Rowan are you on oral methotrexate or sub cute? Ask your nurse about biologicals which can be taken with methotrexate or on their own. I was changed over to biologicals, Cimzia , two injections a month you can do yourself. The difference within a few months was amazing. I truly believe it’s keeping me out of a wheelchair.
Oral with hydroxychloroquine, it's policy to start on the cheap stuff before moving onto the immunotherapy types, but I was diagnosed before the RA took hold and did too much damage ( theory is it was somehow switched on by covid)
Rowan I’ve been on that pathway. Diagnosed very early with high rheumatoid factor, onto steroids then same as you. I had to wait 3 years to get the ‘good stuff’ but had a very good RA nurse.