Flares and pain barriers

mellman01

Hi all now I am in the middle of a flare with OA of both patella and I wonder what I should do, normally I find that if I have an attack if the best thing to do is just rest until it’s past, as personally I have found trying to carry on just seems to makes things worse.

Now for my question, does anyone on here do the opposite to me and just carry on, is it possible to go through a flare pain barrier and come out the other end?. or is as I am doing resting the best thing to do?. :?:

joyful164

Hello Mellman

With my OA, I have gone down the Chiropractitionery route. Didn't think it would work, but since starting before Christmas I can definitely say that it has improved. OA responds very well to Chiro whereas other types of arthritis do not.

Have a word with your GP and ask him what he advises. Plenty of massaging of the problems areas would certainly help. Both my GP and consultant have give me the 100% go ahead and are pleased with the results. Pity you can't get it on the NHS though

Joy

issymknight

I think it depends on the pain and where in your body is affected. I like you tend to try and rest as moving is to painful. I have found that when I drug myself up and the pain is bearable still there though I try and work throught it, but as soon as painkillers wear off the pain is worse. So I think rest during the flare is the best thing to do. Trouble is it affects your work record.

Issy

mellman01

Hi Joy and Issy, thanks for the replies, Chiropractitionery route sounds interesting, I have had some work done along these lines by an osteopath and it did seem to help but not when I have been having a flare, mind you as you say Joy it’s not cheap maybe I’ll do a bit of myself seeming it’s my knees.
I’m like you Issy and tend to rest up, have been down the drug route but all I find is I end up dopped up and frazzled so end up resting, I just wondered if I was throwing in the towel to soon, so far I’ve managed around 2 day’s into a flare, normally it seems to make the flare worse rather than better, I have noticed though if I go back to work to soon post flare it can kick it off again.
Work record is another worry but what do they expect!?, I get angry the attitudes I come across from all sorts of people, oh there’s plenty of advice to be had but the only sensible stuff comes from those with RA and or OA, funny that?

frogmorton

Hi Mell

Just wondering if you are any better and I see you are not really

If it's me (and it's not ) I always drug myself up to the eyeballs and try to wait it out really :oops: I am a wimp aren't I?

I do hope yor pain settles back down to bearable very very soon.

Love

Toni xx

annie_mial

I was hoping you'd be a bit better, too, Mell.

I tried being 'brave' and toughing it out but I found it only made it worse in the long run.........I do think more joint damage occurs during a flare of any description.

Now I take the meds meekly and rest up!

Annie

frogmorton

annie_mial wrote:

I was hoping you'd be a bit better, too, Mell.

I tried being 'brave' and toughing it out but I found it only made it worse in the long run.........I do think more joint damage occurs during a flare of any description.

Now I take the meds meekly and rest up!

Annie

Damage
That's a thought Annie :shock:
Toni x

mellman01

Hi Toni & Annie, I do the same just wait till it’s gone, I find a flare is just to painful to deal with, it gets so I can’t think straight, I also get really snappy.
This one has been odd, more low key than the others but enough to sit me on my bum for the last 4 day’s.
I think it’s coming to it’s end but if I had gone back to work today it would have just fired it up again, been there got the flippin T shirt!.

only49

mellman01 wrote:

Hi all now I am in the middle of a flare with OA of both patella and I wonder what I should do, normally I find that if I have an attack if the best thing to do is just rest until it’s past, as personally I have found trying to carry on just seems to makes things worse.

Now for my question, does anyone on here do the opposite to me and just carry on, is it possible to go through a flare pain barrier and come out the other end?. or is as I am doing resting the best thing to do?. :?:

i know excatly what you mean i am just as bad i want to do everything as i used to but the end result for me is alot of pain and tiredness and if i really push on and take no notice then i have no choice i have to rest and i find heat is really the only thing thats gets me through a difficult time, i make sure i got plenty of supplies of thermacare heat wraps for my knees i could not manage without them i hope that i will always be able to keep getting them, i always think we are our own worse enermy we should listen to what our bodys are telling us, i dont think anyone can understand what it is like unless you are going through it yourself.

frogmorton

Hi Only

good to meet you

Mell

Glad you think this one is nearing the end - very glad. Wise not to have gone in I agree. You'dve put yourself back.

Take care

Toni x