Hello all, I'm now 4 weeks since diagnosis with RA or RD, I am taking methotrexate which I'm hoping will kick in soon !! The steroid (kenalog,I think) is wearing off, is it possible to get a top up? Not enjoying the feeling of going backwards and the pain is difficult.....
Sorry to be a winey baby but just feeling my way through this at mo xx
You can certainly ask... they may offer steroid pills. I am trying to remember how long mtx takes to work... 12 weeks maybe? Many Dmards are slow burn and it is reasonable to ask for support in the meantime. xx
I had three jabs in my first year, at about 3 month intervals. My rheumy won’t give more than 3 a year if max dose.
Hi Simsey, sorry you’re feeling so sore. If memory serves it took about 10-12 weeks for Methotrexate to start working properly. I have been getting Kenalog injections every quarter to supplement the Methotrexate but I’ve been told this can’t go on indefinitely, I was told you can only get one three months after your last one. In between times I’ve had to up pain relief so as Kenalog wears off CoCodamol dose goes up. I’d give your GP or consultant (if you can get a hold of them) a call and see what they say, seeing as you are newly diagnosed they may be able to suggest something until your Methotrexate kicks in. Hope you feel better soon and take care.
Great advice from others , feel better soon x
when I was first diagnosed my kenalog injection worked great but a while after that when I got it again it did nothing.everyone is different.maybe they could give you oral steroids just till the mtx kicks in,I can only say they work far better for me.
As you have already had some points of view could I just say that you are in no way a whiney baby. I remember the early days of RD and how awful the pain was only too clearly. I've been taking MTX for over three years now and, yes, it can take 10-12 weeks or more to work. However, it is a gradual improvement so things will get better. I would arm wrestle anyone who tried to take it from me
Nobody on here who tells us about their pain is ever thought of as a baby! We all know how absolutely awful it can be, even when not at its worst. Hope you soon get relief prescribed.
I had oral steroid taper as well as Tramadol for pain.
Later, I got a prescription of Piroxicam gel for individual joints when they became swollen and painful from simple activity eg washing a floor.
I don’t think you will get another injection to the same joint until three months as they don’t like to give them in the same place before then. As said above by our HH, the rheumys don’t like to give more than three to the same joint in a year. You can have a general one in the derrière if you are still hurting all over but they don’t tend to last well for more than a couple of weeks. Hang in there and hope you can get some good pain relief. On a positive note Mtx started having noticeable affects for me after 8 weeks so not long to go till it should be making some improvement for you and then you’ll feel so much better. I use Voltarol gel cream or Deep Freeze spray for the days I have to go anywhere as relief to my knee which can still swell and hurt despite controlled RA everywhere else, but I never use these products all the time. Voltarol is an anti inflammatory and you shouldn’t slather on the cream especially if you are taking oral anti-inflams. Not that I’m going anywhere at the mo but if I’m going go do some ironing or housework and I am on my feet then I might give a squirt of the deep freeze spray to my knee at home! Hope you are soon feeling better. No you are not whiney .. uncontrolled arthritis is horrible and hurts like heck. It think it will soon be on the mend. Mtx worked so well for me for many years. x
Yes I had the jab in my bottom as too many joints affected so I may phone on Monday and see xxx
My Rheumy nurse said no to injection because it could reduce my ability to fight off Covid 19 if I got it. Tablets were offered as these could be dropped if I got infected. It made sense. I decided to put up with the pain as don’t like oral steroids. Hope you feel better soon.
Thank you for the info x. I suspect I'll have to man up as I don't really want to take oral steroids either
Steroid tablets
Steroid injection. 
Steroid jab in my knuckle - so sore.
Kenalog jab
Guided steroid injection into hip
