Preds (What is the replacement)

[Dumpy]

Yea the first flare i had it started in my left shoulder then went to both knees along with the shoulder and I was like you Jack i could stand on my head sometimes and could not get comfortable enough to get any sleep and it didn't get any better until I got back on the 60mg of Preds. This time has been a little different that it started in my right hip then included my right knee. I could sometimes get into 1 position and sleep for maybe 2 hours are so. I went to an Orthopedic Doc and he put me on a Medrol Pack which has given me some relief until they decide how they will handle my BFF this time. I know what you mean Sangye by someone firing at you because as soon as you adapt to 1 joint pain another one hits you from the other side but mine has never felt like the flue.

[Sangye]

The Wegs pain didn't feel at all like the flu. The pred-tapering pain did. Wegs pain is horrible.

[Dumpy]

I pushed alot of my Wegs pain in a dark corner because I was taking Oxycodone for my sinus pain and came really close to getting hooked on it and that for me was really scary but yes the Wegs pain was really NOT GOOD. The Oxy I got away from and am thankful.

[Sangye]

Good for you, Dumpy. Oxycodone is famously addictive. It's hard to believe they can keep it on the market.

[Dumpy]

Went back to my Doc today and the Weg Specialist in Birmingham has not returned his call as of yet. He is going to call her back Mon. if she hasn't call by then. He tells me that the Wegs is smoldering right now. My blood test came back a little high and my Doc wants to put me on RTX. Hopefully this will work and put my BFF in remision. I have read up on the RTX and it is really kind of scary what the possible side effects are but I also know the side affects of the Wegs. I'm sure there is plenty of good advise out there so please let me hear about it. Just a little unsure right now.

[Sangye]

Don't worry, Dumpy. Rtx is well-tolerated by most people. Hardly anyone has any side effects from it.

[Dumpy]

Went to have a MRI on my right hip yesterday to try and find out what is causing the pain in my hip. I forgot that i had a pacemaker and can't have one so now it will be Monday before they can to the CT scan. I realy believe that the joint pain is from the Wegs. It sure feels like the last joint pains that I had on the last flare. I was down to 15mg of preds ever other day when all of this hit and ny doc put the decrease on hold. I started taking 5mg on the alternating day to see if it would help the pain and it has made a good bit of difference. I'm hoping I'm not doing wrong but I had to get some relief while everyone is waiting to talk are on test results.

[Sangye]

Dumpy, an MRI is no big deal but a CT is a ton of radiation. Unless your doctors have very good reason for doing one, it's best to avoid it.

[Dumpy]

Sangye I'm not, sure my Doc that I use for the Wegs seems to think that the hip pain is not caused by the Wegs and he has sent me to the Orthopedic Doc. They did a bone density scan and my reg Wegs Doc says there is a touch of Ostopenia. I'm lost when it comes to some of this. I agree about the CT scan and the radiation. What are the alternative ways to be able to look at my hip. Once again I really think that it is the Wegs that has caused the pain in my hip but probably a dozen times in 2 to 3 weeks my hip has popped and that is what scares me that it could be a problem with the hip. I also have had some pain in my knee and my shoulder all on the right side.

[Sangye]

Since you've been on pred, there is a chance that the hip bone has lost its circulation (aka avascular necrosis). It doesn't happen very often, but it's not rare, either. We thought I had it in both hips a couple years ago, as I had classic symptoms. But MRIs over 6 months showed nothing abnormal and it resolved in about a year.

The fact that you're having popping could be a lot of things-- Wegs inflammation of the joint, a simple misalignment of the socket, arthritis, etc...

An MRI is the best diagnostic test to check for all of the above and other conditions, but a CT is the next best thing. It's probably a good idea to get it done.