Corticosteroids and Arthritis Q & A

I have lupus/high blood pressure I’m on blood pressure medicine but my pressure is 140/90 or higher everyday. Also my lupus is flare up now I have a bad skin rash on my face how can I make it go away.

My doctor but me on 20mg of prednisone a day for rheumatoid arthtitis for one month. Then he tried to reduce it to 15mg. I was on 15mg for a little over two weeks and the pain and swelling came back worse then before I started taking the prednisone. So then they put me back up to 20mg. What kind of effect could increaing, decreasing and increasing the prednisone have on my body? Is it safe to be going up and down like that?

I am a 52 year old female in excellent shape. I was a professional ballerina for many years. Throughout my career I never experienced any hip injuries. I teach classical ballet daily (approximately 4 hours a day). Last year (Feb. ’05)I experienced severe pain in my right hip. My orthopedic surgeon diagnosed it as bursitis. I was given one shot of cortisone during my office visit. The pain subsided for two days and then returned. I had an MRI performed in January ’05. It revealed severe osteoarthritis. Since then my mobolity has continued to decrease drastically and the pain has not subsided. I have tried deep tissue massage,acupuncture,acupressure, “Fire cupping,” magnets, Celebrex, and recently Vicodin. My orthopedic surgeon advises that we put off a hip replacement as long as possible. (I agree.) However, my quality of life has been drastically compromised. My surgeon has suggested a large injection of cortisone which will have to be administered under general anesthetic. What adverse side effects may I experience. Is weight gain to be expected?

How long is it safe to take 5mg daily of prednisone? What drugs can be used in trying to get off prednisone?

My doctor had me reducing my prednisone by 5mg every month. Doing that caused me to have a big flare the first month I tried to reduce. I want to get off the prednisone. This time I have also started methotrexate. Is there any different ways to tapper off the prednisone without going into a flare? Will the methotrexate help stop the flare while I am tappering off the prednisone?

I am on Methotrexate 12.5mg per week, Arthrotec50 three times a day and Prednisone 20mg a day for RA. I have been on this combo for 4 months now. Is 20mg of Prednisone per day considered a high dose?