Hi everyone, I have not been on in a while and have been doing pretty good with the Enbrel shots. I was diagnosed in Oct. and so far the only thing they have been able to give me is the biologics. My liver enzymes have been high so I can't take Methotrexate or any of he other oral drugs. I have had severe pain since yesterday afternoon and have only had it that bad one other day. I have so much pain in my left hand, fingers, wrist joints as well as my elbow and shoulder and knee but all on my left side. I called my Rheumy today after almost going to the ER last night with so much pain. The assistant that answered the phone was rude and said you are in a flare. They never quite explained to me before what a flare was and how it felt. She said they can't see me until Thursday and told me to take the Norco they gave me before. I was just wondering if you guys can tell me more about flares and what causes them and what you do for the pain until it subsides. I also have a urinary tract infection so I cannot do my shot today and wonder if the pain will just get worse. Thanks so much!!!
Anything can cause them. Especially emotional stress but just about anything. What a flare means is simply you get worse. You symptoms...pain, fatigue, swelling...all increase to some degree. You may need extra pain killers for breakthrough pain and may Prednisone to control the flare and get the symptoms back under control again. Flares can last a short time or a long one. I have been in a general large flare for the last 18ths with smaller flares within it.
Watch your emotional stress levels and overdoing things in general as they are often triggers. Being more tired than usual can trigger a flare. Weather can trigger a flare. Stress can trigger one. They are not particularly predicable but you do get better at learning the triggers and managing that better.
So watch your stress levels, tiredness, weather changes, and over doing it physically.
Here are a bunch of articles that helps explain what a RA flare up is.