The Methotrexate took about 3 months to kick in and I could really tell a difference, but when I would try and get off the Prednisone I could really tell that my pain and swelling was returning. Then the dr. started me on Arava along with the Methotrexate, which I really think helped in reducing the Prednisone. I started at 10 mg. of Prednisone and I would reduce the Prednisone 2.5 mg. each week until I was down to 1 mg. and then I stayed on that for probably a couple of weeks, and then 1 mg. every other day for about 2 weeks, and then I quit. I think the slower you taper off the better you are. The dr. also said when I reduced the dosage and I could feel symptoms coming back to go back to the previous dose for another week and try again. Another thing I think really helped was Indocin. It is a prescription strength NSAID. I would take one before I went to bed at night and it would really help me the next morning to get going, and if I was having a really bad day I would take one during the day. Now I am trying to back off of it due to the bad things it can do to your stomach, so I take one every other night. Aleve also has helped me. So far no side effects from anything I have taken.

I have good days and bad days and on the really bad days I have to take what I can to get me through it. But overall I am alot better than I was 6 months ago.

I have a really good rheumy right now and he keeps telling me that they are coming out with new treatments all the time for arthritis and that he won't stop until he finds something that works for me. So hang in there and keep your doctor on his toes until he finds something that works for you.