Brief Answer: Suggested to start corticosteroid treatment... Detailed Answer: Hi, I have gone through your medical history and understood your concerns. I am sorry for the situation you are in. You are taking meloxicam for the pain together with flexeril for muscle spasms. As you are also having itchiness and rash, and your symptoms have gotten more severe, I suggest you should start corticosteroid therapy (injection first, then, gradually passing to oral therapy until the desired effect). I suggest to discuss with your rheumatologist to start corticosteroid therapy. If you are allergic to Ethylenediamine dihydrochloride (ED) and sulfa (SA), you can ask your doctor to prescribe drugs that are ED and SA free. Methotraxate is another option to treat your persistent and hardly to treat arthritis palm, but it is considered as "last-line" therapy due to its side effects. Your rheumatologist will decide if it is an appropriate treatment for you. It is also important to do physio-therapy to improve the symptoms. Can decide with your rheumatologist which type of physio-therapy exercises are best for you. Wish fast recovery! Dr.Albana

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Brief Answer: Can take corticosteroid cream locally&massaging... Detailed Answer: Hi back, You can use topical cream containing corticosteroid, but should look at the ingredients to pick up the one which is Ethylenediamine Dihydrochloride free. Please bare in mind that massaging can also help. With regards to meloxicam, I do not think it is the cause to your problems. But, I think it might not be working to relieve inflammation caused by arthritis. So, you can discuss with your rheumatologist to change anti-inflammatory drug. Hope it was of help! Dr.Albana

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