The most common triggers of an OA flare are overdoing an activity or trauma to the joint. Other triggers can include bone spurs, stress, repetitive motions, cold weather, a change in barometric pressure, an infection or weight gain.
Having an arthritis flare can feel like hitting a wall. Your arthritis has been manageable, then suddenly swollen joints, pain, fatigue and mental fogginess derail your day-to-day activities. For some people, flares are an inevitable part of the arthritis journey.
Hot and cold compresses can help ease the pain of an arthritis flare. Heat soothes joint pain by increasing blood flow to the painful area and relaxing the muscles. Cold eases inflammation by constricting the blood vessels.
How long does it last? Arthritis flare-ups can be variable, but they generally last three to five days with conservative care. Home care can include anti-inflammatory medicines, changing activities, and using ice, compression, or bracing.
If you have rheumatoid arthritis, ask your provider if you should exercise during flares. You might work through your joint flares by doing only range-of-motion exercises. Or you might exercise in water. Even during a flare, it's good to keep your body moving.
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. It's the "wear and tear" type of damage that affects the cartilage in your joints — which becomes more common with age. "Like rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis causes joint pain that can tend to flare up from time to time," says Dr. Alam.
A mild flare may last a few days and go away on its own. A severe flare may last longer. In some cases, a flare is the first sign that your rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is getting worse. For some, a flare may go away sooner when your doctor changes or adjusts your medication.
Red meat, such as burgers and steaks. Processed meats like hot dogs, brats and other sausages. Refined carbohydrates like the ones you find in breads and pastries. Dairy products, because for many people, casein, a protein common in milk, ice cream and cheese, has been shown to irritate the tissue around joints.
Arthritis is often used to refer to any disorder that affects the joints. Rheumatic diseases usually affect joints, tendons, ligaments, bones, and muscles.
Allergies, wounds, and diseases can all cause inflammation. The most common causes of joint inflammation are injuries and inflammatory arthritis. Pain and inflammation resulting from injuries usually resolve, but inflammatory arthritis is a chronic condition that may get worse with time.
Some people with RA notice that their symptoms get worse during certain times of the year. Seasonal weather changes may trigger RA flares during the winter, spring, or summer months.
You can't reverse your arthritis, but certain treatments can help slow the progression of the disease and help you manage your condition. Getting the right kind of treatment can ease your pain and help you maintain or even improve function, which will enable you to carry out daily activities.
The most common triggers of an OA flare are overdoing an activity or trauma to the joint. Other triggers can include bone spurs, stress, repetitive motions, cold weather, a change in barometric pressure, an infection or weight gain. Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an inflammatory disease that affects the skin and joints.
Osteoarthritis is a long-term condition and cannot be cured, but it doesn't necessarily get any worse over time and it can sometimes gradually improve. A number of treatments are also available to reduce the symptoms. Mild symptoms can sometimes be managed with simple measures, including: regular exercise.
Without appropriate treatment, chronic pain, disability, and excess mortality are unfortunate outcomes of this disease. RA causes joint damage in 80% to 85% of patients, with the brunt of the damage occurring during the first 2 years of the disease. Left untreated, the risk of mortality is increased.
Untreated arthritis will add to the degradation of the structures in and around the joint leading to more and more pain and a loss of function. The progression of arthritis may lead to requiring a total joint replacement.
OTC pain medications are often the first course of action for OA flare-ups. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the most common OTC drugs for treating arthritis-related pain. These include ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen (Aleve) as well as creams or ointments with NSAIDs or capsaicin.
You might feel a grating sensation when you use the joint, and you might hear popping or crackling. Bone spurs. These extra bits of bone, which feel like hard lumps, can form around the affected joint. Swelling.
Managing flare ups
If you experience a flare of symptoms this is usually linked to an episode of inflammation within the joint. It is therefore usual for a flare up to last between 6 and 12 weeks.
Pushing through pain is not the thing to do. If your joints are hot or swollen, exercise can increase the damage and cause more pain. Remember, arthritis pain and pain from a strenuous workout are not the same. A little soreness a day or two after a workout is OK.
Lying down can cause inflammatory chemicals to pool in the fluid that cushions your joints, which makes them stiffen up. And your perception of pain may be heightened during the nighttime because you're not distracted by anything else.
Massage therapy can help with inflammatory types of arthritis as well. A case study published in Massage Today found that regular massage helped alleviate pain and swelling from rheumatoid arthritis and also helped improved joint function, sleep quality, and daytime energy levels.