I had my 4th jab on Friday. Today my fingers are swollen and painful. Not been like this since after my steroid injection in November. So tired too. Thinking back the same happened after my 3rd jab in October hence the steroid in November. Just wondered if anyone has this connection with a flare too?
My thinking is I’ve had a vaccine that affects my immune system to protect me so my immune system is fighting back hence the flare…
What do you all think?
I had a huge flare after the first Pfizer jab, like you I needed a steroid injection to settle the hands down. Less effect from the other three. I hope your hands settle soon, it's miserable when even washing your hands hurts.
Hello Haz58 - I had my 4th vax while experiencing a flare and it certainly exacerbated that condition! I saw my Rheumy the day after a sleepless and SO painful night and I think she was shocked at my appearance ... She agreed that the vax had exacerbated the flare but also said that to give steroids would not be wise whilst Covid cases are still rising. I can't take NSAIDS or antiinflammory drugs so rely on Paracetamol. After three weeks the flare is less but still in my fingers and hands ... So yes, a similar reaction to the one you 'enjoyed' .....
I thought there was some connection! I never thought much about it after my 3rd one. But looking back at my diary the same happened then. Had to stop my MTX as my stomach is being affected too much by it. Looks like they’ll try me on the injection when I go in feb. I’m beginning to feel like a pin cushion lol.
Yes it's good to make these 'connections' and I must say I have bolstered my sagging positivity by reasoning like Lolabridge that if I have a reaction it must be doing something good! A bit like the old adage that if the medicine tastes vile it's it's doing more good than one that tastes pleasant! However we dress it up, a flare is a wretched experience. Good luck with the injection of your meds - and I hope it cures your problems with the stomach. Fingers crossed.
Hi there, I think you’re onto something. Had a really bad flare which has been going on for weeks. Really painful hands and shoulders. I checked back my diary and symptoms and increase in pain relief all stem back to after my 3rd dose. Starting to feel as if things are settling down but should be getting a call for 4th jag in a few weeks so we’ll see what happens then.
Yes I had a flare too but it has settled too now. I’ve told myself that I’m probably making an immune response and that has made the flare more bearable! No idea whether that’s true or not but we can hope. 🤞🏻
That’s a good positive way of looking at it 🥰 I think I’ll take your lead and look at it that way. Xx
Yes, the same thing happened to me but whereas the first two Astra Zeneca flares lasted a couple of weeks, the third Pfizer vaccine lasted five weeks and only really cleared after a steroid injection into my shoulder for a separate long-term problem. You can imagine how much I am looking forward to the fourth booster due in a few weeks. Still better than Covid. I hope your flare settles soon.
Yes! I had my vaccine last Friday, no real side affects apart the aching arm etc but now I'm in a flare, but still waiting for my Rituxumab to kick in!
Funny you should say this as i had my 4th vaccination last week and since then have been tired and fingers are painful but not swollen. But this is my norm fir a flare
Hi yes Astra zeneca made me feel like bad flu, but the Pfizer I had a really bad flare and needed a depo steroid to try and calm it down, it makes it so hard and puts you off having another. But I couldn’t use my hands or wrists it was so bad. Not sure what the answer is to this.
Funnily enough I had my 4th jab a few weeks ago, I’ve had 3 Astra V and the last one was Pfizer. I had no side effects with first three but after this one my hands have swollen and are sore. Also had bloods done two days later and my lymphocytes and neutrophils are high, getting bloods done next week again because of it. Hands still sore and swollen. Had the usual side effects with this one as well. I didn’t even have a sore arm with other three. Maybe Pfizer is working better than others, who knows.
After I ha my third jab , l got a really bad flare up . That was in December .shoulders hands .and left knee. I thought it was a coincidence , but it it seems to make sense now. Had a cortisone injections in my shoulders .hope it settlers down soon.
Yes I didn’t connect it after my 3rd.
I had 4th on sat & from 5.30ush sun morn was so ill. Felt like bad flu. Couldnt stand having head on pillow, mega migraine, couldn't stand ANY light, jaw & teeth, bones under eyes & nose soooo painful. Mouth very dry. Whole body was so painful/swollen, just wanted to sleep but couldn't so just laid there. Hubby had to help me take paracetamol thru day & FINALLY feel little bit better this morn. (Couldn't have looked at phone yday/type) it was just like after my retuxi inf!!! Glad it's maybe the last vaccine 4 while. But better than covid. Hope every1 gets thru there flares. People don't realise what we go through!
Hope you feel better soon🌻
Hi. I had a flare after my fourth vaccine. Nothing after the first three so I wasn’t expecting anything but a full on flare and generally felt unwell. Only lasted about three days. Still well worth having the vaccine though.
Deffo! X
Four weeks after Pfizer still trying to recover. You are not alone!
Hi there and so sorry you are having a rough time.It seems so complicated..we do ‘the right thing’ to stay safe and then get hammered by out RA. After the first two AZ vaccines I was fine no reaction at all but since my 3rd which was Pz I’ve been in flare up after flare up.It started the day immediately after I had the vaccine and has been trundling on ever since.Initially I tried to persuade myself it was my OA but having seen my last blood test results last week I can’t ignore the fact that the CPR marker is has steadily gone up over the last 3months.So Im thinking that RA has raised its head again.
Last week I upped my MTX tablet dose so hoping that’s going to help.
I can’t wait for Thurs to come which is the day I take it.How different from when I first started taking it when I used to dread my MTX day.But it’s been my friend now for 7years and for the last 2 I’ve been on a low dose of 3 so now upped it to 4 and waiting to see of that helps over the next couple of weeks otherwise I’ll be contacting mu Rheumy nurse to see what to do next.
Hands and feet are affected and generally feel not great but struggling on tho don’t really feel like doing much and some days can’t.
I could have the 4th vaccine but definately holding back from that until RA things have settled back down. Hopefully all this means that my immune system is sparked up to protect me if and when I feel like doing more and chancing my luck in the maskless no social distancing world to come out there.
I do hope things calm down for you very soon so you can carry on with ‘normal life’.Best Wishes.
I'm sorry to hear you are having a horrible flare.I've had absolutely no reaction after my fourth - this time Moderna - except for a vaguely sore arm. I'm not sure whether to be pleased (that there's no reaction) or worried that I'm not making any antibodies. Especially after seeing my (adult) granddaughter who was really laid low by her third jab.
Last year i had really bad flares after my first AZ covid jab and flu vaccine. Had no reaction to the second AZ jab. 3rd vaccine was Pfizer and although i was ill for a week my joints were ok. Despite 3 vaccines i still got Covid on Boxing day, was really poorly and now my joints are dreadful!! I've had a letter to go for my 4th vaccine next month but am definitely going to delay having that until this flare is well and truly settled. I agree its hard to know what to do for the best, especially if the virus keeps mutating and the vaccines are then offering limited protection anyway.
Oh no! I hope they settle down very soon for you. Sometimes with us it’s the devil you do and the devil you don’t isn’t it! Take care. X
Had my 4th on wed which was Pfizer. My first two were AZ and then the last two Pfizer. My hands were sore and stiff on Fri but I blamed being off my meds. My rheumatologist always told me to stop meds day before, day of and day after. I have also had very dry itchy eyes. My hands are still swollen and sore but not severe, but I’m beginning to think it was the vaccine
I had a flare after all three jabs. I took it that my body was having a good old fight with itself which showed that the vaccine was working. Who knows??Best of luck to you🌻
I had a big flare after my 3rd vaccine dose. I have just had my 4th dose & a completely different experience.
Had Pfizer for all 4 doses. First two were fine no real reaction apart from a sore arm. Had my 3rd dose on 1st Oct, sore arm was immediately worse, after 2days I started a big flare which lasted weeks. The first 2 weeks were the worse & I felt very unwell, the flare continued for weeks. I hadn’t had a flare like this since starting Abatacept infusion in 2011, I was fairly well controlled.
Had an appointment at rheumatology in December when things were improving, there wasn’t much interest in the flare caused by the 3rd does. I did report to the yellow card.
I had my 4th vaccine 2weeks ago, no real reaction other than a slightly sore arm. My preparation was different, I had the injection in my other arm & I delayed my abatacept infusion. I had the 4th vaccine 6 weeks after my infusion, instead 2 weeks as I did with the 3rd dose as advised by the government. I had also delayed my abatacept infusion missing one months infusion. Yes my arthritis is a little more active but nothing like the flare I had after my third.
This has worked for me, everybody is different & on different meds. Timing with my medication was key for me. Hope this might be helpful to others. I am very please I have had my 4th, protection to Covid is so important for us CEV.
I happened to have my blood test two days after and my CRP was in a steep spike which it never does. I felt horrible. Definitely a flare from vaccination that lasted weeks and I don’t think my leflunimide worked as well after that either. First and second vaccinations were terrible for flares. Third was ok but not great. I don’t want a fourth.
My cousin is saying the same, her steroid injections haven’t worked since her 3rd vaccine and she’s refusing the 4th. I hadn’t connected it until after my 4th.
My 3rd vaccine affected me. My RA has been extremely active all last year with so much pain and debilitation, but on 3 brief occasions (2 infections and 3rd covid jab) a weird thing happened - although I felt dreadfully ill with the infections, my joint agony due to the RA almost vanished for those few days each time! but came back with horribly again immediately the infections and the vaccine reaction stopped.
So, I can't tell if the vaccine makes the RA worse, as I was already very bad with it. BUT - it seems clear that the immune system is strongly affected by it, understandably, but it's fascinating how it seemed to switch suddenly from attacking with the RA to tackling the vaccine reaction & infections and 'forgot' about the RA! (It's possible that my Leflunamide stopped working a year ago (after 7 successful years on it) because of the 1st covid jab, as it ties in, but will never really know.
But - yes, agree with you the immune system seems to turn to fight something else, then comes back even worse attacking our own bodies!
Hope things improve for you!
It is weird! Bodies are so complicated! I’ve logged my symptoms on the Zoe app that I’ve been doing since the start of COVID. Input it on the any other info about symptoms. It may prompt them to look into it more if more people reported it. My middle finger on us left hand wouldn’t bend this morning and hurts a lot, ah well hemp gel smothers it now and on with the compression gloves. Hope you get some relief very soon. X
So much can be said! you're right about reporting these things. All the best Haz! 
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