Alternitive treatments? Do you guys know what to recommend?

Hello to all, I normally post on a few of the other forums, and are looking into this for my best friend. 

Two days ago, she was diagnosed with RA, and it is already progressed quite far.  In the next few days, she will start treatment, but frankly, the meds are awful, and she will need to have bloods done every two weeks to manage the levels of the meds.

She asked me to look into alternitive treatment options for her, and of course I thought I would ask you guys. 

She has had prodnisone injection, with no relief. 

Do you guys have any tips? 

Thanks for taking the time to answer in advance.

DMARDS are a must, steroid injections are only a short-term solution and shouldn't be used as a long-term treatment. A common starting place might be Methotrexate (MTX) with Hydroxychloroquine or Sulfasalizine (or just one). Steroid injections if beneficial could be carried on for a little while while the DMARDS kick in, but if you say there's no relief then I wouldn't bother. DMARDS can have nasty side effects, especially MTX.

Diclofenac is a very good anti-inflammatory (NSAID) and provides a lot of relief. In combination with a DMARD it is enough for many people to make their RA manageable. If not, then it's probably time to move onto narcotics.

There are anti-biotic treatments too which help some people, if you're curious about alternatives, but they're not common place now. Another rare treatment but occasionally useful is Gold injections.

For severe or highly unresponsive RA, there are also biologic treatments, which are synthetic anti-bodies rather than drugs. They're very very good, and very very expensive. Google Etanercept, Humira, Remicade. I'm afraid for these you need to be comfortable injecting yourself, and if you're british, be in need of a hip or two.

In terms of herbal stuff, some guys on here are into that and will have some suggestions. I've not really had much benefit, but I do find green tea helps! Actually, I can think of one highly beneficial herb.....

jay

Sorry, I meant to add, she has seen a rheumatologist, that's how she got the conformation diagnoses. Whats DMARD?

Man, thanks you guys so much for your knowledge. Thankyou so much for sharing and being honest.

Thanks exitwound, I will pass that on as well, she has had her medication tonight, and we only hope that tomorrow the side effects wont be as bad as what we have expected. What a horrible unfair illness this is.

Take care all, and once again, thanks so much for your knowledge and time taken to answer. I know some of you will have pain with typing, so I really am grateful

Thanks Weary, I will pass this onto her. Thanks all for your answers, she has coped well with her first lot of meds

m2ec, I really appreciate that, I am so sorry you had to learn the hard way, and I really am so grateful that you guys have shared what you have, so this makes it as easy for her as possible.
She is an amazing friend, very strong, and she doesn't let this take over her life, so we just plod through the infomation together, but she really is very balanced, she has to be, she runs a farm, and four little chargers to care for.
It is you guys that give your energy, that really is very helpful, my bestie does check this thread, (just as well I only have good things to say about her aye), lol

Thanks Jay