Intro and Prednisone as test for RA

[Guest guest]

Hi you'all.

I don't have RA but rather Sjogren's. My biggest problems,. though, are

joint problems and have been since the beginning. I have been diagnosed for 11

years and had it for a number of years before that. I am on a low dose of

Medrol ( a prednisone equivalent but with less side effects), Plaquenil,

prilosec (for my years of NSAID use), calcium, 400 mg. of riboflavin (for

migraine prevention) and Darvon (for pain). I am an American currently living

in Belgium. I have three children, two of whom I homeschool, and the third is

in his first year of college back in the States. I joined the list to get ideas

about coping with mobility issues that my joint problems give me.

About the prednisone as a test for RA - I don't see why that would work

at all. I don't have RA and they are fairly certain of that since my x-rays do

not show erosions and I don't have either rheumatoid factor nor some

inflammatory indicatory I can't recall now. I do have SS-A, ANA,

anti-phospholipid antibodies, etc. Anyway, cortisone drugs definetely improve my

symptoms and large doses have stopped my flares. The dose I am on now is

replacement dose for what my body is probably not completely supplying any more.

But none of the four rheumatologists that I have had thought I had RA even

thought I have many of the same symptoms - morning stiffness, pain, swelling,

symmetry, same joints affected, etc. The thing is that my arthritis is

non-deformive though it does hurt a lot and limits my mobility. However, I

probably don't have worsening mobility problems to look forward too, just more

of the same. For me the big difference is whether I am in a flare and the

weather.

Currently we are having lots of cold, damp weather and I am in a lot of pain.

I can't take my pain medicine unless I won't be driving and I am taking my

middle child to her organ lesson today (No Thanksgiving here) and then coming

home to eat the turkey that my husband will be tending for me.

in Belgium

[Guest guest]

Welcome to the list, .

On Thursday, November 24, 2005, at 04:12 AM, Dobrowolski

wrote:

> 400 mg. of riboflavin (for migraine prevention) and Darvon (for pain).

How well does this work for preventing migraines?

> About the prednisone as a test for RA - I don't see why that

> would work at all. I don't have RA and they are fairly certain of

> that since my x-rays do not show erosions and I don't have either

> rheumatoid factor nor some inflammatory indicatory I can't recall now.

> I do have SS-A, ANA, anti-phospholipid antibodies, etc. Anyway,

> cortisone drugs definetely improve my symptoms and large doses have

> stopped my flares.

I have a friend who has polymyalgia rheumatica. It affects the joints

but does not cause joint damage, as I understand it. I believe her SED

rate was high. She is on prednisone for it; that seems to be the usual

medication for it.

Sue