Re: Kristi prenisone

[Guest guest]

Hi Kristi:

Yes, it is very important to get early diagnosis, and

then follow up with early aggressive treatment with

DMARDs (like Mtx). My xrays also show no joint damage

from the RA, but do show OA changes in my hands,

knees, and feet. I am 52, have had RA 8 years, and I

credit the xray results to my doctor having started me

out aggressively, and the doctors I have had after her

have continued good treatment. I also have RA in my

family, in my grandmother on my dad's side, and she

was pretty crippled up by her RA. It's a scary thing

to think about ending up like my grandmother, but we

have many more medications available, so I am hopeful.

Yes, Prednisone is very commonly used in RA. I have

used it during severe flares, and also while I was

being taken off one drug and put onto another, kind of

like a bridging drug to help the transition. As you

probably know, sometimes it takes a while for your new

med to start working, so the Pred was started and then

tapered down, each time. I try to stay on it as

little as possible when I am put on, because of the

side effects it has on me, making me very intense,

very serious, irritable, and buzzy. But when you are

in a lot of pain and need help, Prednisone is a wonder

drug. Some people are like me and use it for flares,

and some people are on it all the time. It all depends

and is decided on between the person and their

physician.

Hope this helps. Kathe in CA

.. > Is it common to be on prednisone for RA? I

think

> I have read a lot of members here that are on it,

> but I wonder if that is something that is common to

> start off treatment with or if that comes later when

> other meds stop working? >

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