Injection Rejection

The shoulder pain continues. I have no clue why.

I had a corticosteroid shoulder injection Monday morning, which, one would think, would be working by this point.

I know the injections don't actually help with pain, they reduce inflammation. I also know that they can cause a flare, which indeed this one seemed to have.

By Thursday, there was a brief period of relief, and I though to myself, Yes, this is it, it's working!

Alas, it was not. I don't know ho to sit or lie. Or stand for that matter. Yesterday I went to watch my niece's riding lesson and it was bloody cold. Tried to put my left hand in my coat pocket, but that was a no go, BECAUSE IT HURT TOO MUCH!!! So then, on top of the pain, I ended up with white corpselike fingers because of Raynaud's, which in turn, is because of the rhuematoid arthritis. Perfect timing for Hallowe'en. Ah, it's a grand little world. (I did, by the way, have Thinsulate-lined gloves on.)

Again, I have no clue why the damned injection isn't working for me. They don't work for everyone, it's true, and, apparently, I'm one of those lucky few, as fate would have it.

Could I be one of those lucky few who win a lottery? Well, no! That would just be too much luck!

I had a systemic corticosteroid injection back in December of last year and that didn't work either. It did zip all. Nada. Zilch. Same for this. In fact, if anything my shoulder is worse off because I haven't done my physio exercises for a few days now.

Seriously irritated.

And getting a cold on top of things.

P.S. For those who are interested, the injection didn't hurt. It was my first joint injection and as far as I can figure, was a posterior glenohumeral injection, I believe. Since I'm not a doctor, don't quote me on that!! Piece of cake, though, especially if you've been injecting yourself and getting blood tests done left, right and centre...

Prednisone Taper

So far, so good on the prednisone taper front.

I started taking 20mg of Prednisone on Jan. 5 of this year. Nothing else had been working well enough – not the systemic corticosteroid shot I received on Dec. 23, not the Voltaren (diclofenac), nothing. So my rheumatologist prescribed the Prednisone so I could function and work until we could get a diagnosis.

Now, I'm supposed to cut back 5mg a week, if I feel good, till I'm off it. I started to do that Thursday, since Wednesday was my first day of the Methotrexate and Enbrel combo.

So far, so good! I wasn't sure what to expect at all. Last night I felt a bit achy in places I haven't in a while, like my knees, and same this morning, but no stiffness in the mornings. I'm pretty pleased.

Just very tired. Slept like crap last night. Went to bed at 11, which is late for me, but got sucked into the blogosphere (again!), and then woke up at 4:30 this morning and couldn't fall back asleep again. Got up at 7, had breakfast, did the dishes, prepared and roasted some veggies for this weekend, then had a nap at 9 (!). Now I should really go out and get some groceries, but it's -14°C (-17°C with the windchill) and the comfy, cushy couch is looking more and more inviting once again!!!

Oh Lordy! Part 2

Dr. Brown's office calls on Friday – they've gotten me an appointment with a rheumatologist the following Wed. Dec. 23. Hallelujah! I'm thrilled! I thought it would take weeks to get in with a specialist.

A friend offers to take me, but I thought I'd drive (we're without an editor at the magazine, so I've got the parking spot at the moment, and it's a godsend at times because my feet feel like they've been beaten with a cane) and there's parking at the rheumatologist's, so at first I say, no.

The day before the appointment, though, I feel so crappy I call to tell her I'll take her up on her offer. It's a good thing I do. The rheumatologist is very nice, exams my joints, takes my history, reviews my bloodwork from Dr. Brown and tells me she thinks I have rheumatoid arthritis. I promptly burst into tears. Not surprising. That's the way I react when I'm in shock. Despite hours and hours now of searching the internet, and hoping that it's something else, everything I've been reading leads me to think the same thing.

Full of hope that's it's not a chronic thing, I ask if it could be a viral form of arthritis. She says possibly and that we'll do all kinds of bloodwork, including checking for that. She's also going to send me for x-rays to see if there's any indication of damage. Before I go she gives me a corticosteroid injection to help me out over the holidays; I choose that over Prednisone pills, since I don't want to get started on those if I don't have to. I'm also prescribed Voltaren (diclofenac) instead of the Apo-Naproxen EC I've been taking.

I leave and my friend kindly eats up her entire afternoon taking me first to the blood clinic, then the hospital for 21 – count 'em: 21!! – x-rays. She couldn't be nicer and more supportive and keeps me laughing the whole time. My crazy French friend!!