Flaring

[SassyRA]

At work top of right hand started turning red & I could barely open & close it. My left arm I could barely lift without pain. I text my doctor pics & she said I was flaring. I just saw her the day before & had blood work done my sedimentation rate was 53 as compared to August when it was 22 so she knew I was flaring from that also. She increased my dosage of prednisone from 2.5mg to 10mg for three days then 5mg for three days then 2.5mg. I was supposed to come off the prednisone next week but that’s not happening yet. I’m feeling a lot better today but right hand is still swollen & a little pain. Is prednisone the go to when you have a flare? How long do the flares last?

[helixhelix]

Depends what other meds you are on and how active your RA is. If your ESR is still over 20 then I guess you've not got the disease fully under control yet.

I hate oral prednisalone, and use strong anti-inflammatoires instead. My flares usually don't last long, but my disease is pretty well controlled.

[Nettac]

I have IM steroids. My flares usually last a long time. The steroid helps a bit. However, my PsA is not well controlled as yet. Current meds not working, so grateful for the shots!

[Hopeful1]

My consultant gives prednisone courses to calm flares when other NSAIDs don't work and when changing DMARDs . Varies dosage according to severity/longlevity of flare until it is dampened completely and then tapers gradually. Flares do vary in length, but if continuous can show need for a change of DMARD. I'm not keen on steroids, but prefer them to the flare!

[oldtimer]

After much trial and error, I now have a rescue pack of prednisolone. I take ten mgs for a week, then stop. I have had this for a year now and it seems to be working quite well. The only problem is deciding when to start. Sometimes it's all too obvious when I have a definite acute flare but other times it's lower grade and I just put up with it then.

[Beviejon1]

I have palindromic rheumatism along with RA .To me that looks like pal.

[SassyRA in reply to Beviejon1]

I have never heard of this I have to look it up

[Joy_1]

I need to take 15mg Pred when I flare. After 48hrs the flare begins to subside dramatically. I have tried 10mg in the past but it does not knock it on the head. Hence I need to hit it hard with 15mg and then I come down quick sharp.

[Hidden]

Is that you hand before or after prednisone?

[SassyRA in reply to Hidden]

I was on 2.5mg of prednisone but I took the 10mg that night the redness went away & pain subsided some the next day. Today I am feeling a lot better.

[Hidden in reply to SassyRA]

I was just wondering what it takes to get rid of that redness. I have twenty mg pills for a bad flare. I don't think I am having a BAD flare, but may be going into one. I don't know. If I take the Prednisone, I will want to eat and I cannot do that because I just had my last top five teeth pulled on Monday, and dentures put in. I have lost all my top teeth since I have had RA. My GP firmly believes the RA caused it. I have so much to do and no energy to get it done. RA is stealing everything from me.

[SassyRA in reply to Hidden]

Have you ever tried some soup or maybe a smoothie made with vegetables & fruit