Spondylitis Association of America Forums General Discussion General Message Board for Ankylosing Spondylitis and Related Diseases techniques for cutting flares?

Prednisone for the mega flare-ups that just won't go away. Heat (bath tub and microwavable pads), gentle stretching, and menthol back patches for thoracic spine and SI joints (Absorbine brand). Good luck finding your cocktail!

I see a few of you on anti tnfs take prednisone when you have a flare. I was wondering - does it help stop the flare or just help you get through it?

I was also wondering what dose helps you? Before I was on humira or methotrexate I responded best to 40mg pred, and not quite so well to 20mg, but I'm thinking (hoping) I might get away with less than 40mg on top of the other treatments?

I'm struggling at the moment and my crp is up to 18. Humira always wears out during the second week of the fortnight, but at the moment even the first week is a problem. Apparently moving to embrel's the only other option here in NZ - increasing the frequency of humira's not an option here - and my rheumy's loath to move me off humira until it stops helping completely.

Shirley, when I am in a flare, I will often start a long term steroid taper. usually starting at 4 pills for a few weeks, then 3 for a few more, then 2, then 1, then 1/2 ect. its about a 4 month taper and when I am off the steroids, the flare is typically gone.

Thanks Carrie.
I'm too scared of the side effects to try prednisone for more than 10 days or so at a time, but I'm glad that works for you.

Fasting plus high dosing of probiotics. finally broke a nasty Iritis flare for me

It seems like fasting does help alot of people. Unfortunately, fasting's not really an option for me as my stomach tries to digest itself...

It would be much easier for me to count the weeks I've been off prednisolone than on over the last three years. I think the longest might have been something around three months. The last year has been tapering off a two-ish year stint on the stuff and going through several ~one month tapers to head off flares.

I wouldn't be too worried about using it for longer than a couple of weeks, but that's something worth talking with your GP and Rheumy about.

As to the rest of my strategy. I allow myself to ease into the day, loosening up slowly and dealing with any bothersome hotspots. I make sure to go for a walk or run an errand at some point, even if I need my walking stick. In the evenings, I'll vary my sitting position from the sofa, to the floor, on my back, side, etc and use the wheat bag on joints and frozen bottles on the feet.

In a nutshell, prednisolone tapers and as much movement as I can manage.

Shirley, I can not tolerate pred, I take methylprednisolone (whats in a medrol dose pac) and get none of the side effects.

I've tried various steroid tapers several times over the years. Unfortunately, they don't seem to help in my case.