With a lack of sufficient rest, you may not be able to concentrate or function normally. This loss of normal functioning can affect every facet of life, from meal preparation to grooming and hygiene. Consequently, flares may be accompanied by a loss of weight and neglect in appearance. Just as the onset of the flare was marked by a gradual worsening of symptoms, the end of the flare will be marked by a gradual lessening of the severity of symptoms.
Intense, constant pain will give way to less intense pain, a decrease in joint swelling, and a gradual return of movement. Additionally, as symptoms become less intense, the ability to sleep soundly returns. Although there is currently no set definition of what constitutes an RA flare, there is agreement that a flare is associated with a worsening of key RA symptoms and an impact on certain areas of daily functioning.
Your doctor may use clinical tools including standard RA laboratory tests, counts of swollen and tender joints, and a global assessment of your condition to determine whether you are experiencing a flare. An RA flare may last for weeks or months, depending, in part, on how quickly you get treatment to address the underlying inflammation.
If you experience a flare, you should talk to your doctor immediately and start a course of treatment to reduce inflammation. Typically corticosteroid therapy is used to reduce the inflammation associated with a flare. It is important to address the inflammation that occurs during a flare to limit damage to joints, bones, and cartilage. By providing your email address, you are agreeing to our privacy policy.
We never sell or share your email address. All rights reserved. Always consult your doctor about your medical conditions. Use of the site is conditional upon your acceptance of our terms of use. These numbers are helpful for your doctor to track improvement of the disease flare after treatment. How long it takes to suppress a flare depends on the medications you take.
One strategy for severe flares is to control symptoms quickly with low-dose prednisone, which can improve symptoms within days, while simultaneously starting methotrexate and other medications designed to suppress disease activity within weeks or months.
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Become a Volunteer More About Volunteering. By taking part in the Live Yes! And all it takes is just 10 minutes. Rheumatoid arthritis RA is a form of arthritis and an autoimmune disease. An RA flare, also known as an exacerbation , is when a person experiences transient worsening of their RA symptoms—such as joint pain and swelling—which indicates increased inflammation and disease activity.
RA flares vary widely in frequency, duration, and severity. Flares can be predictable triggered by something or unpredictable. Self-care measures like rest and anti-inflammatory medicines may be able to help with flares, but when they don't, it's time to see a healthcare provider.
Repeated or consistent flares may signal the need for a medication adjustment or other change in treatment. Research has also found that RA flares may contribute substantially to worsening cardiovascular comorbidity, joint damage, and other long-term outcomes.
Symptoms of an RA flare are the same as those of RA, but they are more severe:. People with RA often experience a cluster of these symptoms. It's important to note that not all patients will experience all of the above symptoms during an RA flare.
There are two types of RA flares: predictable and unpredictable. This type of flare is caused by one or more known triggers. Overexertion, poor sleep, stress, or an infection like the flu can all set off RA symptoms. On the other hand, unpredictable flares don't have an obvious trigger. These flares might not get better on their own. This type of flare is more challenging to prevent and treat.
Flares occur frequently in RA patients with low disease activity, and are associated with worse disease activity, a lower quality of life, and more radiographic progression. Someone with RA may usually be able to do household chores, but a flare can interfere with their ability to perform these tasks.
Even simple things like using the bathroom and combing one's hair can become extremely difficult and tiring to complete. Some people have said that their joint stiffness was so severe that it felt like their limbs were stuck together with superglue. Those experiencing a flare are likely feeling symptoms from head to toe.
Fatigue can be debilitating, so much so that people experiencing an RA flare don't feel refreshed even if they sleep for long periods of time. It may also keep someone in bed for hours or days.
The symptoms of an RA flare can be so bad that a person experiencing one feels like their thoughts are all scattered and will hide away from others. They can also result in significant distress, including tearfulness, irritability, and frustration, and lead to depression, which can lead to suicide ideation.
The length of a flare varies, and can be different for different people. Some may experience it for a year, months, or days.
A flare can last as long as there isn't a change in treatment. Longer duration of a flare was associated with changes in disease-modifying therapy. It's essential to work with your healthcare provider to monitor your symptoms and tweak your treatment plan accordingly when you experience RA flares.
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