Steroid shots aren't best, I definitely agree. But when there is pain and swelling that just won't go away, they work well. A good steroid shot should last months, not weeks. For my daughters, they last 3-9 months.
And while they should not be done frequently, they are done even on two year olds with JIA. My younger daughter got her first in her knee when she was 12. Her knee was also aspirated - they removed the fluid - that worked well. She went from being unable to walk at all, to feeling normal.
Oral steroids, like Prednisone OR Entocort, are much more harmful in the long-term than biologics. My kiddo has had very hard to control Ankylosing Spondylitis (affecting her knees, feet, wrists, hands, elbows, jaw, SI joints, hips and lumbar spine) so we have had to resort to steroids often.
She has ended up with Cushing's syndrome and possibly adrenal insufficiency.
Believe me, the side effects of biologics are much better than those of long-term steroid use.
Here is a good presentation about the risks and benefits for IBD medications. Stelara probably isn't in there since it's so new, but Remicade and Humira are in there:
http://programs.rmei.com/CCFA139VL/
The risks are very small and the benefits are huge. Before biologics, kids with arthritis ended up with deformed joints, lots of surgeries and in wheelchairs permanently. Now, kids are able to run, play sports, attend school and just be kids because of these medications.
I am grateful for biologics daily.
But if I were you, I would choose the tried and tested biologics if it's for the arthritis - Remicade or Humira. They work faster than Stelara and have been around a lot longer.
The rheumatologists we have seen (and we've 21 between my two girls and husband) have all said anti-TNFs are much more effective for Spondyloarthritis (the type of arthritis associated with Crohn's) than Stelara is.
I would encourage you to get a second opinion with a rheumatologist if you're not comfortable with what the first one told you.
