On December 23rd last year I woke up with a swollen hand and stiff arm, to be honest, I thought I must have slept really awkwardly.
On Christmas Eve when I woke , I was so stiff and sore and could hardly move, so as you can imagine Christmas was interesting, several ice packs over so many swollen and stiff joints, knees,ankles,hands etc.The pain was really bad.
Due to so much COVID at hospitals and it being Christmas put up with the pain till, New year and Health centre open again then managed to get an appointment in January and was diagnosed with P.M.R.
After blood tests which the results where not at all good especially the inflammation. They realised there was more to it and referred me to a rheumatologist.
I was diagnosed with Seronegative Rheumatoid Arthritis in March 2021,
Have been on Prednisolone since January.
Over this year I have tried:
Methotrexate
leflunomide
Sulfasalazine
All meds have not agreed with my body and pushed my Serum alt blood levels to an unhealthy level.
Finally had a face to face with Rheumatologist two weeks ago , next step is injections but because I have no sign of significant inflammation on my body to physically see, then guidelines don’t allow for injections, despite having all other qualifying symptoms.
So told to come off Prednisolone (steroid ) and if swelling returns then can have injections. However it might not for a while because as I have been on Prednisolone so long it might still stay in system to keep inflammation down.
Have gradually tapered off Prednisolone , it has made me very tearful at times.
I have an appointment on Friday this week face to face with Rheumatologist, at the moment apart from pain in hips, inner thighs and neck , I haven’t had significant swelling.
So don’t know what will happen on Friday, ideally would like to stay on low dose of Prednisolone but have been told this is not possible as I have Osteopenia .
Any natural remedies or advice would be a great help as at times I feel so out of my depth with all of this.