If your meds have been working, and this is just how my flares work, my flare can last a few days to a week or two. Now before I found the right meds for myself, omg my flares lasted months. =( I would get cortisone shots to calm my flares down.

Orencia really helps me. I get flares very rarely now. It's mostly in my right hand or feet, if I do.

But they do have predisone for flares, I just couldn't take that drug, that stuff is so nasty, turned me into a monster. I wanted to pull my hair out and yell at everyone. =)

Since my medication started working (MTX, and Humira), I have only had a couple flairs in my feet, a couplentimes, and that lasted about 36 hours,I used Celebrex to manage it. The flairs happened when i was on my feet much, much to long.

My hands have had some twinges, didn't last to long. However, last night I noticed my knuckles are swelling up,getting stiff, and hurting. This morning, I grabbed my cup of coffee, and THOUGHT I had a good grip on it.....until it fell right out of my hand, splattering coffee everywhere. (Note to self - use 2 hands, not just one).

My nurse through our insurance company said that if a flair lasts longer than 72 hours, after trying to manage on my own, I should be calling my dr.

I have had 2 bad lares that I remember a few years back. Both times I was in the bed for 4-5 days in a lot of pain taking the pain medication I was on. I did inform the Rheumatologist and had to go in to see him and meds were changed around both times whether Dmard or biologic or both. I am now to able to ward off a flair before it really gets going by stopping what I am doing before pain gets to the point of no return. I take pain medication and rest as soon as there is an inkling of beginning to feel really uncomfortable. I agree with MKP's insurance nurse that if a flare is not broken in 3 days the Rheumatologist should be called.

I'm kind of new to this, but have been in an uncontrolled flare since the beginning of 2012. We've tried many things, but the only thing to touch it a little has been prednisone, but I had a severe mood reaction to it and refuse to take it unless it's life or death and I'm in the hospital. I think I'm the exception from what I've read though. Most seem to last a couple of days to weeks.

It'll be 8 years next month.

You know, I guess I got flares prior to diagnosis but I've never really had a flare since (knock on wood).

The way I was diagnosed by myself (just like us all, over the years you piece the puzzle together on your own to some degree - for me, I had to demand testing for RA!). I'd have a knee hurt, then the other. My feet did the same thing and took about 3mos to get better. Of course, I went to a foot doc and thought I got better because of what he did. (and I'm sure it helped speed things along). I had both shoulders pulled and had cortisone shots in both (one three times). It was just before considering shoulder surgery that I pieced it all together.

I'm in a pseudo remission now. I think the combo dmards halted the problem, then when my liver messes up, I just got lucky that no flares have shown themselves. I know it's coming, but I think I tend to be a step ahead of the flare and because I quit working, I can take a day of rest and avoid it. I guess.

best of luck! may the medicine do the trick for you!

I have pain all the time, so a flare for me just means it's worse. Before my current meds, I had a flare up that lasted for several weeks. Since then, I've a had a few that lasted a day or two but not longer.

Lisa, I am so glad you said you have pain all the time...so do I and no one beleives me....they don't understand how that can happen.. A flare to me is an on going thing...today the hands, tomorrow the knees, the next day the shoulders hurt so bad I can barely move them..it seems like they just move from one place to another all the time...

Now that Methotrexate is working so well, my flares are not as bad as they once were, and last only 24 to 48 hours at the most. My shoulder, elbow and wrist on one side are flaring right now, but a heating pad and ibuprophen are taking care of it. It just started last night, so am hoping it will follow suit, and be gone soon.