Managing a RA flare-up

I am awaiting a respiratory appt ( who knows when), I am a carrier of a mutated cystic fibrosis gene, and that itself is a worry regarding fibrosis.
My chest is not good at the moment, but fortunately no obvious signs of fibrosis in the lastest xray..
RA is the work of the devil!

I’m sorry that you’re having a bad flare @Seabear. I’m also on biologics, which have been great, but I’ve been having a few flares lately, I think it’s because of all the viruses that are doing the rounds. I use Etoricoxib during a flare, which helps a lot, if the flare isn’t improving I ring the RA clinic helpline and they generally call me in for a steroid injection. It’s good that you’re taking it easy and looking after yourself and I do understand how it can get you feeling really down. I hope the flare calms down and that you’ll feel better soon.

Truelovealways, I had never heard of etoricoxib, until you mentioned it. I can't have ÑAISDS, so that's also crossed off the list.
Fentanyl was the last chance for me. I had already tried morphine. Unfortunately, it is addictive and very difficult to come off.

As for steroids, my consultant will only give a Kennilog injection, as a last resort, due to my severely immunosuppressed status and the fact that forty years of steroids for COPD have caused severe osteoporosis.

If only someone would invent a miracle pill!

Seabear, as we have already posted, sometimes we need to change biologics after a time. Don't lose heart.
It is such a blow, when we think we are doing well and the condition is dampened down, then it flares up with a vengeance. That is the cruel nature of the beast.

Paracetamol is underrated and found to be an effective painkiller in conjuction with other medication, However, your liver function needs monitored.

I have been on Adalimumab now for about 5 years. It has transformed my life. I inject myself once a fortnight and all the injection pens are delivered. I am very lucky so far.

Have had OA since I was 21 due to an accident at school. Lived with it & through it for years then at 75 was told that I now have RA. Found very hard to deal with flares as they were getting worse & more frequent. During one I was given steroids which really helped. I now take one 5mg dose as maintenance as my Consultant said that at my age I would not do well on Methotrexate which I was reluctant to take due a family member being put in hospital for two weeks after taking it for RA. Steroids can cause problems but I find I can cope with the constant niggling pain & at 80 now I’ll take this & wait to see what happens if anything does happen. Hopefully it will not!

I do hope all you 'grans' with RA and associated conditions are aware of NRAS and the information available from them, as well as the Health Unlocked forum. I've been living with RA for over 20 years now and have had a similar history of lung, eye and heart conditions, along with osteoarthritis in several places.
Currently between surgeries and so reliant on steroids to keep symptoms under control, but hope to get my life back a bit in 2025.
Best wishes to all of you.