Don't ever underestimate arthritis. Someone may label it as "mild" but even a mild case of arthritis is busy attacking your joints!!! It is an inflammatory, destructive process. My cousin just had to have knee replacement on both knees due to that.

Look up Lyprinol. It's a more "natural" alternative to anti-inflammatory meds. And if you take those drugs like Ibuprofen, etc., you need to have those omega 3's. Again, talk to a doc first before taking anything.

Prednisone does what anti-inflammatory meds due but to a much stronger degree, so it's definitely the steroids.

Have you been tested for celiac? What did that rash on your arms and legs look like? Discoid lupus?

Geez, you sure have a lot going on. Get a VERY good doctor!