to prednisone when I have to take the pill form, and I hate shots so I dont know how they would work, so that's how my primary decided to try the Betamethasone cream. I wouldnt dare go with out it now! It's helped my feet, knees, hands, shoulders and spine so much. At times it's helped even more than the dang lorcet 10's I was givin to take 3x's a day! So ask your doc about it. You might also try a cream called Ibu-cream. You can google it, and there is a website or two. I've heard it works really good. Best of luck to you hun!

Hey, just to clarify, Voltaren is the name brand of topical diclofenac. It's an NSAID, like ibuprofen, not a steroid. Betamethasone is a true steroid cream. Either might be helpful to you.

I typically only go for the prednisone if it's 5 or more days or clear flaring- multiple hot painful joints. If it's one joint more than the others, I might ask for a cortisone shot directly into that joint. Otherwise I take painkillers as needed and muddle through.

Careinth, thanks for the clarification about the two types of creams. I finally caved in and took a prednisone. Swollen and painful ankle, lots of other painful joints. A few weeks yet before I see the Dr.