Flare up

Hi everyone. I was diagnosed with arthritis when I was in first year of college and now I'm 39. I had ups and downs. Pain in shoulders and knees and recently in my hands. But otherwise my pain went for years after injections at hospitals etc. I got started on methotrexate injections several years ago too. But all of a sudden I have really bad pain in my knee it's awful! It started out of the blue. I can't climb the stairs properly or walk outside even.

[Hidden]

Anybody understand? 😥😥😥😥

And what painkiller would you suggest

[amberly87]

SID123-

I have psoriatic arthritis, psoriatic spondylitis and fibro. My daily pain started around 15 or 16; it started with constant neck pain & headaches (I’ve ALWAYS had chronic headaches), then shoulder pain/upper back, then my hips, the surrounding arm pit area, chest area, elbows and finger swelling, then feet swelling and knee pain/swelling. I’m currently on Remicaide which helps ALOT for a couple of weeks (I was at 8 weeks, then 6 with 2 dosage increases and we are hoping insurance will approve every 4 weeks). I also do joint injections, trigger point injections and Xeomin injections, all of which help but are short lived. No matter how great treatments work, flare ups are inevitable. Due to recent opioid laws I no longer have access to pain medicine which makes the flare ups more frequent. You most likely are having a flare up. Based on my experience, I would discuss a biologic with your doctor. I started with Enbrel and Humira (& also tried Methotrexate). When I didn’t respond to them my rheumatologist questioned if I had psoriatic arthritis bc most people respond to them somewhat. Then we tried Remicade (you have to try biologics in a certain order per health insurance stipulations) and I finally got relief for the first time in 1-1/2 decades! My theory is that bc I have had arthritis so long and it was untreated as everyone thought my only diagnoses was fibro, that it is out of control more so than typical and it took a stronger medicine for me to respond. So while flare ups will never go away, I suggest discussing a biologic with your doctor, especially if the knee pain is new and severe. I’m not too sure on the progressive nature of arthritis and I’m sure it’s different for everyone, but it’s my understanding it is progressive (will spread and/or worsen) which of course varies person to person. New pain is a sign of it spreading/worsening and I would give anything to have had an earlier diagnosis and proper treatment. With arthritis early detection and treatment is key- it’s easier to contain a barrel fire than a wild fire!

[Hidden in reply to amberly87]

Thanks so much for replying in so much detail. You really have been through so much haven't you? Mine is psoriatic arthritis yes. But the sudden flare up after so long is hard to find easy to deal with. I'm on methotrexate injections one a week..they must have been helping all this time. I really hope this is just a short flare up...seeing a gp is useless it's the main consultant who can help and getting an appointment with them is a headache. Do you try heat for relief? I use a hot water bottle which I find helps ignore the pain not make it Better obviously! I feel like I shouldn't be complaing because yours is so much worse

[amberly87 in reply to Hidden]

SID123-

I don’t think anybody’s is worse than the next- chronic pain is chronic pain and it’s mental effects are just as debilitating no matter the pain level. I have a heat pack I use relentlessly...it’ll probably metamorphosize into my body one day (LOL). But yes, heat, especially wet heat (baths) makes a huge difference, but it is short lived. I hope you find relief soon and please share your findings along your journey!