Hi Anne

RA is usually a chronic relapsing condition. Chronic means that it is persistent. Relapsing means that at times the disease flares up (relapses), and at other times it settles down. There is often no apparent reason why the inflammation may flare up for a while, and then settle down again.

A flare always affects several joints as it is a dysfunction of the immune system rather than inflammation of only specific joints. You would feel very ill, as though coming down with something like flu, and quite possibly unable to get out of bed! It can last anything from a week or two to months depending on how quickly the disease can be brought under control again. With the current treatment methods 'flares' will be become less of a symptom as the disease will for the main part be kept under control. However stress, other illnesses, failure of medication can lead to a 'flare'.

What you seem to be experiencing is either RA that is not fully controlled by the meds which may need reviewing or overuse of joints that need to be rested. RA that is controlled properly doesn't generally cause these problems unless you have permanent joint damage then you get pain but not usually inflammation!

Hope this helps!

Lyn x

Anne, you will be absolutely fine! Just try to take it easy ... at least some of the time!!

Lyn x

And sadly contradictory advice can be very unhelpful!

Anne is recently diagnosed and so far has had only 4 doses of methotrexate. She is still waiting for the drugs to kick in, which I'm sure they will, but as you know it can take a few months to feel the benefits. In order to have a flare you have to first have gone into remission; this hasn't yet happened for Anne. She may be lucky and never have a flare; I've had RA for 22 years and flares for me are uncommon. That's not to say I haven't had a lot of joint pain, inflammation and consequently a host of changes in medication!

I imagine Anne is still trying to come to terms with how she needs to adapt to life with RA. I'm sure she will get there but that too takes time. I answered the post with generalised suggestions and known facts. To specifically state that someone is "having a flare" without medical qualification is inappropriate and misleading.

Sorry Anne if this is confusing for you. It is hard to know just what is going on with your body when it's all new to you. I would suggest that if the problems do seem to be continuing for much longer, it might be worth asking your GP for something to help until the methotrexate 'does its job'. Take care,

Lyn x

Thank you so much for the advice I can assure you it really does help to know that what I am experiencing is normal for RA. Taking my fourth dose today and I've just brought some ginger nuts, half price in one stop. Anne x

Good post Lyn, Explained very well, Anne hope you don't have to wait too long before the methotrexate kicks in. I remember it well, try to keep a diary of how you feel, it is good as you can look back and see yourself getting better. I found that a great help, I kept mine going for around a year. Thinking about you Lorna x

ok
thanks Lyn
take care
Mary L