I've been on Nsaids for my OA for about 20 years, starting with Arthrotec
which made me sick and got stopped almost immediately, and then Diclofenac
Sodium (Voltarol) at 3 x50mg per day with no side effects at all. In Nov
2007 I suddenly got PMR and had to stop Voltarol immediately and go on 30 mg
of Prednisolone. It was reduced slowly, and twice I had a flare up of severe
back pain, finishing up in hospital and both times I was back up to 30mg
Prednisolone again.

It's now been almost 2 years since my PMR diagnosis and my Pred is now down
to 3mg per day and coming down by 1mg every 3 weeks. I've also now been
diagnosed with Spinal Stenosis.

My OA is now getting rather painful and as both shoulders and hips have been
replaced, plus my left knee, I'm suffering from quite bad joint pain. I'm
now not taking anything to help my OA and I'm wondering if I should be. I'm
seeing my doctor in about 3 weeks and I have this feeling he can't or won't
put me back on Voltarol again, or any NSaid. I also take Arimidex for breast
cancer.

My question are - should my doctor shortly be putting me back on something
for my OA? And will my Pred come down to zero and does that mean I won't
have it any more? (I'm asking that cos of my travel insurance!)

I did see a Rheumy about a year ago, but tablets weren't mentioned cos he
thought I also had RA in my hands and fingers. I was beginning to lose the
will to live by then!!

Sorry if this sounds a bit muddled.

Any advice would be welcome

Splodge (from UK)
64, female, and fed up with pill-popping lol

"Splodge"  writes:

(some time ago.  i've nothing "technical" to add, so i had left the
post to others for that sort of support.)

>I've been on Nsaids for my OA for about 20 years, starting with Arthrotec
>which made me sick and got stopped almost immediately, and then Diclofenac
>Sodium (Voltarol) at 3 x50mg per day with no side effects at all. In Nov
>2007 I suddenly got PMR and had to stop Voltarol immediately and go on 30 mg
>of Prednisolone. It was reduced slowly, and twice I had a flare up of severe
>back pain, finishing up in hospital and both times I was back up to 30mg
>Prednisolone again.

ouch.

>It's now been almost 2 years since my PMR diagnosis and my Pred is now down
>to 3mg per day and coming down by 1mg every 3 weeks. I've also now been
>diagnosed with Spinal Stenosis.

if you live to 120, you'll have the whole set :-(

>My OA is now getting rather painful and as both shoulders and hips have been
>replaced, plus my left knee, I'm suffering from quite bad joint pain. I'm
>now not taking anything to help my OA and I'm wondering if I should be. I'm
>seeing my doctor in about 3 weeks and I have this feeling he can't or won't
>put me back on Voltarol again, or any NSaid. I also take Arimidex for breast
>cancer.

i wince just looking at your post.

>My question are - should my doctor shortly be putting me back on something
>for my OA? And will my Pred come down to zero and does that mean I won't
>have it any more? (I'm asking that cos of my travel insurance!)

pred is a good all-purpose anti-inflammatory (i was given it when i
had a bout of iritis or some such -- inflamed eye).  trouble is, it
has all these unfortunate side-effects; i'm now off it again, because
of the effect it was having thinning my skin.

>I did see a Rheumy about a year ago, but tablets weren't mentioned cos he
>thought I also had RA in my hands and fingers. I was beginning to lose the
>will to live by then!!
>
>Sorry if this sounds a bit muddled.

sounded more desperate than muddled; go easy on yourself.

>Any advice would be welcome

no advice available, i'm afraid.  sympathy in spades, though.  best of
luck.

>Splodge (from UK)
>64, female, and fed up with pill-popping lol

i'm a mere 62 (male), and have obviously had it easy, apart from the
men's cancer and other odds and ends.  ra under control (though still
occasionally troublesome).  no oa at all, afaict.  lucky old me.
-- 
Robin Fairbairns, Cambridge