swollen joints and mtx

salamander
salamander Member Posts: 1,906
edited 18. Jan 2010, 19:05 in Living with Arthritis archive
Hi, I'm on Mtx (only recently started) and prednisone, as some of you know, but my joints are getting more swollen and painful. Does this mean I am damaging them?
Sally

Comments

  • scattered
    scattered Member Posts: 326
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    It could take up to 4 months for thr MTX to take effect, so don't worrying yet. If you've just started it you might not be on a theraputic dose yet either. You are not damaging your joints by taking either of those medications.
  • porrig
    porrig Member Posts: 25
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi, I've been on MTX for four months now (12.5mg), my last blood test had good results, but I'm not feeling any different, and if anything over this last week my left wrist and fingers on my left hand have got worse (and I'm left handed!). I also get quite a bit of pain in my shoulders when I go to bed, so I keep annoying my wife by making her swap sides of the bed. :?

    I have a hospital appt on Wednesday so I'm going to ask if there's anything else I can do, or they can do for me. I don't know if they exist but I think I need a finger splint for my little finger as every time I pull on a top or a coat it locks, and it really hurts to click it back so that it goes straight again.

    I'm also on plaquenil and naproxen. I've had a couple of steroid shots but these don't seem to have done much. The last one I had was directly into my right wrist. I've been offered the same injection in my left wrist, but as the first one didn't seem to do anything I'm not sure if its worth having to take a day off work to have another shot.
  • salamander
    salamander Member Posts: 1,906
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    scattered wrote:
    It could take up to 4 months for thr MTX to take effect, so don't worrying yet. If you've just started it you might not be on a theraputic dose yet either. You are not damaging your joints by taking either of those medications.


    Sorry, I phrased that badly. I know the drugs aren't causing any damage but I wondered whether the swelling/pain was.
  • scattered
    scattered Member Posts: 326
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    The swelling and pain may be causing damage, it all depends on how advanced your disease is. The only way to really know would be to have some x-rays. The pain and swelling means the disease is still active, so the potential for damage is there.
  • salamander
    salamander Member Posts: 1,906
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    scattered wrote:
    The swelling and pain may be causing damage, it all depends on how advanced your disease is. The only way to really know would be to have some x-rays. The pain and swelling means the disease is still active, so the potential for damage is there.

    That's exactly what I think though the rheum nurse said not. I am seeing my GP at the end of the week and I'll see what she thinks.
    They don't want me to put the steroids up but have only just started Mtx so it will be a while before it kicks in.
  • lizzie7ne
    lizzie7ne Member Posts: 154
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Sally, Sorry you are feeling not so good. From what I was told I think if the joints are swollen and red damage can be done.
    Have you tried a bag of frozen peas on the joint - it gets rid of the inflamation even if its temporary. My physio told me not to leave the peas on for more than five minutes each joint without a break.
    Also at night instead of a hot water bottle I fill it with cold water and use that through the night to reduce the inflamation in a joint.

    Re Methotrexate. It takes a while for it to work it took 8 weeks with me before I got any benefit.

    Also whilst I was waiting for the MTX to kick in they gave me a steroid injection not one in a joint but a systemic one, they give it to you into a muscle in your bum and he steroid reduces the inflamation throughout your body. It helped me a great deal. Your Rheumy nurse or GP could give you this.

    lizzie
  • salamander
    salamander Member Posts: 1,906
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    lizzie7ne wrote:
    Hi Sally, Sorry you are feeling not so good. From what I was told I think if the joints are swollen and red damage can be done.
    Have you tried a bag of frozen peas on the joint - it gets rid of the inflamation even if its temporary. My physio told me not to leave the peas on for more than five minutes each joint without a break.
    Also at night instead of a hot water bottle I fill it with cold water and use that through the night to reduce the inflamation in a joint.

    Re Methotrexate. It takes a while for it to work it took 8 weeks with me before I got any benefit.

    Also whilst I was waiting for the MTX to kick in they gave me a steroid injection not one in a joint but a systemic one, they give it to you into a muscle in your bum and he steroid reduces the inflamation throughout your body. It helped me a great deal. Your Rheumy nurse or GP could give you this.

    lizzie

    Hi Lizzie, thanks for reminding me about the peas! Had completely forgotten about them. I did have a systemic injection when I was in hospital in the summer but it wore off after about 6 weeks. Have been on oral stds since then. If things don't improve I will ask them if I can have another one.
    Sally x