Question about steroids

L1985

Hi everyone

I have recently been diagnosed with RA. On Wednesday I was seen by a different doctor who has decided on a different treatment to the doctor I saw on Friday.

To cut a long story short he has decided to give me a short course of steroids as im due to have my thyroid removed in october (due to graves disease) and then start my proper treatment after.

I had my steroid jab on wendesday and i can feel some improvement in my finger joints ...although come night time they are as bad as ever but it hasnt touched the pain in my knees.

How long does it usually take to work? Do I ring and say its helped but only slightly? Also do your joint still feel stiff or should steroids help that?

Thanks

xxxx

skezier

Hi L,

Glad they are at least helping you a bit. When you say steroids is it the jabs in the bum, the ones in the joints or oral ones they have got you on?

I find the depo ones don't last too long but kinda think any help is good for as long as it lasts. I can't remember how often they do them bit mine are every 3 to 4 months cus the pain doc usually does them for me.

I think the thyroid op will mean they are holding back on the modifiers cus they are not good at letting you heal etc?

Hopefully the one you had will slowly go on working as they have quite a range and even the results between them can be different. Sometimes they work well and other times they do very little.

Here any queries we have go via the rumo's secretary as ours are very hands on cus some of the gp's are so bad..... I wonder if they could add in a bit of pain relief for you to help with the pain?

I always wake at best stiff as hell and for me the steroids are never able to completely stop the pain and stiffness but they do help even if its just a bit. Others have huge effects from them... it just varies so much each time.

Fingers crossed it will really stat to work for you. Cris x

barbara12

Hi and welcome to this lovely forum.
Sorry I cant help, but I do wish you well with it, and please let us know how you get on.

salamander

They can take some time to work and is probably too soon to say, though with me they generally work very quickly, I was told to wait a week.Also, the oral steroids will kick in soon. Sometimes they give a smaller dose. You could check with the nurse to find out.

When I had my first systemic injection my joints were stiff for some time, probably as I had been like that for a few weeks but they did get better.

dreamdaisy

I have never had any long-term benefit from steroid jabs, either those into joints or the depos into my backside. They did not ease stiffness or relieve pain. The only steroids that have helped over the past five years have been the oral ones, but as the long-term effects of those are ones that even I find frightening I am now devoting this year to giving those up. Please bear in mind, however, that I am fifteen years into this on-going party we call arthritis, so not at all like yourself. I wish you well. DD

tillytop

Evening!

As you see from the other posts, the benefit (or not) of these jabs seems to vary widely. From what I can remember when I have had a depo steroid injection, the effect has been quick and dramatic - but not long lasting. I would say that, if you are not feeling any benefit after a week or so, it might be worth trying to speak to the rheumatology nurse for advice. I feel sure they won't give you another one so soon, but they might be able to prescribe something in addition to help with the pain.

Thinking of you.

Love Tilly xxx

mig

Hi,I had steroid jab a week ago cant really tell if its had any effect yet,didnt hurt one bit my rhummy nurse is very good at doing them,i found that the pills gave me dramatic results,but talked about it with rhummy nurse and we decided to see what happens with the jabs.so its a case of wait and see for me.hope you go on alright.Mig

frogmorton

How long's a peice of string..... :sad:

it can take a good while to work...one friend reports it taking as much as two weeks!

So give it some time and then you could let the rhuemy nurse know if you have one?

Otherwise when do you next see 'someone'???

Love

Toni xx

L1985

Hi everyone

Thanks for all the replies. It was the steroid jab that goes in your bum :oops: I havent been given any oral steroids was told this jab would cover me for 6 weeks and then in 6 weeks time they would discuss what to do next.

I have struggled to walk downstairs this morning which isnt fun with two small children.

I feel like im starting with a cold my throat hurts and feel generally yuck so wondering if thats whats been coming on and why I havent felt much benefit?

I do have a rhuemy nurse and was told there was a helpline to ring but after having scans, blood tests and steroid jab I forgot to get the number :oops: my daughter was in a school play and I was rushing so I didnt miss it.

I dont want to ring and make a nuisance of myself if it takes some time to work. Think I better wait until this cold has passed then see. Just counting down the days until the kids break up for summer so I dont have to walk so far...walk 6 miles a day to and from school and it really hurts my knees.

Thanks for the help

Lulu xxxx

traluvie

Hi lulu,

I have steroid in bum..
First time i had it took about 2 weeks for me to feel benefits.. now it works nearer enough straight away.. helps with my stiffness and swelling.. i do feel it wearing off though.. some people are different in what works for them.. i found oral steroids were no help where as for others they work better, so it may be a case of finding what works best for you, wish you well..