flare up or not

only49

hello

just wondering if i have flare ups, if i had a quiet today i not too bad but if i have a busy day and doing more, then as the day goes on my knees hurt more, and when they are painful i cant bare anyone touching them infact im very care i dont touch them on anything ie, making the bed and gowing round the bed, when this is happening i find the only thing that helps is nurophen back pain patches, or any heat, i'm surprised how the heat not too hot for me, infact it seems to keep pain at bay, a flare when you have OA can it just be increased pain and tiredness?

dreamdaisy

I don't know only49 as I don't have OA. For me, a flare means pain where I don't usually have it, extreme tiredness, a general sense of 'heaviness' and a diet of Coke and Hula Hoops. That's all I ever want to eat when flaring. DD

skezier

Hi Sylvia,

My oa was explained to me long ago that it has a burn and while its burning it does actually have soft tissue swelling and heat as well as a fair bit of pain. I remember sitting there thinking why tell me, I kinda knew

It might be that rather than a burn its just sadly complaining at being used and the pain killers if they help are the answer. I know with me now its stage 3 or burning out and the only thing that keeps me moving is the pain killers. Thankful mine work well.

I don't know what stage you have there but unless its stage 3 it will stop for a while. Pain does indeed make you worn out and in my case aged me quite a lot (The pain clinic doc often tells me that, I must look old! ) Keep using the heat if that helps you and I hope you feel less pain soon. They also say take the tablets weather you hurt or not.....

What tests have they done on it for you? Cris x

only49

dreamdaisy wrote:

I don't know only49 as I don't have OA. For me, a flare means pain where I don't usually have it, extreme tiredness, a general sense of 'heaviness' and a diet of Coke and Hula Hoops. That's all I ever want to eat when flaring. DD

thats interesting as my knees feel like i got weights on them and everything is an effort, and also when there herting they feel like i got huge knees, may sound strange but that the best way of dicribing them.

only49

skezier wrote:

Hi Sylvia,

My oa was explained to me long ago that it has a burn and while its burning it does actually have soft tissue swelling and heat as well as a fair bit of pain. I remember sitting there thinking why tell me, I kinda knew

It might be that rather than a burn its just sadly complaining at being used and the pain killers if they help are the answer. I know with me now its stage 3 or burning out and the only thing that keeps me moving is the pain killers. Thankful mine work well.

I don't know what stage you have there but unless its stage 3 it will stop for a while. Pain does indeed make you worn out and in my case aged me quite a lot (The pain clinic doc often tells me that, I must look old! ) Keep using the heat if that helps you and I hope you feel less pain soon. They also say take the tablets weather you hurt or not.....

What tests have they done on it for you? Cris x

so far blood taken and got to have a xray gonna try get appointment next week if i can as i needvto chase up more about this, i gona ask about ultrosound as well and see a different doctor as well and see if i can find out more, as sometimes another doctor may have different ideas, can but try.

frogmorton

Hi there Sylvia

You need to lsten to your body girl. When it cries out - you may have overdone it

Please try to rest up and look after those big knees.

Get the heat on them and rest - then the next day do a little less

Lots of love

Toni xx

skezier

Hi Sylvia,

I am glad your having an xray cus that will show degeneration and its good starting point. The ultrasound xrays are incredibly clear and detailed if you can get one... I have those for the de-nerving and they are so much clearer than the ordinary ones, though they do shoe the state of the bones.

I so agree that different doctors have different ideas and once you bump into one who you feel is helping then that helps so much.

I hope you don't have to wait too long and with luck they will then start to really help you,. Cris x

dreamdaisy

The Husband asked me once to describe how my knees felt (this is prior to any anti TNF treatments.) They always felt worse when standing still, either in a queue or in the shower. I had the sensation of them being 'injected' with polystyrene foam, liquid at first, then it would settle and 'firm' up. You know how houses are insulated with foam being squeezed into cavity walls? They felt like that, and being PA they would swell too and were continuously hot. Now I just have the feeling but no swelling and they're cold. Still bloody hurt tho. DD

only49

babycham wrote:

Everyone seems to experience differing symtoms P/arth oste. Fibro. my R/a ..one thing we all have in common is the nasty pain most of the time I dont know if its R/a in perticular but my knees are hot to touch swollen the bones feel like rusty old machinery when I sit down I cant get my leg to bend with out a lot of effort but in the cold weather I go the opposite and need warmth all over other wise I go completely drained Also in the hot weather do any of you feel that you are rung out with exhaustion more so when its humid xBabycham

hi babcham i used to love the heat but now i finding since arthur it just makes me feel worse, as if life isnt hard enough already, when arthur up to his tricks i feel completly shaettered and i hurt like hell, i too like heat infact i sitting here with thermacare heat wraps on my knees now. only thing that helps at the mo apart from resting in bed.

speedalong

Hi I don't know if it is a flare - but it is your body saying you have over done it!! Getting the balance right is always easier in retrospect.

In theory ice is best for inflammation. Heat is best for stiffness and muscle pain ... though you have to use what works for you.

Have you tried cabbage leaves?! When I was having a really hard with my knees (OA) lots of pain and swelling - my friend said her old Mum swore by them ... I was so desperate I would have tied steaks on them (and I'm veggie!!) Anyway I tried it - strapped a cabbage leaf on over night - hey presto!! Big improvement in the swelling!! Worth a try - works for some. (Some say to soften the leaf slightly in the microwave on low.)

Speedy

dreamdaisy

It's worth a try only49! Get thee a cabbage and have a bash. I have also heard they work for sore breasts when breastfeeeding: there must be an anti-inflammatory effect in them for some reason. Give it a whirl, girl - you never know. DD

only49

dreamdaisy wrote:

It's worth a try only49! Get thee a cabbage and have a bash. I have also heard they work for sore breasts when breastfeeeding: there must be an anti-inflammatory effect in them for some reason. Give it a whirl, girl - you never know. DD

with me i find the pain is the worst bit and the crunch crunch i keep looking at my knees they dont seem to be any different its the pain.

sound like quassie modo ( its the bells )

dreamdaisy

The damage is inside so can't be seen. You say they're hot, which indicates inflammation, so cover with a cabbage leaf or two and see if the heat reduces. Even combine it with a cold compress, eg a bag of frozen peas. It can't do any harm , it may help and that is a good thing. DD

woodbon

Hi,
I have OA and I find that for me a flare usually there when I wake up, a really bad neck which causes my head to ache and migraine type symptoms, ache all over and most of the joints that are affected ache badly. I often feel as if I have flu' and have no energy at all. My hands seem to be sore and don't work very well. My GP says that with OA a flare will often involve inflammation, but not the same as people with RA and it goes after a day or so.

Gosh, that sounds awful, its not as awful as this sounds! :shock:
Love Sue