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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 9/27/2010 Posts: 136 Location: Stockton on Tees, Cleveland
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Hi
Was wondering if anyone could give me some advice about steroids. I was diagnosed with RA last year and having failed on Mtx, Lef and Sulp I am now on Enbrel self inject. I have been on it now for six weeks and am not feeling any better. My hands are swollen and all my joints are sore. Particularly my feet and I am struggling to walk. At times the RA nurse has given me steroids and I have phoned and asked for some more today. I was wondering if there was a problem with being on steroids for any length of time, because generally i feel better when I am taking them than I do without them. I am so fed up of feeling tired and in pain. Any advice would be welcomed. Thanks
Louise
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 1/3/2010 Posts: 44 Location: Horsham, West Sussex
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Hi Louise
Sorry to hear that you're having a rough time. I only had one steroid injection and that was at my first consultation with the rheumatologist. Now that I'm supposedly established on MXT and Leflunomide, I think he said that he would only suggest another injection if I was absolutely desperate because of the long-term, undesirable side effects.
I am sure that someone on here will be an expert on steroids - they're a helpful lot!
Hope you feel better soon.
Kathryn
x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,157 Location: Huddersfield
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Hi Louise,
I suggest you read this....http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Steroid-Tablets.htm
Oral steroids taken long term can cause untold damage to the body. I have always refused oral steroids because of the damage they can do.
There are not the same risks with the steroid injections, either into a joint or intramuscular, although there are restrictions as to how many you can have in a 12 month period.
Have you ever had the intramuscular "depo" injection, usually given into the bum? These can work very well, especially if given during a flare and will calm things down for several weeks.
Why not ask for one of these instead of the oral steroids?
Love, Doreen xx
Sorry, the link doesn't seem to work, so go on patient.co.uk and look for oral steroids.
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/20/2010 Posts: 1,749 Location: Somerset
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Hi Louise
Sorry to hear that you not too good at the moment.
I have not taken oral steriods so unable to comment. Doreens post is very useful though.
I have had depo steriod inject lots of times the last being just 4 weeks ago, and yes they do
generally work . They certainly make me less stiff and painfully so certainly worth a try.
I am in between treatments so have had the depo's injection for what my Specialst
call 'bridging gap' help.
Good luck
Rose
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009
Posts: 89
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Hi Louise,
as with all drugs there are side effects and with oral steroids the side effects can be round face, thinning of bones, mood swings, depression etc.... Im not sure what side effects the steroid injection can cause. I have been on oral steroids for over three years now, wish i wasn't on them but they are the only drugs that help me be able to literally move without being in agony. Im not sure if i will ever be able to come off them now as have never managed to get below 6mg. I would probably have tried the steroid inection first if i had known about it when diagnosed.
Hopefully the enbrel will kick in soon and help you.
Takecare
emilyXXX.
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Rank: Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/11/2010
Posts: 19
Location: chepstow wales
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 Hi Louise so sorry to hear about your problem with R.A.drugs I have the same problem have even tried Embrel twice but like all other drugs bad reactions. I have had R.A.for 7 years and have been on steroids from day one 10 normaly but the odd booster now and again sometimes up to 30. All drugs have side efects and we all react differently to them, I could not cope without steroids and yes my skin is a little thinner my bones are fine so far I dont get mood swings I have not got bloatered although yes if I have booster it does get a little fatter o,k. with me gets rid of the wrinkles !!!! the main thing is they help controle my flair ups . The steroid injection does not work for me. Just on outline Louise on my experience with steroids, its always going to be trial error as we all know anything to get rid of the pain, I wish you well and hope you can get sorted soon thinking of you. kate (Kathleen 7 )
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 9/27/2010 Posts: 136 Location: Stockton on Tees, Cleveland
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Thanks everyone for your comments. Have been called in to see RA nurse tomorrow for her to assess whether or not I can have steroids or whether I can have something else. Keep your fingers crossed!!!!!
Louise
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 9/27/2010 Posts: 136 Location: Stockton on Tees, Cleveland
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Hi all
Had successful meeting with RA nurse yesterday. Had a steroid injection and she added Leflunomide in with the Enbrel. Two week sick not so keeping my fingers crossed that this will work now.
Louise
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/5/2009
Posts: 90
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Hi Louise,
I am like Kathleen, just can`t live without my daily dose of predniselone. At the moment I am on 6 mg a day, gone down slowly from 10 mg. I have had RA for 18 years and have been on steroids all the time. I am not happy about it, worrying about the side effects, which means that I have had 2 cataracts done, my skin is quite thin and I broke my hip 12 years ago due to thinning of the bones. I have not got a moon face and I have not put on weight, I just keep my fingers crossed, that my body can cope with all the poisons, it is being subjected to.
I wish you well.
Merete
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 2,237 Location: nr Southampton
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hi
steroids are not given as a rule as a long term treatment- people who have been on them for many yrs have a devil of a job getting off of them.
I have adrenal problems, insulin dependent diabetes and other things all because of mega use of steroid in the past.
Short term they are considered fine.
Sometimes there is little option but to give steroid but they will try other things. Steroid does not treat the disease- you need a proper DMARD for that.
All the best
Jennihow to be a velvet bulldoser
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