Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a form of arthritis and an autoimmune disease.
Self-care measures like rest and anti-inflammatory medicines may be able to help with flares.
They include:
People with RA often experience a cluster of these symptoms.
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Types of Flares
There are two types of RA flares: predictable and unpredictable.
With a predictable flare, youll temporarily feel worse, but your symptoms will resolve in time.
Unpredictable Flares
On the other hand, unpredictable flares don’t have an obvious trigger.
Flares still occur in RA patients whose symptoms appear to be under control.
What Does an RA Flare Feel Like?
Those experiencing a flare are likely feeling symptoms from head to toe.
Some may experience it for a year, months, or days.
A flare can last as long as there isn’t a change in treatment.
Flares may require a change in yourRA treatment planto resolve.
Luckily, there are ways to take care of yourself to recover from a flare when it does occur.
Summary
Rheumatoid arthritis flares can be predictable or unpredictable.
But either way, they are characterized by a marked worsening of one’s RA symptoms.
The frequency, duration, and severity of RA flares can vary.
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