What triggers flairs?

jimmy77

Hi,

I should have known it was coming since I have had a long break from the action. Started feeling fatigued plus just had a couple of bad nights sleep and woke up in the morning a couple of days ago, within 1 hour my right wrist became frozen (throbbing), both middle fingers swollen along with left ankle/foot. Felt like I had the flu with chills. I can't really think of anything out of the ordinary that I consumed or did. Maybe I was under stress and didn't realize it????????? Just getting back under control, after a couple of days of agony, by taking steroids.

jimmy77

tamnwill

Hi Jimmy,
I find stress, pmt, too much exercise, a virus and lack of sleep all contribute to flair ups. I too am on large dose of steroids to control a recent bad flair up...........seems to be under control now, just a shame that we have to take something like steroids to get to grips with the swelling and pain! I take echinacea and 1000 vit C, every day to keep my ammune system boosted. Hope you feel better soon, Tam xxx

jimmy77 wrote:

Hi,

I should have known it was coming since I have had a long break from the action. Started feeling fatigued plus just had a couple of bad nights sleep and woke up in the morning a couple of days ago, within 1 hour my right wrist became frozen (throbbing), both middle fingers swollen along with left ankle/foot. Felt like I had the flu with chills. I can't really think of anything out of the ordinary that I consumed or did. Maybe I was under stress and didn't realize it????????? Just getting back under control, after a couple of days of agony, by taking steroids.

jimmy77

mouseymousey

Stess does it for me. I think its to do with the way you hold your body? I know I tense up and then end up paying for it.

suzster

i've had several bad flare up's after drinking diet fizzy drinks or the low calorie hot chocolate drinks.
the really bad ones i've had have all been within a few hours of drinking these drinks, so since stopping drinking them touch wood i've not had any really bad ones for a while.
i don't know of other triggers, i've tried keeping note of what i eat but sometimes i just get a flare up for no obvious reason. or at least i can't pin point anything.

woodbon

I have oa of the spine. Yesterday, after a bad night I felt very bad and my back was really horrible. When I went to bed I felt tight (not through alchol, unfortunatly) and edgy, very uncomfortable and a bit of pain, I lie their thinking 'Am I edgy an uptight because of the pain or is the pain caused by the tension in my body?' I tried to work it out, and that is the last thing I remember, I just couldn't and all that thinking wore me out and I slept quite well!
Anyway, to be serious, I think its all a bit different for each person, and we just have to work out our own trigger factors and try to avoid or control them. Gosh, sorry, that sounds easy, but its the hardest thing in the world :roll: Sue

colinone

jimmy77 wrote:

Hi,

I should have known it was coming since I have had a long break from the action. Started feeling fatigued plus just had a couple of bad nights sleep and woke up in the morning a couple of days ago, within 1 hour my right wrist became frozen (throbbing), both middle fingers swollen along with left ankle/foot. Felt like I had the flu with chills. I can't really think of anything out of the ordinary that I consumed or did. Maybe I was under stress and didn't realize it????????? Just getting back under control, after a couple of days of agony, by taking steroids.

jimmy77

Hi Jimmy with me it seems to be lack of sleep or not taking medication as prescribed. you know when all is well and you decide to give those tablets a miss. Stick with it mate i hate the steriods they play with my brain but a nessaserry evil.
Take care
Colin

jimmy77

jimmy77 wrote:

Hi,

I should have known it was coming since I have had a long break from the action. Started feeling fatigued plus just had a couple of bad nights sleep and woke up in the morning a couple of days ago, within 1 hour my right wrist became frozen (throbbing), both middle fingers swollen along with left ankle/foot. Felt like I had the flu with chills. I can't really think of anything out of the ordinary that I consumed or did. Maybe I was under stress and didn't realize it????????? Just getting back under control, after a couple of days of agony, by taking steroids.

jimmy77

Hi,

Thanks for your responses. One thing that stands out was the wrist flair felt like an elastic band tighting to a point I had no use of my fingers. The fingers didn't hurt or anything but were just immobolized. With the left fingers in pain also, it was to say the least, an awkward functioning day.
You know diabetics give themselves insulin shots and others self administer also so, what about a package of injections for flairs to RA patients when they can't get into a rheumy right away? It works faster than the pills and is more convining to the problem area. What do you think?

jimmy77

livinglegend

jimmy77 wrote:

Hi, Thanks for your responses. One thing that stands out was the wrist flair felt like an elastic band tighting to a point I had no use of my fingers. The fingers didn't hurt or anything but were just immobolized. With the left fingers in pain also, it was to say the least, an awkward functioning day.
You know diabetics give themselves insulin shots and others self administer also so, what about a package of injections for flairs to RA patients when they can't get into a rheumy right away? It works faster than the pills and is more convining to the problem area. What do you think?
jimmy77

No one really knows what sets off the inflammation in individual cases, but the result is the same. I have flare ups for any reason you care to name. This, that or/and the other.

The above, sounds similar to the flares I sometimes get, very painful.
Phone your GP or Rheumy and ask about an over the counter, anti-inflamatory, painkiller that you can take, (and what dosage), if you have a flare up. These are fast acting and readily available. Keep a small stock at home, but you should phone first as to which one is most suitable for you. :shock:

Joseph 8)