Since you're so newly diagnosed, you're technically not stable. So, I would tend to say it's not even a flare, just exacerbation of symptoms of an active disease process. (does that make sense?) Most of the time, when you're stable, meaning that your symptoms are stable and not recurring on a regular basis, labs holding at acceptable levels, etc. you're flares will become less frequent. Now, that's not to say that you will or won't even have them. You're going to continue to have good and bad days. And, if stress is your trigger, then that will tend to make the symptoms worse.

Stress was my trigger. It sucks too. I mean, life, stress free??? REALLY!? That said, my view of things and the way I REACT to things or people is different.

So, short answer...there is no way to tell you how ofter or how long these episodes can or will happen. It's going to be different depending on how you start learning to "deal" with things.

Does that make sense??

ty for the attempt< It wasent as bad a day as i supposed , but missed a 40 mg dose of pred, so Im assuming tomorow will be bad. You at least attempted to answer. My ankles are swollen and deformed knees also and red. Last week my inflammation numbers were good. I just would like to know the difference. Sad thing is I would rather not have a clue, but im playing the card im delt, ty for an answer

Missing a dose fo prednisone will make all the aches and pains flare up big time......especially since you are on such a high dose, once you get so that you have tapered down, it won't affect you as quickly if you miss a dose. But you should always take meds on time!!!

Jumping in one note, Predisone needs to be tapper off. I know this from what i go thru using it thru out the year.
now it all depends on what you doctor is using predisone for, for you??
If in dought ASK, ASk doctor call and leave message or go in to see him or her.

Ask pharmist where you go, they may help you or direct you.


Good luck

Flair ups take differently for each person.

Bee

Everyone has given great advice. I agree with the point that you are not well managed yet. It took about 5 months on Sulfasalazine for me to even have my hands on the reins, but I am still not diagnosed 100%, on a better treatment plan, etc. I still don't have much control.

For me a flare has a low grade fever, I cannot shape my hands into a fist, let alone squeeze. I am wiped out, can't get comfortable, sleep a lot, severe brain fog, swollen lymph nodes in my throat/neck.

I had one about 3 weeks ago and now have a Medrol dose pack on hand.
Stress makes my symptoms worse, whether I am flaring or not. My morning stiffness in general lasts about 1 1/2 to 2 hours, on rainy days it is longer. Before meds, it was 3+ hours. Afternoons and evenings, I start to get stiff and achy all over again.

My P doc just increased my Wellbutrin dose. It has helped me with motivation and energy, not to mention the ability to listen to my body. When I am getting to the point of exhaustion, I step back, nap if I can (even just for 20 min) and don't push through it. It is amazing how much better I am able to cope. I'm also on Cymbalta, which has never done anything for my muscle/joint pain. but has helped nerve pain tremendously. I was once on 120 mg a day, I'm only on 60mg now.

I'm not as stable as I want to be, but I am better than I was without Sulfasalazine. Adding Mobic helped. I only have it and Tramadol for pain. Today is rainy, so I took 15 mg of Mobic last night, instead of 7.5. I still feel stiff and crappy, but the stiffness isn't as severe. I'm about due for a tramadol. I've written a book and my hands/wrists are killing me.

End point, every one of us is different. Finding the right combo if NSAIDs,pain meds, DMARDs +/- biologics is key and not one combo works for every person, even if they have the same condition.

I know how hard it is, I was where you are in May. Only since October, have I been truly feeling the benefits of my DMARDs. However, Within 3 weeks of being on them, my flares (about one every 2 to 3 weeks) were less intense.

@ wrkn Yes, we dropped 20mg today of 80, after 2 weeks on cept cell.

I haven't noticed any benefit of cept cell but Immune suppresant vs Prednisone and there saying the pred is causing the inflamation now. Its really hard to believe that we don't have more information. with all thats happening to me, I would happily start the chemo tomorrow if it was known to help. My big toes, they could take those. Man those can be a bugger. but I am hopefully going to help someone someday.
Heart Condition from birth. Wolf Parkinson and white syndrome.
Cause Unknown
Avascular Necrosis, lost my right hip at 38, not a steroid user till now.
Cause Unkown
Anxiety
Causes known, all the unknowns lol
And now this MTCD
so basically if they can find my unknown they can fix alot of people.

im going in either tonight or tomorow
My home scale is broken, but i dont have a neck anymore, my tounge is slightly swollen cheecks legs and everything
even my eyes are pinched, Im a sumo wrestler

Got out of the hospital at about 530 pm. 1 DVT in my calve and 2 or 3 superficial. Last blood results were good on inflammation, but i don't know when those were. the DVT is non occlusive, so it has some flow, they say thats good. I have no idea whats going on but my guess is something isnt right, and the pred were reducing isn't helping anyway. I commend all of you for getting past the discovery and moving on with life. Im getting really tired. No sleep or little. Now cramps under my rib cages at night. I hate lovenox shots. One of the 2 they gave me in the hospital is already purple and the size of a golf ball. Im considering calling john hopkins and seeing if they want to look at some files.

It cannot hurt to contact Hopkins. Try warm, moist compresses on your injection sites.

Hope your morning symptoms are easing a bit.