The COVID Vaccines and Autoimmune Disease
As the COVID vaccine rolls out, people with arthritis and other autoimmune diseases are wondering what this means for them. Is the COVID vaccine safe if you’re taking immunosuppressants, like methotrexate, Humira, Enbrel, and other biologics? Does it work? We don’t have all the answers to these questions, unfortunately. The vaccines are too new, and they haven’t been fully tested on immunocompromised people. That doesn’t mean we can’t find some guidance, though. So, what do we know so far about the COVID vaccine for people with autoimmune diseases? (I am not a doctor, and more importantly, I and others on the internet are not your doctor. Each person is unique,…
My unnerving steroid injection experiences
Because of my problems with my shoulder, I’ve had corticosteroid injections (also called cortisone injections or steroid injections) more than once. Doctors (at least the ones I’ve had) don’t counsel you on anything to watch out for, they just give you the shot and send you on your way. Which is why, when I started having side effects, at first I thought there was something wrong with me. Harmless beginnings Corticosteroid injections are often given to alleviate pain in a specific joint or location, often due to arthritis, bursitis, tendonitis, or some other condition that is causing inflammation there. The first time I had a corticosteroid injection was from a crazy…
