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...
I have been doing reasonably well for months. Then I had to drive from Rapid City, SD to Rochester, MN to support a patient I had being treated at Mayo. The drive was 10 hours after working a hour day but I faired well. I think the fact that the drive fell on the day I take my Humira and MTX helped. The day before we left I had to push my 250 pound patient in a wheelchair for what I am sure was a mile or more (not exaggerating here) and then get the next morning to drive home. I was achy but it was doable. This was the day before I take my weekly dose of Humira and MTX.
By Saturday morning I was miserable. Every joint was screaming. I laid down for a nap after taking meloxicam and Tramadol and woke up several hours later in so much pain I was in tears. I figured out that I was dealing with my first significant, full body flare. UGH!
By Monday I was still miserable so into the rheumy I went. I cannot take oral steroids as I had a sever allergic reaction to two different ones several years ago. The allergist felt that it was not the steroid itself but a metabolite that is formed when taking the steroid orally. So the rheumy and I decided to go out on a limb and try an injectable steroid. She gave me 60 mg on Kenalog (triamcinolone) IM.
By Tuesday I was as close to pain free as I have been since before diagnosis! No rash, no swelling lips and no pain! It's been 5 days since the injection and I still feel really good. I don't know how long it will last but what a nice reprieve!
Has anyone else had injectable, systemic steroid treatment for their RA? How long does it last? How often can you get injections? ~Lori
By Saturday morning I was miserable. Every joint was screaming. I laid down for a nap after taking meloxicam and Tramadol and woke up several hours later in so much pain I was in tears. I figured out that I was dealing with my first significant, full body flare. UGH!
By Monday I was still miserable so into the rheumy I went. I cannot take oral steroids as I had a sever allergic reaction to two different ones several years ago. The allergist felt that it was not the steroid itself but a metabolite that is formed when taking the steroid orally. So the rheumy and I decided to go out on a limb and try an injectable steroid. She gave me 60 mg on Kenalog (triamcinolone) IM.
By Tuesday I was as close to pain free as I have been since before diagnosis! No rash, no swelling lips and no pain! It's been 5 days since the injection and I still feel really good. I don't know how long it will last but what a nice reprieve!
Has anyone else had injectable, systemic steroid treatment for their RA? How long does it last? How often can you get injections? ~Lori
My first cortisone shot was in my knee and it lasted me for a whole year
I got a steroid shot for allergies a couple years ago in May and it was the BEST summer EVER!!
I just got three shots in my sacrum/lumbar and I am LOVING how pain free I am - even though the Enbrel took care of most of the pain.
ENJOY IT!