Flare?

Susiesoo

Hi everyone

I'm quite new to this, but seem to spend some of each day reading the threads on here. I can't tell you how helpful and reassuring some of your comments are. I'm now looking for some thoughts from you.

I was diagnosed with RA a year ago. Have been on Prednisolone since (currently 6mg and very slowly reducing). Have been on MTX since last August. 20mg MTX seemed to get it under control and Cons Rheum said I was in remission, although I felt pretty awful. Liver then had a blip so came off MTX and felt much better in myself. Liver settled (think it was a virus rather than MTX) so am now back on 15mg MTX.

Am still feeling much better than when on 20mg and blood results are all good. Saw Cons Rheum 2 weeks ago, all ok, a little stiffness in one foot in morning, otherwise quite good so said carry on as before.

Then I went to coast for weekend with family. Walked a bit Friday, used buses Saturday and wandered for quite a while. I became very good at sitting with empty buggy whilst others went and did things. Thought I'd been sensible, but Sunday morning I couldn't straighten back, hips hurt, feet hurt. Oh dear. That was two weeks ago, am still in pain, but not awful and more parts seem to be affected. Initially I used Ibupro, but not had any for a week.

More bits seem to hurt every day, elbow, knee's a bit swollen (no knee trouble before), this morning a couple of knuckles hurt, one foot is painful in evenings. The pain isn't awful by any means, but it's there.

I don't mean this to be a moan, but I have a really silly-sounding question. What constitutes a flare? I'm sure I should know by now, but I do feel I don't really understand so much about this disease. Is this a flare or just niggles to be expected.

I know how much pain some of you on here suffer and I am very grateful that at this stage I cannot compare myself to you, but I would be very grateful to hear some of your thoughts.

I have made an appointment with GP to discuss this and to ask about pain relief etc.

Thanks to all, Susie

fowls48

Hi Suzie


Sorry you are suffering , i'm having a flare myself burning all over , there will be other members along soon with good advise .as i am still a novice Good luick

karen x

Susiesoo

Thanks Karen.

It's nice to know someone's out there who understands and cares. Don't know about you, but I don't know of anyone else with this so have no-one to discuss things with. This forum really helps.

Your reply has helped as I have burning in various parts. It helps to know it is part of the disease.

Because I know so many on here really suffer, I'm still not sure I should be asking such silly simple questions. Am trying not to feel a fraud!

I hope you are resting and very soon feel better. Good luck to you too.

Susie

dreamdaisy

When I flare the first sign that it's on the way is I begin to feel more tired than usual, everything becomes more of an effort, pain levels remain the same but bits that don't usually hurt join in for the fun of it. :roll:

Why have you stopped the ibruprofen? Were they not helping? It might be worth starting again to see if that helps to ease things. It could also be that the lower dose of meth is not quite enough now to control things but that is something for you to discuss with either your rheumatologist or a rheumatology nurse: does your clinic have a helpline you could ring? I hope things ease soon, it's not a pleasant feeling. DD

barbara12

Hi Susie
Dont you apologise for having a moan, I am a great believer in talking , and by talking to us it will help you.
I am so sorry you are going through all this , I have OA, but I am just getting use to what I can do and not do and pacing myself, its not easy but you will get there.
I do wish you well with everything,
Sorry I didnt say welcome to the forum xx

bubbadog

Hi Susie, I've suffering from a flare up at the moment, mine started on Sunday and origianally only my left leg was suffering as well as both my hips and back but since yesterday my right leg has joined the party!! I don't know if it was the change in weather that set off this flare up? but it could be. Different things set different people's flare up's off. I hope your's doesn't go on too long for you and that you can settle your pain down. And to all other people dealing with flare up's at the moment, hope you don't have to suffer too long, stay strong!!

Susiesoo

Thank you all for your responses.

DD - I'm still not sure what constitutes a flare. I would have expected to feel much worse in myself and yet I don't feel too bad. I stopped the Ibuprofen as I don't like taking anything more than I really need to and didn't feel the level of pain warranted pain killers. I have now had some though as the pain is spreading, albeit quite mildly. From comments on here I am wondering if I should be on painkillers longterm. I had a feeling you might say that about the level of meth. I felt so awful on the higher dose that I would rather suffer this level of pain. I don't know how sensible that is and is something I need to discuss. Think I'll make a phone call. Thank you for your support again.

Barbara - thank you for your welcome and comments. You are right, it does help to talk. I thought I was doing too well! Might just sit and watch a bit of tennis.

Bubba - yes, I had wondered about the weather. Sorry to hear you are suffering as well, although it's nice to know we are not alone. Just a shame anybody has to suffer it. As you said, I hope you and all others suffering a flare are soon feeling much better.

With many thanks to all, Susie

stickywicket

I think that phone call is a good idea, Susiesoo. There are all sorts of possiblities and we aren’t really the ones best placed to decide. It might be that the meth isn’t quite keeping it all under wraps. This doesn’t necessarily mean a higher dose. They might chuck something else into the mix as well. I take 15mgs of meth and 200mgs of hydroxychloroquine weekly and that does the trick for me. Anti-inflams are another possibility but don’t self-medicate with them as their usage needs watching when on meth.

Most of us have done the ‘I don’t want to take any more meds than is absolutely necessary’ thing. I’m still there 50 years on :roll: and I still think it’s a good basis. But the disease has to be controlled and sometimes potential side effects have to be controlled so we have to be flexible in our plans. You’re right at the start of this. If I can’t get stuff right in 50 years, don’t be too hard on yourself if you’re not sure what course to take.

dreamdaisy

It takes time to get to know your personal 'flavour' of arthritis, I've had sixteen years of the auto-immune sort, I'm not sure how many of the OA (that was confirmed in April 11) and it still takes me by surprise every now and again. You are right not to take too many pain dullers, if you can manage without that's a good thing, but when everything is growling gently away then it makes sense to ease matters.

Woman can rarely live by meth alone. It is far more common to have other things alongside, e.g. hydroxy, diclofenac, in my case sulphasalazine, sometimes oral steroids or joint injections, and sometimes meth can be changed to leflunomide - there is a number of meds available, with I don't know how many combinations, and it can take time to find the 'mixture' that suits you. Rest as much as you can, if things don't ease then get in touch with your rheumatology helpline (assuming you have one) and keep talking to us. We'll see you through. DD

Colin1

Hello Susie i havent read the other replies so i'm going to wing it and hope i can be of some help. I assume you go for regula blood tests with being on the Metheotrexate next time you go ask them if the can test you inflamtion levels that will be of help. However It really does sound like you have done to much at the sea side. Problem is we really overdo it when we feel a little better and that makes us feel worse. If you have had a couple of days rest and feeling no better its a flair. Inflamation causes your sore bits to swell and you can offten see a difference. With me ankles feet , toes , fingers, wrists, they also feel warm to the touch and you will feel Flue like but Methotrexate makes me feel flue like. You know what Susie the problem is we all suffer different although we have the same things its true some people suffer more than others and have different symptoms RA is a crazy thing. Now about your illness Some people do suffer or feel more pain than others You see people on here who say things like my thumb is so sore it make me feel like crying and i cant cope anymore. You see others wracked head to foot with pain. They are no different to each other, they are both suffering and both hurt mentally and phiscly. A person who has bad RA for some years may be able to cope better and deal with the pain better because they learn to cope and the threshold for pain is more torrible. But we all hurt my love. Do youhave a Rheumy Nuse if so have a chat with her
normaly when people feel like they are having a flair they are because they can tell by the amount of pain and feeling unwell.I hope your feeling better Soon
Colin

Susiesoo

Thank you all for your thoughts. I'm still trying not to deny or fight this wretched disease, but......

I'm much the same at the mo. Pain in the foot has increased and seems to be worse when resting (?). I now have wheat bags which seem to help, but they go cold very quickly. I had no instructions to say how often/long they can be used. Any ideas please?

I plan on having a restful weekend and will see how things are next week.

Again, thanks for your help. Susie

dreamdaisy

I reckon heat is fine for as long as you want. As for the bags cooling down my Ma swears by a hot water bottle wrapped in a small fleece blanket - that keeps her warm for ages. (She's 88 and feels the cold very much.) I've been known to use a hottie filled with crushed ice to cool my knee joints but I still find a bag of frozen peas easier to drape. The restful week-end sounds ideal and I hope you soon start feeling brighter. DD

stickywicket

Susiesoo wrote:

Pain in the foot has increased and seems to be worse when resting (?).

You're in the early stages of this, Susiesoo, and I'm definitely not, so what I'm about to write might be totally irrelevant but...on the offchance... I'm currently having a lot of pain in one foot in bed at night, not during the day. I'm pretty sure it's my shoes. I'm OK with one pair but the other doesn't support my instep properly and is wreaking havoc. So, if you've not tried a different pair, it might be worth a go.