Wednesday, May 11, 2011 Kathy asks

Q: Need help with pain management.

Hi there - the last few days since diagnosis and seeing the rheumatologist I have been having more pain, especially in my back and neck. Right now I am only prescribed basically a high dose of Aleve to manage the pain, but thinking I may need to call to see about something stronger. I assume the next step in pain control is steriods. Is that true? Also if they prescribe steriods, what are the side effects? Specifically, what were YOUR side effects from taking steriods? I'm more interested in your stories than the list of side effects provided at online sites. How much weight did you gain, did they make you feel ill, and did they get rid of the pain effectively? Any advice would be appreciated.

Kathy

- A
- A
- A

Answers (4)

V, Health Guide

5/11/11 9:26pm

Hi, Kathy,

My doc said she would prescribe 15 mg of prednisone a day for me if the pain got out of control again before the MTX starts working. Really, prednisone is the only thing that brings me out of a bad flare. I take Tramadol, and Celebrex, too. I do think you should call your doc about your pain level. I hope you can get some relief, soon.

Blessings,

Kathy

5/12/11 8:23am

Hi V- as for the MTX it does make me tired. Seemed worse the first day or so after taking it. As for the stomach stuff, my doc said I could take each of the three pills twelve hours apart to help with that. Otherwise, they might consider injections if my stomach can't handle it. It seemed to work well and I did have some nausea in the morning. Mostly I haven't had any appetite with it. Usually I love to eat but lately I am never hungry. Hope you have hood luck with your meds. My doc did say it would likely take a month to know if it was going to help and I go back for follow up bloodwork at that time. Did Pregnisone give you any side effects? Kathy

V, Health Guide

5/12/11 10:30pm

Prednisone worked wonders for me. I wish I could take it every day, but I know better. I didn't have any emotional issues that some people talk about. I did have a whole lot more energy. My house is cleaner when I am on prednisone.

texasleo/Kevin

5/19/11 12:40am

Hi Kathy - I was in prednisone for some time and moved up to methylprednisolone. I was on steroids for a little better than two years. I didnt gain much weight but I now have dark strech marks on my knees inside my hips under my arms and my stomach looks as if I had triplets. I lift my shirt and even Drs wince from the site.

Martilla

5/22/11 4:32am

Hi Kathy,

I got a Prednisone pack at first and it made me itch, The Dr tried ti put me on daily prednisone but had to stop because I was itching uncontrolably

V, Health Guide

5/25/11 9:08am

Hi, Kathy. Have you talked to your doc about taking prednisone until you can get in to see the rheumatologist? I hope you aren't allergic to it, as Martilla seems to be. That would make it difficult to get the inflammtion and pain under control. I'm sorry to hear Martilla is having so much trouble. Hopefully her new doc will be able to help. I hope you are doing better than you were. Let us know, okay?

Kathy

5/28/11 8:56am

Hey V - It has been quite the week! Last weekend I thought the MTX was really starting to work - I was feeling better and even outside potting plants. Then the symptoms just went crazy again. I CAN get out of bed and move around, but my EVERYTHING hurts. I have lots of swelling in hands, feet and knees. But my neck and back HURT HURT HURT so bad that the quality of life just goes down hill. I am in pain and just kind of getting through the day, with two small children. So I called my rheumy back and was told he was out of town until next week. The secretary was rude and basically said she could do nothing for me unless it was an emergency. I don't know what constitutes an emergency at his practice, but this guy is no longer my rheumy. My family doc on the other hand has been helping me and functioning much like a rheumy since the beginning. I called him and he gave me vicodin, which was actually not working (that is how bad the pain was). So within twenty-four hours of that not really helping he gave me pregnisone. He has me taking 20 mg for four to five days, and he said if that starts to work, go ahead and drop down to 10mg a day. I am seeing him this Friday for my follow up blood work (can you believe it will be four weeks that I have been on MTX already). I can only imagine we will need to up the amount of MTX from what I currently take (3 pills a week, 2.5mg each). As for a new rheumy, I have an appt with another one set for mid-July. He came recommended by two friends of our family, both of which are doctors, as well as my current family doctor. Hoping he will be more available to help me when needed in the future. Either way, I am not messing around with doctor that doesn't make taking care of his patients a priority. As for the pregnisone, I just took the first dose this morning. Hoping it works!

Kathy

5/28/11 8:59am

By the way, how long do flares typically last? I have had this one for at least a month to month and a half. In the past (before being dx'ed) they were only three weeks to a month long and no where near as bad or painful.

V, Health Guide

5/28/11 11:20am

Hi, Kathy,

I am SO happy you are going to see a new rheumatologist. I had a similar experiecne with my old rheumy. I was in so much pain and called for prednisone and the nurses were not concerned at all. Then I called my PCP who was afraid to prescribe prednisone, I think. She is actually an NP. Then I called my orthopedic doc who did not hesitate to prescribe the steriods. He has other patients w/RA. After that flare was over I cancelled my next appt w/my old rheumy and have never looked back. My new doc is awesome!

As for the length of flares...mine used to last two to three weeks, and they were bad, but nothing like I have had in the last three months. Thankfully, prednisone always pulls me out of them fairly quickly. You should start feeling better in a couple of days since you are on 20 mg of prednisone. You will need to taper down from that I guess, or stay on it until you see your new rheumy. Sounds like you have a great PCP, and he can handle that issue until you see your rheumy.

I take 5 MTX pills once a week. I was wondering why you were only on three pills a week. I think 5 pills a week is pretty standard, and then they raise the dose if need be.

I certainly hope that prednisone kicks in soon. I cannot imagine having a flare and also having two small children to look after. I'm hoping the MTX starts working sooner than later, but I've been told it takes three to six months. Sigh.

Blessings,

Kathy

5/29/11 2:45pm

My new best friend, PREGNISONE!!! I haven't felt this good since before this flare started. Still need the Napraxen, and even Vicodin I'm the morning, but my hands and feet are so much better. Trying to enjoy every minute of this newfound relief with my children today. I will be dropping down to 10mg after five days. Hope it continues to work this well until we can get through the flare or get the meds working. Thanks for all the help and info on Pregnisone. So far, so good.

Q: Need help with pain management.

Related Questions

Ask a Question