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...

2,179 Members
16,355 Posts
0 Online
Muscles & Bones
/ Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Good, better, best!

WarriorGal
WarriorGal

THE GOOD NEWS KEEP GETTING BETTER. I have weaned down to 2.5mg prednisone and then after wekks and weeks of that, recently started doing 3 days on and one day off. Did that twice and was going to go to 2 days on and one off....


Yesterday was a day "off" and I woke this mornign with no aches!!!  That's a FIRST!  In te past even had mornign aches when I had taken 2.5 the day before. So I'm going to try to do 2 days off. If I start to hurt, I can always pop a Prednisone. I will carry them with me....


As always, cross your fingers for me cause I can't


Regarding weakness I talked about...it s mlonstly in my hands and I will ask my doc to refer me to PT for that. 





MarleneJ
MarleneJ
This sounds great! I remain jealous! I keep having to up my prednisone, as the flares have moved from the hands and wrists into the shoulders, especially. I'm pinning my hopes on moving from Arava to mthx in combo with the Orencia. And after that - going back to Kineret. My goal is also to get off prednisone.
WarriorGal
WarriorGal
I pray you find the same success.
WarriorGal
WarriorGal
Marlene...I'm not a doctor and don't even play on eon TV, but...it seems to me if after ELEVEN months you are needing to INCREASE prednisone...I'd give up on it and try something else.
Smoochiemom
Smoochiemom
WarriorGal...did the 2.5 of prednisone really give you relief? I feel like its such a small dose. I go se my Rheumy tomorrow night to discuss other treatment. I've been on Enbrel injections for many years and I just feel horrible most days. I am still able to work full time but it's exhausting just walking frm my desk to the kitchen and at 44 I look like I'm about 80! He put me on a dose of prednisone and I'm weaning down now....at 15 and I'm afraid it's going to hurt so bad when I come off :( I'm wondering what else he would put me on....I hear a lot of people on here mentioning Orencia...or I'm thinking maybe he'll try another biologic?
Smoochiemom
Smoochiemom
also, I'm happy that you are feeling good! :)
dd25
dd25
Fingers and toes crossed for you!! I'm so jealous-ha. I have tried to wean down from my daily 5mg. I do good in the beginning, then BAM! Muscle stiffness so bad I move like I'm 100 yo.
WarriorGal
WarriorGal
DD25 - what are you weaning TO??? If you have RA, you can't just go off prednisone without being on something else. If the something else is working you need to try another medication and another until you find one or a combination that allows you to get off the prednisone. But you are saying "MUSCLE" stiffness. Is it in your joints - as in RA - or something else???
Smoochiemom
Smoochiemom
so my rheumy increased my Enbrel to 50mg per week injection and is going to keep me on a 5mg dose of prednisone...I go back in a month. If I'm not feeling any better , he may switch me to another biologic....stay tuned.
WarriorGal
WarriorGal
Smoothie - OR, as others have said, add something else to the Enbrel instead of prednisone. Either MTX or brava.
Smoochiemom
Smoochiemom
Methotrexate didn't work for me, he said there were other meds he could prescribe. We will see how it goes.
WarriorGal
WarriorGal
TYPO - the alternative MTX is ARAVA.
californialynn
californialynn
Low dose MTX is generally recommended concurrently with most biologics; it is called "the anchor drug." Arava is an alternative.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/740981
nonightshades2
nonightshades2
Congratulations Warriorgal!
WarriorGal
WarriorGal
thanks!!! You know it's working when you FORGET to take prednisone!!
Posts You May Be Interested In
  • MarleneJ

    Prednisone Hypomania

    Posted by: MarleneJ
    Last Reply: SunCloudJD
    4
    I've been on high dose prednisone for pneumonia, and now I am slowly weaning. But lots of symptoms I don't like having, plus overeating has put at least 10 lbs on me. The food is "loud" as the GLP-1 users refer to it.Also pressured speech. Which comes out in my posts. Sorry I posted so much. I just need an outlet for my agitated and irritable brain. Just scroll on by my posts, if they are too...
  • MarleneJ

    Upgrading someone to admin in a private group!

    Posted by: MarleneJ
    Last Reply: MarleneJ
    3
    I haven't been around in a long time. I am admin in a private group, and I would like to upgrade someone else to that position. I thought I knew how to do that, but the prompt has gone missing. Or is it not allowed to upgrade someone else to admin? I just find "ban and demote" under "Edit." I don't get notifications to DS anymore, but I wil come back in a few days to find out the answer. There...