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when your flare is over?

This is my first one. For 8 weeks I got progressively worse pain wise.

My doctor increased my prednisone to 6 mgs & added tramadol.

First my shoulders went back to normal but my hands/wrists were just as bad. He said if I didn't feel better call in a week so yesterday morning I called. My hands/wrists were really aching! He never called back and then around 4 pm- all of a sudden my hands were just slightly painful if I moved them but felt stiff and numb.

When I got home I had a voicemail saying increase the prednisone to 10 mgs.

When I got up this morning my hands were not nearly as painful as they had been upon waking and as the day wore on went back to like yesterday. Not really painful but stiff and numb.

I did not increase my prednisone because I'm thinking maybe my flare "broke"?

Is this how it happens? Gradually gets worse then gradually gets better?

Or am I kidding myself and it may come back full force? Or is this just as good as it will get?

wanttobeRAfree2009-02-17 11:47:52I haven't really flared since November 2007. I've had a few .. what I call "set backs" where I was a bit more inflammed.. a bit more pain... a bit more tired... but I've not had that horrible flare *KNOCK WOOD* since 07...

I am stiff in my hands now.. tips are completely numb.. today's visit w/ the RD he said its inflammation.. I need to start my enbrel again to get rid of that!! and tonight I will now that my infection is gone.....

I'm so sorry you're suffering that badly, wantto!! Hang in there.. it will get better

Hey WTB, its all so rotten, huh? That's pretty much the way my flares go too. Feeling good, feeling bad just as quick. The prednisone usually works pretty quickly and does help to knock back a flare. It seems if you can get that kind of relief, it will keep the flare at bay or at least make you functional. Yes, unfortunately, the flare can come back full force. I can't tell you about "good as it gets" as that is so very different for each individual. You may even go into remission, as some members have.

For me, knowing what I know now, I would have treated my RA more aggressively when first diagnosed in the hopes of remission. I really do try, though it is mighty hard, to take time and take care of myself when I have a flare. When its gone, I go, go, go as much as I can w/o hurting myself. You really do have to be in touch with your body.

I hope you feel better soon.
Hi WTB,

I am in the process of reducing my prednisone after the flare I had in September. It was really bad and it hits me like a train. I literally woke up feeling like someone worked me over with a baseball bat. My joints were swollen and I had stiffness that would last for 6 hours or more. It was terrible. I was started on enbrel and then I got an infection and had to stop. I have been back on my enbrel for about three weeks or so and I'm doing rather well. Anyway, it sounds as though you may be in a flare. Good Luck to you...Hiking_gal