How do you recognise a flare is on its way???

traluvie

Only a short message as my hands not great,
Wondered how people recognise a flare coming??

I have noticed i get very cold and weak and generally feel crap then slowly the pain and swelling builds up in my hands, i have only recognised this through my blog by keeping track, so my blog has become very useful in identifying things.

dibdab

Hi Tracy,

Hope the flare settles soon-it's miserable isn't it! Like you, I know it's coming when I get weary beyond words and chilly, then the swelling and pain kick in. -Just getting over a horrible flare up-thank heavens for steroids! Back to work tomorrow full of guilt for missing 2 days-but I could barely move.

Deb x

tjt6768

I'm the same with the exhaustion bit.. I get way beyond tired etc. plus I get a fuzzy feeling in my joints before the bad pain arrives...
Anyone else get that weird sensation in their joints? It's like they are buzzing...
Probably just me, I'm an odd ball, lol..

GraceB

Traveluvie,
I have OA so can only say what happens with that, you've got RA haven't you? Apols if I'm wrong.
With me, I start to ache more than usual and the pain intensifies. Also the inflammation increases and without realising it I'll start rubbing joints in rotation. I tend to check the weather on the old tinternet and look at the humidity. Chances are, if it's dry and I'm aching, when I look at the humidity it's over 90% - all then becomes very clear.
I tend to then retreat to a hot bath, use my "hottie doggie" one of those wheat bag things in the shape of a very cute dog, and increase my meds.
Oh - and my usual chocolate/coffee/wine remedy of course. Don't forget, chocolate when taken for medicinal reasons is calories, sugar and fat free, in fact, it's positively good for you!
Hope everything settles soon for you.
Take care,
Grace.

traluvie

tjt6768 wrote:

I'm the same with the exhaustion bit.. I get way beyond tired etc. plus I get a fuzzy feeling in my joints before the bad pain arrives...
Anyone else get that weird sensation in their joints? It's like they are buzzing...
Probably just me, I'm an odd ball, lol..

I can get a funny feeling too inbetween throbbing and buzzing, whatever that is lol..

traluvie

dibdab wrote:

Hi Tracy,

Hope the flare settles soon-it's miserable isn't it! Like you, I know it's coming when I get weary beyond words and chilly, then the swelling and pain kick in. -Just getting over a horrible flare up-thank heavens for steroids! Back to work tomorrow full of guilt for missing 2 days-but I could barely move.

Deb x

I am glad i had my steroid jab before xmas otherwise i would be alot worse.
Wonder if anyone else gets cold/chilly before flare..

You have RA??

traluvie

GraceB wrote:

Traveluvie,
I have OA so can only say what happens with that, you've got RA haven't you? Apols if I'm wrong.
With me, I start to ache more than usual and the pain intensifies. Also the inflammation increases and without realising it I'll start rubbing joints in rotation. I tend to check the weather on the old tinternet and look at the humidity. Chances are, if it's dry and I'm aching, when I look at the humidity it's over 90% - all then becomes very clear.
I tend to then retreat to a hot bath, use my "hottie doggie" one of those wheat bag things in the shape of a very cute dog, and increase my meds.
Oh - and my usual chocolate/coffee/wine remedy of course. Don't forget, chocolate when taken for medicinal reasons is calories, sugar and fat free, in fact, it's positively good for you!
Hope everything settles soon for you.
Take care,
Grace.

Thanks Grace.. i have inflammatory arthritis, just not sure which one..have oa too.., My appetite is zero when in flare have to force myself to eat, have a bowl of hot shreddies infront of me now, been there half hour and took 2 mouthfuls, looks like dogs can have it lol

tjt6768

At least now I know I'm not the only one with buzzing joints, lol.. Hey, buzzing joints, must be the new nightclub for arthritics haha...
Do you think the dj will play 'dem bones dem bones'
or 'the drugs don't work'??

traluvie

tjt6768 wrote:

At least now I know I'm not the only one with buzzing joints, lol.. Hey, buzzing joints, must be the new nightclub for arthritics haha...
Do you think the dj will play 'dem bones dem bones'
or 'the drugs don't work'??

i have loads of weird sensations lol..and i am weird too so you not the only one..

I reckon "drugs don't work" is defo the right song for me at the moment

tjt6768

it should be the forum anthem hun. Lol

bubbadog

Hey Tracey my fellow Redditch dweller! I get very chilly and exhausted and I get like sharp stabbing pains in the area effected and the area goes numb. Very weird I know! But that the couple of days before the on set of major pain!

dreamdaisy

I know that one is on its way when I feel more tired than usual, more achey and somehow 'fluey' all over. My tolerance of the pain lessens and I become quite tetchy. DD

traluvie

dreamdaisy wrote:

I know that one is on its way when I feel more tired than usual, more achey and somehow 'fluey' all over. My tolerance of the pain lessens and I become quite tetchy. DD

Yes i understand what you mean about fluey, i kind of feel like that, when i look back now, i have often thought i am coming down with something but then i start ballooning and swearing in my head lol..x

traluvie

bubbadog wrote:

Hey Tracey my fellow Redditch dweller! I get very chilly and exhausted and I get like sharp stabbing pains in the area effected and the area goes numb. Very weird I know! But that the couple of days before the on set of major pain!

Yes mine is few days before too, thought it would be interesting to know how it is for others and if there was much difference..xx

jillyb1

Tired , cold and shivery , feels as if the joints are stuffed with cotton wool , and then extra aches . Jillyb

valval

first off feel down for no reason then as if getting flu and yes stiff swell and hot joints not a good feeling val

bounce

Im the same as most of you regarding a flare up on the way, I get dog tired, lose my appertite, I cook the meal feel really hungry plate it up and bang Im suddenly not hungry, its so annoying.

My joints particually my hands go icy cold even with my arthritis gloves on, and its a weird feeling, like my hands dont feel like my hands, it is hard to describe how it feels, and then the pain level shoots through the roof, and I know im in for a fun few days to 3 weeks of it.

I tend to use my warm wax bath, my wheat bags and have a thick fleecy blanket draped over my legs and I snuggle my hands under it too, and keep up with all my meds.

and I think of the gloria gayner song "I will survive"

traluvie

My hands go icy cold too and i find it hard to get them and keep them warm..

bubbadog

traluvie wrote:

bubbadog wrote:

Hey Tracey my fellow Redditch dweller! I get very chilly and exhausted and I get like sharp stabbing pains in the area effected and the area goes numb. Very weird I know! But that the couple of days before the on set of major pain!

Yes mine is few days before too, thought it would be interesting to know how it is for others and if there was much difference..xx

Your right it's an interesting topic as it's one that effects all of us and it's great we can share thoughts and see how different each of ours is. Great topic Tracey! Hope your flare up's behaving it's self and your all doing o.k. You know where I am if you need to talk sweetie.xx