Sorry for the grim post, it's how I feel right now. I had a flare on the 8th August, and was given a steroid shot in the backside, and the sulfasalazine was increased to one gram three times a day. I have been diagnosed since May of this year.
After the shot I felt worse for a few days (is this normal?). I then had about two weeks slight relief in terms of mood and exhaustion. I still had some pain, mostly in my feet and Achilles. Toes felt both painful and numb! I also still had some pain in my shoulders, but it was bearable. Now however, I am right back where I started. My mood is terrible. I am about as popular as a syphilitic (sp?) rash. I have upset a few villagers, and was quite mean to my GP yesterday.
Although I have always been a bit mercurial in temperament, I have never felt so furious, or been mean to other people. I hardly recognise myself! Talk about seething depression. Thank goodness I don't have any energy otherwise I might push people in the river! This seems to be entirely due to the inflammatory illness. I can't stand myself.
I have left a message for my rheumatologist to ring me. I know it's early days in terms of diagnosis, but I really was hoping to feel better than I do. Why doesn't the steroid intramuscular shot work well? Has anyone else had this problem?
It doesn't help that different people tell me different things. When I rang the advice line I was told by the individual that they don't have 'a magic wand.' I wasn't suggesting that they do! I was told specifically by my rheumatologist to ring if things were not good, which is what I did. I now feel like a whinging old bag. I get told different things about the steroid shots too. The GP told me yesterday that they should work for up to six months! Really? I find that they don't take away all the pain, and I flare up really quickly afterwards.
Sorry for the rant.