During the last 12-months on how many occasions have ... - NRAS
During the last 12-months on how many occasions have you sought out emergency care (A&E) as a result of a flare of your rheumatoid arthritis?
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I have been down to see the rheumy between appointments though.
Once, but I didn't know it was a flare at the time, as I had only recently been referred to a rheumatologist by my GP. I thought I had broken my wrist the pain was so bad, but following examination, the A&E Doctor confirmed that Rheumatology was the way to go, and gave me my first taste of Naproxen, which worked wonders with the pain within a couple of days.
I always contact my Rheumatology department. Would not dream of going to A&E for a flare.
I contact my rhumatology dept or my gp, could never sit in a&e for hours plus it would be a waste of time.
I have also telephoned NHS24 on a couple of occasions as well as Rhumatology helpline at my local hospital.
I would contact RA dept.or GP because I have already been diagnosed.Would only go to A&E if I had a really bad reaction to RA meds and it was out of hours.
I thought I'd broken my wrist the pain was so bad. The X-ray showed extreme inflammation so rest was the cure and no more stapling at work!
Torn gastronemus muscle caused my last visit to casualty.
I have only once had to go to A and E as a result of my RA. Was simply so unwell and MTX was making very unwell- GP made the decision. Other than that, I contact my rheumatology nurse for help and if it is a weekend then I make do till Monday
I would call it more than a flare - woke up in agony, vomitting from the pain. At the ER they took some synovial fluid out of my shoulder - wbc of 93,000. They thought it was a septic infection. Surgery to debride the shoulder, iv antibiotics for 7 days, but nothing grew in the cultures. So, 'just a flare'. The infectious disease dr said to try to not let this happen again. My rheumatologist and I would love that - if only we could figure out how to prevent this!
My doctor suggested I went as she was unsure if the reaction I had to my flu jab the day before was a flare or an infection in my wrist.
I collapsed at home so OH called paramedics out, my inflammation was so severe knees gave way on stairs. My wrists & hands were virtually useless, too. My rheumatologist was informed as crp was 120. I was told to talk to my rheumy clinic more as they were there to help, I did worry in the early stages that I might be just fussing. I have more understanding of the disease now. Everyone was very patient with me.
Twice once due to my tocolizimab causing an allergic reaction though too, and another due to a flare causing my knees to give again and I suffered another bad fall, but my GP was concerned about my bones so I had to go to A & E to check there was no breaks.
I'm currently seriously considering going there again 
, I shouldn't need to as I've phoned my specialist nurse as adivised by my GP to chase up if I can be given a steriod injection to get me through this flare and the fact I've had to stop my Cimzea and methotrexate because off uveitis so obviously without my injections my body is screaming and the secrety makes me feel like I'm being pushy cause I phoned back again today as no one has yet bothered to phone me back from the so called urgent call I made on Tuesday to leave a message asking the nurse to phone me urgently. Hate having to beg for help they wouldn't allow a dog to suffer so badly in pain so why us.
I have had to call the rheumatology for steroid injections when i can't walk but can wait days or weeks for it.
I totally agree with many of the comments here, A&E is not appropriate for a flare of RA in itself but if I were having really severe side effects of meds or if I were extremely unwell in myself then I would consider going (it would be a last resort though!). Thankfully, as others have said, my rheumy team are great and will give me an extra appointment within a week or so if I'm really struggling, in the meantime I would load myself up with extra prednisolone, diclofenac and cocodamol, as discussed with my rheumy nurse.
i have never gone to a&e, when i last saw rheumy i complained about severe pain in my hands for a couple of nights, i was surprised she told me to go to a&e if it got that bad again
OOPS. I've never been to an A&E for emergency treatment. My Rheumy doctor will make time for me if I really need it. She's the best!
I don't go to A@E with flare ups, if it's bad I book a GP appointment or book a earlier clinic one.
Went to A & E first time cos I felt so ill thought I was going to die...was kept in hospital for 10 days ran every test known to man!!!.. I could barely walk ,nastagmus in the eyes felt permanently sick (they thought it was MS to begin with!!) .said it was a virus!!...now two years down the line just tested positive for RF ...still having probs walking painful ankles now wrists and fingers jaw elbows .......blah blah .....sounds so depressing....sorry..x
hi, just the one time as I just could not stand the immense pain I was in. They're help.... Morphine. Great no pain but it soon wears of. Kept in overnight, and generally ignored. MC
Stills disease flare, fluid around my organs swelled to the point that I couldn't breathe, advised to call an ambulance. The paramedics whipped me to hospital where I was kept in for 2 weeks. I had no idea a flare would end up with me being hospitalised!
