Hello all… I can’t get hold of the rheumatology team and am getting fed up of a mid range RA flare… feet and ankles are very sore to walk on and the back of my hand is fluid filled. I can off MTX for 18 days at the end of November as caught Covid.
I was thinking of taking prednisone 5ml daily for three days? What are your thoughts on this?
Thanks in advance
Jayne
so frustrating that you haven’t heard from your team to guide you on this. I think your best bet is to talk it through with a GP before you start taking any additional meds? I have had to resort to this when my rheumatologist has been similarly missing.
Best of luck
Bon
X
I'm not a medic and am only outlining my situation.If for whatever reason I cannot contact rheumatology I do gig my meds, within parameters to help me over a crisis.
I alter my prednisolone dosage too, and then contact them ASAP. There has never been an issue.
I am the same as Mmrr my GP allows me to take what I need ie 5-10mg but any higher I let him know.
Definitely speak to GP about being able to self medicate the steroids and see their view point based on your history
unfortunately I think you would need a higher dose than 5mg to hit the inflammation on the head. Definitely discuss with your gp first, steroids have lots of dangerous side effects. I have severe adrenal insufficiency as a result of them. I rely solely on steroids to survive, I had a severe stroke caused by an adrenal crisis which is how I was diagnosed with AI. I now have to carry an emergency injection at all times to use if vomiting, injured or Ill. I was only taking 4mg of pred at the time of my stroke.
I’m going to be the boring one & say we're not medically trained & so can't ok your question. You really need the approval of your GP & as ML says you may need a higher dose than 5 mg to settle the flare. If you've not had confirmation you can play with your dose I’d be more than cautious.
Maybe my tried & tested flare self-help would ease things for you until you can see or have a telephone consultation with your GP? Rest but don't become inactive. Lie on your bed to relieve stress on joints but don't remain there overly long, walk about between relief. You could try cold or heat whichever you respond better to. I'm better with heat so have various electric heated blankets, pads, foot warmer, another for my neck & back & a heated cushion to apply wherever the pain is worst or in circulation of various joints. Eat what doesn't upset the apple art, & if possible have someone else prep & cook meals.
I'm sorry Jayne, I know you're hurting. Do you have pain relief, either prescribed or over the counter & anti inflammatory, an NSAID? You probably know they can work well in conjunction. I take it you're back on MTX, over Covid now? I paused my MTX for the first time when I had my 6th injection/3rd Covid booster & regretted it. Once I'd injected again it was only a couple of weeks before I was on the better side. The positive from that little jaunt proved MTX is necessary though, if I needed confirmation!
I hope some of this helps & your flare is short lived. It could well be if you're now back on MTX. 😊
I was on it for 6 months. Makes big difference to control pain but lots side effects. I was on 30-40mg. Tapered off after awhile when other drugs started to work. 5mg is pretty low. Not sure if 3 days will help. Try ibuprofen for flare ups.
Jadite. I'm not a rheumatologist nor a dr. But I've been where you are with the flareups and I've taken prednisone for it I did Google how to do a prednisone taper tho I believe it was the weekend and i of course couldn't get ahold of my dr but just be careful with them as they do tend to cause bone loss and other side effects. It's a wonderful pill to have its just the after effects that worry me . It's like instant relief for us that suffer with ra I couldn't believe how great it worked at the time. I now take rinvoq and its been working great for me going on about 10 months or so. It's like I find one solution and then with time it quits working so I gotta switch to another kinda medication but I'm hopeful that this one will continue to work for me as its been. But why suffer when you can use prednisone just be careful with it. Best wishes...
hi! Whilst this medication works quickly and helps enormously, how are you going to taper off them slowly? I know it’s only for a few days so do you think it will get into your system, and ease your pain in such a few days? Sometimes pain is so unbearable that anything will do and I totally get you. Please let me know how you get on.
sorry about the delay, my question is, have you ever concidered the steroid shot instead of the pills? The side effects are minimal in comparison and You don't have to wein yourself off. It works faster and does less damage to the rest of your already hurting body and Mind. The difference is night and day. The pill turns your brain to someone else. I became not me so that was stopped as soon as I weinned off. Flare ups need shots.
Hope it helps. Good luck.
5 days on
Sleepless on steroids!
Dropping a few pounds
Steroids 
Steroids 
