But aren't the pain and weakness and fatigue and depression, etc., signs that the inflammation level is flaring up and isn't that bad? It's not just pain, it's something wrong with your body. I know that the steroids are harmful but they seem to be the only thing that fights the inflammation. "Pushing through it" is like walking on a broken foot - you are causing damage to your body by not taking your prescribed medicine or by not having your foot put in a cast, as it were, and giving your body a chance to heal. I know it's difficult to deal with the ups and downs and to realize that just because you feel good one week does not mean you will feel good the week after that. But the pain is an indication of inflammation that is damaging our bodies and should not be ignored or tolerated or provoked = right?