How painful should a flare get?

[Turnaround]

I am quite new to RA and seem on an even keel most of the time but get occasional sharp flares that leave me very weak.

Last weekend I had a serious flare in my left shoulder, radiating to chest cavity. It began, as they usually do with me, during the night, and by 3am I was passing out with the extreme pain, A trip to hospital by ambulance for morphine and codeine took the edge off but did not clear it completely and I have spent the subsequent week totally wiped out. Is this relatively normal? Does anybody else get such violent flares? How do you handle such pain? I would appreciate any advice as you all have such wide experiences. Thank you.

[Mmrr]

Your experience of flares sounds very painful. Was the cause of your pain investigated whilst you were in hospital, or just assumed to be a flare ?When I flare I become generally hot and bothered, with all joints achy and hot / swollen, and the fatigue sets in.

It might be worth asking rheumatology for advice given the intensity of your pain ?

[Turnaround in reply to Mmrr]

Thank you. I wil contact Rheumy Nurse but unfortunately our Rheumatology Dept is very backlogged and slow to respond.

[Mermaid11]

Hi, Reading your post is exactly how my RA journey began. Hospitalised due to severe pain & not being able to move, but I didn't have a diagnosis at the time. I realise now it was due to the disease being so active, short courses of steroids didn't work, I eventually had a steroid injection and this helped a little along with pain relief. I would speak to your RA nurse and tell them how much pain your in.

Did a&e do any blood tests? I found when I was admitted to a&e because they didn't do blood tests, RA went undiagnosed. I had to keep going back to my GP, once they did bloods they realised inflammation markers were high.

[Turnaround in reply to Mermaid11]

Thank you Mermaid11 - it is such a relief to know I am not alone in going through these horrifically painful flares. My RA is obviously not as under control as I thought.

[Mermaid11 in reply to Turnaround]

Are you on any medication for RA? I think you should call your rhemotology nurse if you can as you will keep having these auful flare up's until its under control. Let us know how you get on x

[Lolabridge]

Gosh that sounds awful and I think such extreme flares need to be investigated by your Rheumatology team. Do let them know and ask for help as it’s likely that your RA in not as well controlled as it could be.

[sylvi]

Hugs darling. I don't have anything like you are experiencing, i think you should get onto your rheumy. xxxx

[Turnaround in reply to sylvi]

Thank you Sylvi. Whilst here I have to say how much i enjoy your posts!

[sylvi in reply to Turnaround]

That is kind of you to say so darling, thank you. xxx

[stbernhard]

Poor you. That sounds horrible. Thankfully I never had any such flares. I would certainly ask for an urgent appointment with a Rheumatologist to get to the bottom of this. Gentle hugs.

[Turnaround in reply to stbernhard]

Thank you stbernard - every on this site is so kind.

[Sheila_G]

That's a good question. How long is a piece of string? No-one knows how bad a flare will be until they get one. Sorry this isn't helpful but it really is impossible to say. As you are in so much pain you really need to contact your rhemy team immediately. They are there to help you and control your pain. They may give you a jab to help you on. Good luck.

[Turnaround in reply to Sheila_G]

Thank you Sheila_G. Have just left a message on Rheumatology answer machine so hopefully they will add me to their list of calls. This site sure is a help in times of stress and anxiety. Thank you.

[smilelines]

Jeeez it seems to me that a trip to the hospital by ambulance would warrant an emergency appointment with a rheumatologist. I hope they get you in very very soon! I am thinking that this type of disease is totally unpredictable. My friend with RA, who has had it for 10 years, says that it is only ever present in her small joints. That is not the case with me though. I have never been in as much intense of pain as you though. Take care.

[Turnaround in reply to smilelines]

Thank you.

[FINNlin]

I wasn't on Morphine long as it didn't suit me ,I would ask your doctor to try Zapain though you can't keep taking it as it does cause constipation,if taken for a very long time it might cause stomach problems.My husband has very bad pain which is getting worse and he takes them,I take naproxen now.

[Turnaround in reply to FINNlin]

Thank FINNlin. I have left a message on Rheumatology helpline. Hope they get back to me soon. It is the only avenue to connect with them.

[FINNlin]

By the sound of it , you need to have tests for RA.