Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...

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question about flares

achymom
achymom
another question from me -- can any of you explain help define a flare? Am I in a flare anytime I am feeling pain in any joints? From reading, majority on this board have some level of pain at all times, but not everyone refers to that as a flare. If a wrist is sore/somewhat swollen, is that a flare? If I'm able to get through the work day and still have energy at home for my family, but moving slowly because things are stiff and achy - is that a flare or just life with RA?

My rheumy is on vacation, and hers overlaps with mine, so she's left me with a script for a cortizone injection and 5 days of prednisone if I need them while we are away. But from all the reading about many of you trying to get OFF steriods, I'm trying to figure out if I should take any of them (at least the shot), before we go. She gave me a shot 3 weeks ago when I was diagnosed, so that's probably helping me feel ok these days while waiting for mtx and plaquinil to kick in, but I'm not sure if and when I need to take again.

thanks all -
WarriorGal
WarriorGal
Please remind me what you are on (other than the pred).

I believe the "official" definition of a flare up is when pretty much ALL or MOST of your joints are painful, not just one. Flares can include fever and general flu-like feelings. It feels like you felt prior to getting established on a medication combo that works.

I usually experience a full flare up only when my meds stop working. When just one joint, e.g. wrists aer hurting but everything else is ok...I usually see an orthopedic surgeon who x-rays that joint to see what's going on. Sometimes. one particular joint is damages beyond the capabilities of medication and requires surgical intervention.
deleted_user
deleted_user
geeeeee...................... I am trying to think of a way to really explain it............... ok I always hurt here and there, sometimes all my joints.if I get physical I hurt more. when I ride my horse. My hands will hurt from holding the reins. or if i sit to long i get stiff. it hurts for me to cross my legs. that I believe is just life with ra. sometimes I get really bad stabbing pains in my legs and joints but i know it is not a flare. I DEFINETLY KNOW WHEN A FLARE IS ABOUT TO COME!!!! when the hurting comes to the point were it is beyond ignoring,and it will not go away like you can't do things without being able to get past that pain you are feeling and no matter what position you sit or stand, or pain reliever you take you aren't getting any relief. that is when I know "oh no a flare is coming" and then I think ok how long is this going to last and how bad is it going to get!!!!! and am I going to get to the point were I am going to be bed ridden. sometimes they last for a month sometimes 6 or 8 months. that is what it is like for ME but from what i have read and from what i hear. ra is different for everyone. but it is kind of like when i think a full blown flare is coming on i am so scared i don't tell a sole!!!!! cause i am so busy praying and begging God PLEASE NO PLEASE GOD NO!!!! i don't want anyone else to be freaking out like me then when i am sure it is then i tell them and they can see it cause by then i am usually in a balll in bed or on the couch crying in pain!!!
achymom
achymom
RASS, I'm on MTX (1ml shots per week), plaquenil (400mg/day) and 10mg folic acid the day after the shot.

Andrea, I am so sorry about your flares. I really hope they don't come your way very often.

and apologies for my apparent lack of spelling skills - just re-read my post ! thanks for your replies.
sandi7213
sandi7213
I think Andrea said it well.
I dito what she said lol
especially the crying