the only thing that helps me is to increase prednisone, per doctor's instructions, then gradually decrease over a period of time.

I have a running script for a tapered dose of prednisone that I use as needed. I start it when the flare begins. I hate taking it but it is a necessary evil sometimes! Take it for a week at tapered doses and I'm usually much better.

Round of steroids are a quick fix it will take the inflammation down which in turn gives relief my problems a lot of the time I have to figure out if I have some kind of infection or if it's just a flair up cause infection will put you in more pain and having a Dx that medication causes a suppressed immune system it's very easy to catch everything. But most likely it's a flair up and a steroid dose pack will help

Hopefully they would contact your Rheumatologist. I was like that but I also have severe chronic pain. My doctor prescribed the Fentanyl patch. It has saved me! You can start out at a low dose and go up from there if need be. This is a patch that you wear and the medicine is in the adhesive and you wear it for 72 hours and then remove it and put a new one on in a different location. It has saved my life! I am currently on 100mcg and have been for over two years. I think I started at 25 mcg. Mention it to your doctor.

Dido for me on the prednisone