How To Treat An Arthritis Flare Up

How To Manage Arthritis Flare

An arthritis flare is an episode of increased pain, stiffness, and fatigue. These intensified arthritis symptoms can come on suddenly, disrupting your normal routine. Depending on the type of arthritis you have, flares can be brought on by overdoing activities, changing weather patterns, changes to your medications, stressor sometimes for no apparent reason at all.

To minimize the impact of flares and help you recover as quickly as possible, consider the following advice.

What Makes Arthritis Flare Up

When you’re suffering from a painful condition like arthritis, you’re almost always looking for ways to keep your symptoms at bay.

We’ve all heard the old wives’ tale that when an achey joint is acting up it’s a sign that bad weather is on the way…but can it really be true that something like a change in weather can trigger your pain?

“It’s true the symptoms of arthritis can recede and flare up. It’s also true that a change in weather can sometimes trigger a flare-up, which is often magnified when a certain type of arthritis is not being well-managed,” says Dr. Syed Alam, rheumatologist at Houston Methodist.

“While you can’t control the weather, the good news is that you can avoid other triggers of arthritic flare-ups as long as you know what type of arthritis you have in the first place,” adds Dr. Alam.

Arthritis is a broad term for pain, tenderness or swelling in a particular joint , and the three most common types of arthritis are:

• Rheumatoid arthritis when your immune system attacks the structure of your joint
• Osteoarthritis wear and tear damage that breaks down the cushion in your joint
• Gout when sharp crystals form and deposit in a joint

“When it comes to flare-ups of these types of arthritis, the triggers themselves aren’t actually the source of your pain. They’re just things that aggravate the underlying issues of the arthritis,” explains Dr. Alam.

Symptoms Of Severe Osteoarthritis

If you suffer from severe osteoarthritis, pain may take place with motion and activity, along with when you take rest. Your motion range of the affected joints will remain limited if you suffer from severe osteoarthritis. Besides, you may experience joint locking or joint buckling problems. Even though, locking or buckling joints seem to be nuisances, they lead to severe consequences, especially when your joint locks or buckles. Along with this, you may experience a few of the additional symptoms, such as-

• Stiffness while walking

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Triggers For Flare Ups

Rheumatoid arthritis An RA flare is mostly due to inflammation, but what triggers inflammation? The triggers for inflammation are not specifically known yet, though extensive medical research is in progress. It may be stress, weather or too much physical activity. There is no definitive medical research proving weather impacts arthritis, but many patients have noted their joints react to a change in barometric pressure and humidity or when it is cold. Other triggers include infection or any illness compromising the immune system, and medications.

Osteoarthritis Flare ups are not triggered by inflammation from an immune system response, but inflammation may be one of the symptoms of an osteoarthritis flare. Scientifically proven flare triggers still do not exist, but there are certain activities that have often triggered flare ups. They include falling on or injuring a joint, repetitive motions and overuse. Other causes include infection, stress, weather and obesity or being overweight. In some cases, continued deterioration of the cartilage can lead to bone spurs developing which then further irritates the joint and possibly the surrounding tissue.

Psoriatic arthritis Most people experience a flare of psoriasis before a flare of psoriatic arthritis. The suspected triggers for a flare are stress, weight gain, physical trauma, joint strain, infection and medications.

Sciatica Risk Factors Include:

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Can You Qualify For Disability With Psoriatic Arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis falls under the classification of immune system impairments of the Disability Evaluation Under Social Security. 2 More specifically, it is listed under section 14.09 titled Inflammatory Arthritis. If someone meets the requirements under section 14.09, they may be approved for disability payments.

What Can Cause Hip Arthritis To Flare Up

The hip joint is a ball-and-socket joint and is one of the largest joints in the human body. The sections of bone in the joint are protected by cartilage, which is a tough, smooth tissue designed to absorb shock, reduce friction, and allow the bones to glide together smoothly. When the cartilage wears down, this causes arthritis due to bone-on-bone rubbing.

If you have hip arthritis, you know that some days can be better than others. When arthritis symptoms such as pain, stiffness, and swelling become worse or more intense, this is known as a flare-up.

A flare-up can come on unexpectedly and can take a toll on your lifestyle. Lets talk about what can cause hip arthritis to flare up, and where you can go for an orthopedic evaluation and treatment that reduces or eliminates your hip pain.

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Osteoarthritis Of The Spine

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of spinal arthritis. It usually affects the lower back and develops through wear and tear. As the cartilage between the joints slowly breaks down, it leads to inflammation and pain. Because the pain is from mechanical damage, it is typically more noticeable when you bend or twist your back. Past back injuries may also contribute to the development of degenerative arthritis of the spine.

Osteoarthritis of the spine usually affects the facet joints between the vertebrae. It is also known as facet joint arthritis, facet joint syndrome and facet disease. In some cases, degeneration of the spinal discs may contribute to facet joint arthritis. As discs between the vertebrae become thinner, more pressure is transferred to the facet joints. This leads to more friction and more damage to the cartilage.

When these degenerative changes occur in the neck, this condition is called cervical spondylosis. Arthritis in the neck doesnt always cause pain, and many people have no noticeable symptoms.

How Long Do Ra Flares Last

The length of time an RA flare lasts can vary widely, from a few hours to several days or weeks. If a flare does not improve after 7 days, it may be a good idea to contact a physician. The doctor may suggest adjusting the persons medication.

Before a RA flare begins, a person may experience fatigue or feel that something is not quite right.

During a flare, symptoms tend to increase until they reach their peak. As the peak passes, the symptoms will lessen and may completely disappear.

The frequency and severity of flares can vary widely between individuals. With treatment, a person may spend months or years in remission, while others may experience flares more frequently.

RA flares can be predictable or unpredictable. A flare will occur when something triggers an increase in disease activity, which means that levels of inflammation go up.

Predictable flares usually occur in response to one or more triggers.

Some flares have no apparent trigger, and a person may be unable to identify why it started. This can make them harder to avoid.

In 2017, a involving 274 people with RA who attended a clinic in Turkey found the following appeared to worsen their symptoms:

• emotional or physical stress

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Her Flare Ups Often Come On Over Night Are Very Painful Restrict Mobility And She Has To Rest

The worst type of flare involves pain, stiffness and swelling throughout the body and leaves people incapacitated for several months. These again could start quickly within a few hours or days but were less frequent. One woman had three of these major flares in 12 years, whilst another said she got them maybe once a year. One young mother said that she has had two major flares one before diagnosis and the other after her second baby was born when she has been off medication.

What Can You Do Ahead Of Time To Reduce Your Chances Of Having An Arthritis Flare

The best thing to do is to be aware of your baseline activity level, so you can prepare yourself if youre going to be doing more. Be cognizant if youre going to be doing something new. That way, you can take precautions premedicate before going on a hike, for example.

If your symptoms bother you, come in and see your Summit provider for help. If it gets really swollen or painful, come to see your Summit specialist for measures to get you through it.

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Preventing Arthritis In Your Hands

Some risk factors for arthritis are not modifiablesuch as aging and family history. But there are also risk factors within your control. You can reduce your risk for arthritis conditions by managing those. You will also want to take preventive measures to reduce the risk of your existing arthritis condition affecting your hands.

What Is The Knee Joint

Three bones come together to form your knee joint. They include the:

A smooth substance called cartilage covers the ends of each bone. Its a cushion between the bones that keeps them from rubbing together. The synovial membrane, a type of tissue that surrounds the joint, lubricates the cartilage.

Arthritis of the knee causes pain and swelling in the joint

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Consider Getting Tested For Sleep Apnea

In addition to making changes to your sleep routine, you may also want to talk to your doctor about getting tested for sleep apnea, a sleeping disorder that can affect your breathing. Sleep apnea can leave you feeling exhausted even after a full nights sleep. People with RA are more likely to have sleep apnea.1,2 This difference seems to exist even when a flare is over and inflammation levels are low.3

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Over The Counter Medication

The first course of treatment for OA flare-ups is usually OTC pain medication. Your doctor may recommend nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs commonly used to treat arthritis-related pain. These drugs include:

• Creams or ointments containing NSAIDs

If you can’t tolerate NSAIDs, your doctor may recommend acetaminophen . It is crucial to keep in mind the adverse side effects of these medications. Talk to your physician about the best option, their side effects, and how to take them.

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Chronic Stress And Long

Aches and pains are common symptoms of stress, however, ongoing pain or stiffness may be a sign of a more serious problem.

A 2018 study published by PubMed revealed Stress-related disorders were significantly associated with risk of subsequent autoimmune disease.

Autoimmune diseases cause your immune system to produce antibodies which attack and damage the bodys healthy tissue instead of fighting infection. In certain conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, the antibodies attach to connective tissue within the joints leading to pain, stiffness, swelling, andwithout treatmentpotentially permanent joint damage.

Autoimmune diseases are often incurable however, early intervention and treatment can help prevent further damage and joint deterioration.

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Diagnosis And Treatment For Arthritis Flares

If you think youre going through a flare that hasnt improved after a couple of days, call your rheumatologist or primary care doctor. They will want to monitor how you feel and may want to order imaging and blood tests to see whats going on. They can also prescribe medications to get the flare under control.

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Breathe Deeply To Lower Stress

One simple way to stop stress and feel more relaxed wherever you are is to take a few deep breaths. You can practice deep breathing while sitting, standing, or lying down. Hereâs how:

• Close your eyes if this feels good.
• Place one hand on your stomach and the other hand on your chest.
• Breathe in slowly. See if you can feel your stomach rise with your breath.
• Hold your breath for a moment, and then breathe out. Feel your stomach fall.
• Repeat as needed until you feel your body relax.

You can use this exercise whenever youâre feeling stressed to help you slow down and relax.

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If Youve Got Arthritis Youve Probably Experienced The Intense Pain Of Flares Heres How To Handle Them

Youre feeling good, barely thinking about your chronic pain, and then wham an arthritis flare hits you like a Mack truck. These periods of increased disease activity take a toll on you physically and emotionally, especially because they can come on unexpectedly. If youve got either osteoarthritis or an inflammatory type of arthritis like rheumatoid arthritis, you probably know what were talking about.

So how can you deal with an arthritis flare-up when it happens? I remind myself, This, too, shall pass, arthritis patient Beth Bloomfield told us on Facebook. Like a kidney stone! another patient, Katie Resnick, joked back. Although arthritis flares are never pleasant, there are techniques that can help shorten their duration. Also important: Being able recognize when a flare is starting and avoid the triggers that may cause your flare-ups in the first place.

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The Cause Of The Outbreak

The cause of the outbreak may vary depending on the type of arthritis.

In general, osteoarthritis outbreaks are associated with conditions or events that directly affect the joint.

Autoimmune arthritis flare ups are mostly associated with conditions or events that affect the immune system and cause an inflammatory response.

Among the most common triggers of arthritis flare ups are:

What Does An Arthritis Flare Feel Like

Symptoms of arthritis flares are similar to the symptoms you experience with your chronic disease, only more intense. They include joint pain and stiffness. Some people have swollen joints. There can be fatigue due to joint pain interfering with sleep during the night. In a severe flare, there can be low-grade fevers due to activation of the immune system and inflammatory pathways.

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When To See A Doctor About A Flare

If you’re experiencing joint pain that flares up from time to time, Dr. Alam recommends being evaluated.

“For many people, arthritis starts as a flare-up, and it’s important to seek a diagnosis. Remember, you need to know the specific type of arthritis you’re suffering from to be able to prevent or alleviate future flare-ups,” says Dr. Alam.

For instance, you won’t know whether to use ice or heat to relieve your joint pain unless you know if it’s rheumatoid arthritis or gout as opposed to osteoarthritis.

“In addition, and particularly for rheumatoid arthritis, seeking a diagnosis early on gives you a better chance of avoiding the permanent joint damage this condition can cause,” explains Dr. Alam.

And even if you’ve been diagnosed, there are still times you may need to see your doctor about a flare-up.

“It’s very important to call your doctor if you’re experiencing pain in a new joint or if your flare-up is severe, since this could be a sign of arthritic infection,” warns Dr. Alam.

If you’re experiencing a mild flare-up in a joint you’re used to experiencing pain, your doctor may be able to help you manage that pain by prescribing medications over the phone but only if he or she is already familiar with you and your condition.

Lastly, Dr. Alam recommends approaching supplements with skepticism.

However Few Researchers Feel Cold Weather Does Not Affect Arthritis

However, a study contradicted this and suggested that weather does not have anything to do with the pain caused due to osteoarthritis.

It stated that none of the factors related to weather including the temperature, atmospheric pressure and humidity are linked with the expression of arthritis.

Every person reacts in a different way to the weather conditions. It is not necessary that everyone feels an increase in the pain in joints when the temperature drops.

There are many people who do not feel any changes in their symptoms of arthritis due to the change of seasons.

The effect of pressure on the tissues of the body can be proved by considering the case of divers.

They tend to experience pain in the joints along with other musculoskeletal problems due to staying inside large depths of water for a long period of time.

This happens because water exerts much more pressure on the body than air.

Body conserves heat during winter. In order to do this, it sends the majority of blood supply to the heart, lungs and other important organs.

This causes constriction of the flow of blood at the extreme ends of the body. This makes the joints cold which increases the pain and tenderness.

Even the heat lost from the body, mainly the limbs, during the winter season adds to the worsening of the symptoms of arthritis.

The monsoon and winter seasons affect the mood of people.

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