What triggers flare ups?

[Loco99]

I find stress and over exertion trigger flare ups, what are your experiences?

[janimaths]

For while I didn't believe the stress theory for myself. When my beloved companion dog died in October I didn't have a flare up. But he was ill and really suffering and it was a relief for him and me. My great and funniest friend then was in a 12 day coma following a huge operation for a replacement aorta - flare up for me as it was so stressful visiting and talking to her closed face in hospital. She has recovered well and is at her home again thanks to a modest and brilliant African surgeon who pulled off a miracle with his scalpel and of course his team. Later I tripped in a pavement pothole and fell literally on my face - crack in nose, horrible face (now recovered) trauma resulted in flare up which arose 2 days after the fall when I was beginning to react facially and all over with huge swelling and stiffness, even without the PMR. Later on, bubbling along feeling energetic, I had a day in which I left the house at 9 am, didnt get home until 8pm and did a million things, in the process of which I drove about 45 miles. I hadn't done that for about 14 months. Of course I was in real trouble when I woke the next day especially in neck and shoulders. Lesson now learned the hard way. I now know for sure that for me, I still have to rest and don't have the energy I expected to have, so am taking it easy now as I have done for such a long while. Just one experience, but yes I too find that stress and over exertion trigger flare ups.

[Celtic PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Loco99

Yes, stress and overdoing things seem to be among the most common triggers.

We have to learn the hard way at the beginning that if we want to beat this illness we have to give ourselves lots of TLC, even if it goes against the grain to do so. So many sufferers have found that when they've overdone it on a 'good' day, the pain will come back to bite on the next. I think one of the hardest lessons we learn in the early days of our illness is that of pacing ourselves.

As janimaths has shown, stress can be a strong factor in flares so should be avoided wherever possible, but unfortunately some stressful events are impossible to avoid. I found taking up Tai Chi to be of enormous benefit in helping to relax, with the added bonus of the stretching exercises and gentle movement helping to ease the pain and stiffness.

[Loco99]

Thank you for your replies, I am so pleased to have found this group of helpful people. I sometimes have flare ups for no apparent reason and wondered if things like certain foods, drinks and the weather play a part? I suppose if we could pin the flare ups down to a single factor we would be able to avoid them. When stress is involved, there's not a lot you can do, it's a part of everyday life.

[iforget]

I was planning to come and ask the self same questions today... and will be watching the replies with interest.