I guess I haven't had one if I have to ask! I started having symptoms last fall & I was diagnosed with RA in December 06. At that time I started taking 15 mg MTX (weekly) and 10 mg prednisone and have just added Embrel. I have had days that were definitely worse than others, but nothing super bad. Some days I am terribly tired & can sleep 12-14 hours. Other days I might get the "cleaning crazies" and try to do a year's worth of housework in one night. (I suspect that is the prednisone?)
If I do a whole of typing or drawing my hands may hurt more. But I haven't had anything yet that would keep me home from work.
Could someone please describe a "flare"? (see what I have to look forward too, perhaps!)
My dad would have one knee swell up and he would go to the doctor to have it drained. Back then I think that's all they could do. (My dad died many years ago, so I can't ask him about his experiences--wish I could!)
Thanks, Sula
Dear Sula, my 'flares' are when I'll be going along fine, with the medication working, minimum swelling, etc., and then all of a sudden 'I wake in the morning' to swelling, pain and increased stiffness. (Stress of an operation really taught me a lesson in Dec of this year) I am still recovering, gone from almost no meds to 3! and they aren't doing so great....need prednisone in addition to Methotrexate and Remicade. Taking an increased amount of Remicade tomorrow.
My best shot at an explanation, sarah
A flare is like achiness, fatigue, pain that is hard to get under control, no energy, and kind of feeling like you have the flu. My flares are like grammaskittles. I just had a week of this and it is betterOops, maybe I have had flares. Guess I have been thinking of something much more dramatic (and sounds like for some folks it is much worse than what I've had) I definitely know the achiness, fatigue and no energy feeling.
Thanks for your input--this helps a lot!
Lots of times people mix up the difference between flares and being out of control. Flares will subside after a time, but being out of control...well that does not subside and the damage can be pretty serious and aggressive during that time period. Playing with your meds can often times bring someone out of control...under control.
My daughter and I both flare with the weather. The meds help slow the progression of the disease but will not always stop you from flaring. Everyone is individual and some may not flare on meds.
I have days where I ache - like when I work too hard or when the weather changes, but I never considered those flares. For me, a flare is when I am in so much pain that I can't function. The involved joints generally feel warm to the touch, may or may not be swelled, and I can't hardly move them. It feels like if I try to move them that the tendons will snap in two.
I have short flares & long flares. The short ones are just a day or two of severe pain. Long flares tend to run about 2 months of extreme pain - inability to use hands, shoulders, to walk - in other words, normal life grinds to a halt. But it doesn't mean I need to change meds other than to add the Celebrex back into the mix. After a couple of months, it goes away like it never was and I move on.
I had just posted over on a Graves board...thinking I'm feeling the way I feel today was because of trigger food I may have eaten that effects the Graves.
But I'm thinking it's more likely an RA Flare....very achy, hands are super sore and weak today...low fever, headache, exhausted....all around grumpy.
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