Hi, I’m new here and wanted to ask what exactly is a flare?
I have been on sulfazalazine for nearly 8 months now. Was all going good, things settled then about a month ago I got swelling and pain in fingers I hadn’t previously and it’s constant. For the last few weeks, the last week in particular I have been ridiculously tired, coming home from work, having a nap, wanting to go to bed by 9pm. I also have bursitis in hip.
Not sure exactly what answers looking for, just not sure what to do. Thank you in anticipation.
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with best wishes,
Ann
Thank you for posting on our Helpline Forum. I am sorry to hear you have been experiencing increased swelling and pain in your fingers during the last month, and increased fatigue. It does sound as if this could be due to a flare-up of your arthritis. Ann has given a very helpful definition of a flare in her response.
It may be good to go back to your GP and/or contact your rheumatology team for advice. I am not sure from your post what type of arthritis you have. Just to clarify, we are not medically trained on the Helpline.
If you feel it would help to talk things through informally and in confidence, you are very welcome to give us a call on our free helpline: 0800 520 0520 (weekdays 9am-8pm).
In the meantime, you may find the following links from our website helpful.
For information about managing your symptoms, including pain and fatigue, diet and exercise, see: https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/managing-symptoms/
For our section on hand and wrist pain, see: https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/conditions/hand-and-wrist-pain/
For information about working with arthritis, follow this link: https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/living-with-arthritis/work/
I hope this is of some help.
Best wishes,
Fiona
Helpline Advisor
I am a forum member who has psoriatic and osteoarthritis. My psoriatic flares occasinally despite the meds (I inject humira and methotrexate) and the flare affects my whole body. I become extra tired for weeks and months and no matter how much I rest nothing improves.
My osteo 'flares' are localised to the affected joints and easily dealt with by rest and the occasional application of voltarol. I am the culprit of those, causing them by overdoing things or by eating too many pickled onions
Fatigue can be a hard symptom to manage but pacing your activities and doing small tasks with periods of rest in between can help to manage while the flare-up is happening.
Creams like voltarol or capsaicin cream can often help ease sore joints, but often people may use a combination of pain medication (either creams or tablets) and other methods, like gentle stretches, massages, acupuncture, supplements, TENS machines. We’ve got lots of information on all these which I’ve added below.
Ways to manage your pain: https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/managing-symptoms/managing-your-pain/
Thank you again for contributing to our forum! Wishing you all the best, Jack – Helpline Advisor