Flare Question | Arthritis Information

How would you define a "flare"? Does it basically mean intense pain? At the beginning of my RA diagnosis I had severe pain in my hands and wrist. A short time on prednisone and continual MTX and Plaquenil pretty much eliminated the severe pain. However, some days I feel really crappy (aches, stiffness, fatique, swelling, etc.) - would that be considered a flare even without the intense pain? Also, my toes are constantly stiff, achy, twisting, etc. - is that a flare?

I guess what I'm asking is whether a flare means something like "active inflammation" or does it mean "severe pain"?

Have you given Lryica much of a chance to see if it helps with the toe twisting some?

They start people off at a low dose because it tends to make them aleepy at first. I upped my coffe intake to compensate. Also I think they have a new fibro med that does not make people as tired.

I believe the toe twisting is from RA not so much fibro. Yet after seveeral months I was able to raise the amount of Lyrica that I take and I have alot less toe twisting. I maybe take a muscle relaxer. flexeril once or twice a week now. It really helps alot with the toe twisting issues.

I think people give up on the Lryica too fast sometimes. It takes months to get to a place where it gives you real relief. I still take my vicoden but at least it works now. I have alot more control over my toe twisting and pain. It is a much better way of life for me.

milly2010-08-13 13:27:23I have RA, Sjorgren's and fibro. So it is hard for me to distinguish one from the other sometimes. I get some swelling just from the Sjorgren's sometimes I am sure.

Certainly some of the muscle spasms are from the fibro. Some of the pain is from the fibro as well as the Sjorgren's causes some of the pain as well.

It is my humble opinion that if your toes are curling under that is RA doing it's dirty work and causing you damage. I am not a doctor that is just my take from my own experiene. It could be some fibro also.

I distinquish one flare from the other as to say an RA flare by redness swelling and intense pain. I am sure with as much as I have going on may cofuse one type of flare from the other on occassion.

My opinion is that RA is more painful than Sjorgren's or Fibro. Just my opinion.