Just diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis.

Lakeslady
Lakeslady Member Posts: 2
edited 28. Nov 2023, 14:08 in Living with arthritis

Hello😢

Just diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis.

Cared for mum for 8 years and she suffered dreadfully with RA and I lost her last year at 93. Her RA was controlled with Hydroxychloroquine and predisnalone and she had flares every year sometimes more.

I saw her consultant [xxxx] who I consider a saint and he gave me a kenalog injection and started me on Hydroxychloraqine. My RA was sudden onset meaning I was fine 1 day and crippled the next pain in all joints and in a week deformed hands and fingers. couldn’t walk turn in bed lift anything or hold a cup of tea.

in agony all the time.

following the kenalog the pain went and now 2 weeks later just have slight stiffness in the morning.

my question is the kenalog only works for 3 months when the hydrxychloroquine should then kick in and start to work . Will it ?? Frightened to go back to how it was . Does anyone have a similar experience???


[ Mod Edit - consultant name removed - Brynmor Admin ]

Comments

  • Brynmor
    Brynmor Member Posts: 1,755

    Hi @Lakeslady and welcome to the Online Community.

    I understand you have a new diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis which came on very suddenly. You have a course of hydroxychloroquine and an injection of the steroid kenalog.

    This has helped you manage the pain quite successfully with just stiffness in the mornings noticeable. It may be that your consultant will offer you further injections of the steroid if the pain relief starts to wear off.

    Hydroxychloroquine doesn't start to work straight away and can take up to 12 weeks or more to become effective. The aim of the course of medication is that the steroid will help over this period until the hydroxychloroquine becomes effective.

    Our information on hydroxychloroquine :

    https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/treatments/drugs/hydroxychloroquine/


    It may be that the steroid does wear off before the hydroxychloroquine  becomes effective: there is always the option of asking for a second injection of kenalog if it does. Other members of the Online Community may have had a similar experience.

    Do join in across the Online Community, ask questions and give support. Do call in to say how you are getting on: you are not alone!

    All best wishes

    Brynmor

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