I have been taking a coctail of Methotrexate (weekly), Celebrex 200mg daily and Prednisone (recently reduced to every other day) for the past 2+ years for Psoriatic Arthritis. I have blood work done every few months. All of my scores are in the normal range except Abs Lymphocyte, which has been trending lower and is now down to 1.1 (x10E9/L) where 1.5 is considered low. Should I be concerned about this trend and level? If so, any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

I’ve been tentatively diagnosed with some form of inflammatory arthritis. It started in my foot, and moved to my knee. I’ve had 2 MRIs, a bone scan, and Xrays and they are saying arthritis.
I’ve also had alot of bloodwork and everything looks normal except for my sed rate which is significantly elevated.

I am seeing a rheumatologist. At my 1st appointment she put me on 10mg of prednisone a day. She acted like I would feel a difference right away. After a week with no relief I went back to see a physician’s assistant. She doubled my dose of prednisone so now I am on 20mg a day. She said it should make me feel at least 50% better. The problem is that my knee is incredibly swollen and sore in the morning and evening. She didnt say that the prednisone would take care of all the swelling, but it sounded like it should help with the swelling and with the pain.
Its 1.5 weeks later and my knee is still huge and sore. The soreness I can deal with, aleve helps. I want a normal sized knee!

i cant believe the stuff is sooo crazy, i hope someone can share pain relief secrets or something…someone who actually has it…thanks
nice to hear from everyone, im 27 years old and RA hit me real hard 7 months ago, about two weeks after the birth of my 3rd child, i first thought that i had slept on my shoulder wrong because it was a little sore, but within 3 days i couldnt move my arms at all, then like clock work, my arms, wrists, hands, knees, and feet all started to shut down on both sides of my body, and the pain was just unbearable, i was in and out of the doctors, thought i was suffering from post partum depression, and tried to put me on prozac lol, i refused to take it cus i had a feeling it was ra, because i watched my grama suffer for many years…….so within a month i was diagnosed, i was first given prednisone and it immediately cleared up everything except my wrists and hands, i have been taking prednisone and methotrexate, and i started on humira about a month ago, its only 1 shot every two weeks and i can already feel a world of difference!

I’ve taken Prednisone & Methotrexate etc. in the past. Nothing has helped. I can’t continue working. Having A LOT of problems at home doing things. My husband does a lot for me. My hands are stiff, don’t bend & hurt. HELP!

I have psoriatic arthritis and am being seen by a rheumatologist, am taking Enbrel, MTX and prednisone. I sit for eight hours at my job, taking breaks once an hour to walk around & stretch. Would using 1 pound ankle weights to do leg lifts under my desk – help get the circulation going? Or is this a bad idea?

I have had RA since I was 17 years old. It is a genetic form. I am responsive to Enbrel but not Plaquenil. Prednisone helps some. I am breastfeeding and have a low milk supply.My rheumatologist says that the reason that I am not making milk is due to my swelling from the illness. What are some natural ways to cure or stop the symptoms? Please no illegal drug references or immature answers. I am serious and expect the answerer to be too.

I will be taking prednisone for psoriatic arthritis for at least a month, probably longer. I’ve been trying to lose weight and am terrified that I will blow up like a balloon.

I take prednisone, naproxen, acid reducer, and calcium pills once a day. Also once a week, I take Methotrexate injections. And ever since the injections, weird bruiselike things have been appearing on my toes. Is this normal? Should I do something about it?

For the past several weeks I have had pain in my muscles as well as my joints. I take 10mg of prednisone daily and methotrexate injections once a week for the rheumatoid. For the first time ever, I have had pain in the area of my clavicles today.