A flare is the word used to describe when your arthritis becomes more active. This can cause you to have more:

• Joint swelling
• Joint pain
• Joint stiffness
• Tiredness
• Reduction in appetite

Sometimes a flare can occur after an infection, following surgery or a period of stress.

What can you do during a flare?

• You can take your painkillers and/or anti-inflammatory tablets regularly. Never exceed the maximum recommended dose.
• Use anti-inflammatory gels to reduce swelling on your hands, wrists, feet and knees
• Use heat or ice on your joints. Where possible protect the skin with a towel before applying heat or cold to prevent burning or damaging the skin.
  
  You can use hot or cold treatments for up to 15 minutes at a time (but if you are using ice cubes in a bowl of water 5 minutes will be long enough!).
  • Examples of heat include
    • Wheat bag, hot water bottle, electric heat pad, jelly pack or a warm bath/shower.
  • Examples of cold include: –
    • Wheat bag, bag of frozen broad beans, bag of ice cubes, jelly pack or a bowl of water with ice cubes (for hands & feet).

What about rest and exercise during a flare?

• During a flare it is important to ‘pace’ your activities. Try and balance out what you need to do during the day. For example after shopping have a rest to ‘top’ up your energy levels
• Having a rest is not ‘giving’ into your arthritis but is a way of working with your arthritis
• Try and keep moving your joints to reduce stiffness and keep the muscles working.

More information

For more information on coping with a flare click onto the websites below

Fatigue in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) | NRAS

Managing flares in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) | NRAS