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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/14/2011
Posts: 38
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Hi everyone
Can anyone please advise me - about 8 weeks ago I had a steriod injection which was given in my buttock muscle, my GP said it should last about 6 - 8 weeks which it has, I felt really good, no joint pain and able to walk and do things that were a chore prior to the injection. Unfortunately it has now worn off - it began to wear off at the beginning of our holiday !!!
I am so stiff I can hardly lift a cup of tea and feel soooo tired! I am seeing the rheumatology consultant on Monday at quarter to 9 in the morning. I have not seen a consultant for over twelve months as I asked to change as my previous consultant hardly spent 5 mins with me at my appointments and I felt I could not talk to him. My OT advised me to change and recommended a couple of names of consultants that would be good for me. My GP is fantastic and contacted the consultant to see if she could take me - so here I am waiting for Monday. I am on a low dosage of MXT - my ~GP told me that he could not make changes to my meds but offered me the injection (my first).
Does anyone know how many of these injections I can have? My husband has been great, he has been doing everything, I find it so frustrating, I feel I am right back where I started and I feel so low but try not to show it. He is coming with me on Monday so I really hope I can get somewhere and be pain free (or at least be able to lead a more normal life). Wish me luck.
I am sorry to be such a moaner - this forum is a godsend - hope you are all keeping well.
Jane x
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 10/13/2011
Posts: 62
Location: Cirencester
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I was diagnosed Sept 2011 and have seen my consultant roughly every 3 months and every time she has given me a steroid injection but I'm afraid I don't know if there is a maximum number you can have per year
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/18/2010 Posts: 1,098 Location: farningham kent
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Hi Jane
I have had a few steroid injections in days gone by, when things were difficult, but really you are only meant to have them of course just to help out til you get the disease under control with the right medication, obviously not the case for you at the mo. I really don t know how many you are able to take, but of course the more you take the less effective they normally become because your body is getting used to them. You now need positive help from your consultant on Monday to get you going onto the right drugs, it does seem the mtx is not adequate, so hopefully you will do a DAS score and take it from there. I was taking oral steroids for quite a while when all other medication was not working, and gradually reduced them when the other ones were kicking all, it can be a bit of a juggling act, but stay positive and you will get there eventually.
Let us know how it goes on Monday, best wishes Julia x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 5/7/2012 Posts: 149 Location: S E London
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Hi Jane
Sorry I dont know how many injections you can have, new to all this myself.
Hopefully your new consultant will take care of you properly on Monday, I imagine as you are in so much pain you might get another steroid injection to tide you over til the meds are sorted.
Good luck
Mary
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/6/2009 Posts: 177
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My Gp told me that you can only have 2 a year. I don't know exactly why but i think it's something to do with making your bones weak.
Love Shirley x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 838 Location: Nottinghamshire
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I've only ever had two injections, many months apart. I do think different consultants have different ideas of how many you can have in a year, this may depend as well on your condition at the time.
Shirley said that her GP told her that it's two a year, yet I've just read on another thread that Jackie can have one every three months.
Shirley......From what I understand, long term use of steroids can result in osteoporosis, not sure if that is just for tablets or both tablets and injections.
You can always ask. Just hope something gets sorted for you on Monday.
Paula x
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/14/2011
Posts: 38
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Thank you all for advice, very helpful. I will see what my new consultant says on Monday and let you know.
Have a good week-end
Jane x
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009
Posts: 2,127
Location: Thornton Cleveleys
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Hi Jane Sorry to hear you are currently dealing with uncontrolled RA, not a good place to be! I hope you have a good consultation on Monday and come away with confidence in the treatment plan offered. There's lots to consider so do go prepared with a list of questions etc. Importantly don't leave until you are satisfied with the replies you have received! Steroid injections, as others have said, are temporary means to control the inflammation of RA. Sometimes they work well and sometimes they don't work at all. They are a strong drug with side effects and cannot therefore be used too often. It does seem to vary between practitioners but usually no more than 2 or 3 a year are given. You need treatment that is 1) going to slow down the progress of the disease and 2) cut down the inflammation and pain that goes with it. Normally you would be looking at a combination of disease modifying drugs such as methotrexate, sulphasalasine, hydroxychloroquine, and one or two others. Additionally you need adequate pain relief to compliment this, some for day time use and if you have trouble with pain at night perhaps something stronger for the evenings. I hope your new team are able to come up with something to help you but in the meantime stay positive, it really does help! Lyn x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 9/3/2011 Posts: 717 Location: Torbay
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I've always been prescribed oral steroids and never been offered an injection. What's the difference between the oral and the injections? I wonder if it's a case of consultants' preference.
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009
Posts: 2,127
Location: Thornton Cleveleys
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Difference? Not a lot Naomi! Depomedrone is a big whack in one go, oral builds up gradually. Some people respond better to one or the other. Depo is better if a flare requires immediate control although a large oral dose can be given initially and then reduced to a maintenance level. Steroids should only be used for RA, in my opinion, as a very temporary emergency measure, occasionally. They alter the mechanism of natural steroid production in the body and in some cases (ie mine  ) can lead to long term dependency. Lyn x
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/20/2010
Posts: 153
Location: Kent
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Hi Jane Sorry to hear you are in so much pain  Before I started my drug regime, i think i could have a depo-medrone injection every 8 weeks or so I think, but your consultant should advise of you of this. Hope you have more joy with a new consultant, its very fustrating when you feel you are not being given the care you need. Hope things improve for you very soon Take Care Lou x I love people who can make you smile even when you do not feel like smiling. x
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/14/2011
Posts: 38
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Hi everyone thanks once again for your advice and support. I have been to the hospital and had my appointment with my new consultant, what a differemce from my previous consultant, this lady spent about three quarters of an hour going over my history, then asked me to strip off so that she could examine all my joints. I have not had that before, she checked my chest and wants me to have an eye test before she sees me in 4 weeks. I have also had a steriod injection, ex-rays and bloods taken whilst I was there. She explained everything to me and my husband (he came in with me as we had made notes - as you had suggested - and questions to ask her). My methotrexate dosage is being radically increased over the next 4 weeks, during which time she wants me to have a thorough eye test and blood tests as my liver is slightly raised, she is then adding sulphasudamine (I am unsure whether I have spelt that correctly) she has said that they will blast the RAwith drugs then gradually decrease the dosage and hopefully get it into remission. She told me that I should be feeling a great deal better soon. Should none of this work she said we can go down the route of anti tnf injections. She gave me a card and said that I can telephone time if I feel I need advice or I am feeling unwell! She has instilled confidence (which had completely gone out of the window with my previous consultant - when my appointment lasted 5 mins !!) Thank you all once again - this forum is fantastic. I will let you know how I'm getting along - keep well all Jane xxx
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/18/2010 Posts: 1,098 Location: farningham kent
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Hi Jane
Wonderful news ! so pleased the appointment went so well, I m sure you felt somewhat better straight away, all the stress certainly hasn t helped at all. Lots of best wishes and hope all goes well for you, keep us posted.
Julia xx
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/20/2010
Posts: 153
Location: Kent
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Hi Jane Glad to hear your appointment went well and they have a treatment plan for you. Hope you feel better very soon Take Care Lou x I love people who can make you smile even when you do not feel like smiling. x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 714
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Jane
Wonderful news that you have now found a decent Consultant. It makes all the difference as it will boost your confidence and give you something to work towards. There are lots of drugs which you can try as you are in early days of treatment. Keep a diary of what you take and how you feel as this will help down the line when you try and remember what worked and what didn't and also the side effects you may or may not experience.
I have been through loads of different medications and when I went to see my Consultant last Thursday, he said I could have a steroid injection every three months. Different Consultants, different practices. I must admit they really do work and it is a question of taking anything to keep going and have a life.
I hope your increased and new medications work for you.
Take care
Jackie
xx
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 5/22/2010
Posts: 51
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Glad you are getting sorted at last.Me! steroid injections done nothing at all for me neither did steroid infusion.I am taking sulpfalazine,mtx & enbrel injections still in terrible pain.Just cannot make plans as i do not no how i will wake up in the mornings.I wish i could get sorted out after after having it for five years.
Take care and rest a lot.Valerie-R
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 5/28/2012 Posts: 665 Location: Newton Abbot
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Hi Jane - I'm newly diagnosed, so very limited experience - but I'm glad you've had a successful trip to the consultant and are feeling better. I also had a steroid jab in the butt and felt a million dollars afterwards - almost euphoric - I'm now on oral prednisolone starting with 20mg per day for first week, and now decreasing for next 3 weeks and hopefully getting off completely by next month. I hope your new treatment plan works well for you and keep thinking positive thoughts! REgards - Sylvia Be kinder than is necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle
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