Flare up advice please

Danielle2022
Danielle2022 Member Posts: 8
in Living with arthritis

Hi I’ve been taking methotrexate injections and hydroxycloriquine since October but I’m still having about 2 flare ups a month but since November it’s now my feet as well as my hands. Is it normal for things to continue getting worse while on medication?

Comments

  • Arthuritis
    Arthuritis Member Posts: 452

    @Danielle2022 Hi… I am on the same, except mtx tabs (15mg/week) since beginning of Nov, and daily steroid tabs. The steroids help while the mtx and hcq catch up as they are slow acting. Also depends on your mtx dose per week. Can you tell us a bit more?

  • Danielle2022
    Danielle2022 Member Posts: 8

    Hi arthuritis thank you for getting back ☺️. I’m on 15mg injection a week and 400mg hydroxycloriquine daily. I was on small dose of steroids for 3 weeks but once those stopped the flare ups have come back but the past 3 flare ups my feet and toes have been sore. I’m not due another review with the rhumatology nurse for another month. Is this something I should contact the nurse earlier about or wait it out till my review app?

  • Arthuritis
    Arthuritis Member Posts: 452

    @Danielle2022 I would contact the nurse, as its a new development and with autoimmune time is of the essence. What dose of presnisolone (or whatever steroid) were you on?

    Have you been particularly active on your feet? eg doing long runs/walks?

    If not it definitely needs attention.

  • Danielle2022
    Danielle2022 Member Posts: 8

    @Arthuritis thank you for the advice I will give the nurse a ring this week. I haven’t been more active than usual, I had been when the symptoms first started in my feet so I put off contacting anyone as blamed this but that was back in October. I can’t remember what the dosage of prednisone was I was only on it for 3 weeks

  • Arthuritis
    Arthuritis Member Posts: 452

    @Danielle2022 That’s great, please keep us posted. You are on the max HCQ, that can’t be increased, but you could be given pred just to see if its a one off flare, or checked if your mtx need to go up if it does not settle back with steroids or your blood tests show elevated inflammatory markers. This will likely need to be tested before making any change.

    Hopefully the nurse will have some practical advice.

  • Danielle2022
    Danielle2022 Member Posts: 8

    @Arthuritis thank you so much for the advice I will let you know how I get on

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