OK, I admit it, I must be in denial. I was diagnosed with RA a couple of months ago, had 14 days of pred, and now on MTX forever. Since I have felt nearly pain-free, I apparently didn't realize I could have a flare at any time I guess. I've had a couple of very sharp pains in my wrist in the past couple of days and it has been a wake-up call.
Now I realize I have no idea what I am supposed to do if the pain severely returns to my hands or wrists. Should I just take an OTC pill of some sort (which probably wouldn't help anyway for the severe pains) or do I call the RD for a prescription or to make an appointment?
I can't believe I haven't asked the doc what to do when that happens. I guess my main concern is that I could be out of town when the pain strikes again. I want to take an extended trip (month or more) next year.
I also have no idea if flares are frequent or infrequent. I'll discuss this with my RD at my appt. next month, but thought I would ask you all first -- what do you do when a flare hits?
Thanks.
Flamingo, I'm sorry I can't help you with flare info, as I'm new to this. But I did want to encourage you to call your doctor's office and leave a message for the doctor or one of his nurses or PAs to call you back so you can ask these questions. Don't feel as if you are imposing. It's natural to be overwhelmed and not remember all of your questions at a doctor's office.
I've also faxed my doctor's office with a list of questions before, and this worked well. Be certain to include permission for them to leave the answers on your machine if you're not there (this can help you avoid playing phone tag).
Best of luck to you--I hope you feel better and find something that works for the flares.
Christina
I think that the fequency of flares vary from person to person (victim to victim?) so their is no "normal". I wouln't hesitiate to call your doc though. And I wouldn't go through a flare without some strong pain meds either. I'm just recently diagnosed though too, and was also very surprized when I flared for the first time after my initial onset and was controlled by the meds. I had convinced myself that I didn't really have RA. I still always want to lean that way, but ya know, there comes a time when you just can't fool yourself anymore.
Linda
Flamingo, just a reminder. There are no stupid questions and in fact, I found your question very interesting and the responses helpful.Flamingo
I practise my 1st aid skills when I flare. Big swelling I try ice - if that causes increased pain then heat. Bad aching and pain - heat. Moist heat helps the most - hot bath is my favorite rememdy for stiffness and pain.
I prefer NSAIDs to pain killers most of the time but since I take my full dose daily, when things are bad I do use pain killers on a regular schedule like 3 times every day until I'm better. They seem to work much better that way than 'as needed', they don't seem to be able to catch up to the pain as well as they can maintain relief.
The most important thing for a flare is rest. Do not keep pushing yourself mentally and physically. Do only what you really must do. Flares last much longer if I try to push on. It was a very hard lesson for me.
Flares are completely unpredictable and vary from person to person. You have no idea when they happen or why and you can drive yourself crazy trying to work it out.I thought it was a very good question Flamingo. When I was first diagnosed with RA I honestly thought I would take medication, everything would be just fine and I'd have no more pain. I had no idea that RA would turn everything upside down and change life as I had known it. I certainly didn't expect to still have pain, swelling, fatigue and FLARES...uggghhh, surprise!
Anyway, I never go out of town without my care package. You can't predict when the flares are going to hit but you can prepare yourself a bit. My care package always consists of Prednisone, Tylox, Vicodin and a heating pad. I used be able to pack everything into one bag...now I have my bag and the RA bag.
Definately talk with your doctor so that they can help you prepare.
Peace & Love...Neasy
Thank you all so much for your responses. They helped me begin to understand 'flares' and to know it is OK to ask questions, here and with the doctor.
Cordelia, I liked your attitude toward your flares. (I'll try and PM you sometime) Kind of like when I had cancer, it wasn't 'why me', it was OK, I got it, now what's the treatment and I need to figure out how to deal with it. However, I'm not naive enough to think dealing with tremendous pain is going to be a walk in the park by any means. One of my motto's is "better living with chemistry"....so if it takes pain pills, that's OK with me.
Neasy I liked your idea of a "care package". Since these flares seem to be so unpredictable, I don't ever need to leave home without a "care package" - - I may call it my "pain bag" since it is going to be a pain in my --- to have to remember to pack it every time. I'm actually only kidding....despite everything, I'm just thankful to have the drugs available that will hopefully keep this disease under some type of control. My poor mother never had the opportunity for MTX to the other new drugs and she was very cripped and in so much pain....but what a tremendous spirit she had. Always smiling, despite her tremendous pain. Oh I can only be half the woman she was in dealing with RA.
I'll always try to look for a bright spot....I think I'll buy a cutesy pain bag for traveling and load it full of all my regular pills too.
PM me anytime, Flamingo. Neasy's 'care package' idea is great, gonna use that one. Glad you got a better understanding of them and how you can work with them.Don't just pm darlin.. POST!! you're helping me and i've had this for 2 yrs or 3.. and still yes, isn't the denial strong..
Somedays, i can totally get into the Acceptance route, but today is not one of them :P.. or the last wk or month.. You're lucky you can even go on trips!!.. I have a provider that takes me out shopping, every couple wks, for 3-6 hrs and i'm dead.. dead for the next 3 days, at least. I use the wheelchairs at the grocerystores and Walmart.
I still haven't made any correlation to food and my Ra.. none..there is no common thing.. it just happens.. actually it happens, whenever i just walk a little bit more then usual.. which is soo tiny already..
BEing prepared is great, hot baths.. some like cold, eeekkkkk.. lol
for me, its got to be HOT.. massages help.. very rare for me, but if you can do that, afford it.. i'd say go for it!! and yep pain meds. Nothing wrong w/ taking care of yourself! :) I take sleep meds, atarax and valium.. bc i can not deal w/o sleep.. also bipolar. so keep posting, people here really seem to get it.
Hi ya: a question, a flare? Oh, please everyone keep asking questions. We all learn so much.
A flare to me is if your meds are 'working' and then all of a sudden , 'bam' every part of your body starts to ache (again). For 10 years I'd been taking methotrexate and didn't know how lucky I was. I'd go along for a few years with 10mgs, no swelling or problems, then bam one summer I couldn't walk, my fingers and wrists ached, were swollen and I was misterable. A Flare! (I had been eating tomatoes, bell peppers in my salads....so I blamed it on 'the nightshade family') . My doc didn't think it was true, but I won't 'test' it. He doesn't believe in that food connection. I went back to him and he increased my mtx. I'd feel better.
This time is different with the heart operation I just can't seem to get over the hump. I'm on a lot of meds, but still have the stiff fingers/painful feet, etc. I'm waiting for this to stop! This is a huge flare for me. Like 6 months! Lynda
Lynda,