Hi i have just had the worst flareup, it lasted for 13 days, i have been on methetrexate for 12 weeks now, im also having humira injections for the last eigh tweeks, I have had psa for around 18mths started on sulphazadine but had side effects so i had to stop taking it.
Due to a lung problem i have it is not easy to get my medication right. Im now waiting to have a bone scan due to the severity of my last flareup.
Are regulas flareups common?
Has any 1 had a bone scan which has helped with there treatment?
It's interesting, there doesn't seem to be any sort of consensus as to what constitutes a flare, other than a worsening of symptoms. But how long does it have to last? If it only lasts for a day or two, is it a flare? Or something else. I know that I have short flares and extended flares. The short flares are usually under a few weeks, and don't require me to make any changes to my medication, and the longer flares can last for months. Usually that is what happens in the spring. . . Sometime around March it begins, and I don't really start to improve until June or so.
So to answer your question whether regular flares are common? If the disease is being well controlled by medication and lifestyle issues, then flareups shouldn't be too common. Not to say they won't happen, but they shouldn't happen too often. If you are flaring frequently, this implies that the disease isn't under good control. It sounds like you are on a relatively new medication regimen, so it may be a matter of treating symptoms as best you can while waiting, as many of the drugs can take 3-6 months to notice improvement.
I hope you start feeling better soon. It can sometimes take a few tries to get the medication right, and adjustments/changes will likely need to be made along the way.
Thank you for your reply. i have been told it takes 3-6 mths with some patience on new medication. Its just nice to be able to chat with people with the same problem and know the pain you can get out of such a tiny joint. x
Stoney said:
It's interesting, there doesn't seem to be any sort of consensus as to what constitutes a flare, other than a worsening of symptoms. But how long does it have to last? If it only lasts for a day or two, is it a flare? Or something else. I know that I have short flares and extended flares. The short flares are usually under a few weeks, and don't require me to make any changes to my medication, and the longer flares can last for months. Usually that is what happens in the spring. . . Sometime around March it begins, and I don't really start to improve until June or so.
So to answer your question whether regular flares are common? If the disease is being well controlled by medication and lifestyle issues, then flareups shouldn't be too common. Not to say they won't happen, but they shouldn't happen too often. If you are flaring frequently, this implies that the disease isn't under good control. It sounds like you are on a relatively new medication regimen, so it may be a matter of treating symptoms as best you can while waiting, as many of the drugs can take 3-6 months to notice improvement.
I hope you start feeling better soon. It can sometimes take a few tries to get the medication right, and adjustments/changes will likely need to be made along the way.