Good morning, Redferd,
I don't have an answer to your question about whether RA can flair up, but I did want to follow up and let you know I read your message, and I care. Have you made your appointment with the rheumatologist? If so, what did you learn?
Thank you for the reply. I am glad you care. I have made a June 11th appointment with the doctor. He is a rheumatologist. I have OA and RA according to the many tests I have gotten from him. I just wondered why and all of a sudden my RA became worse? That's why I wondered if there is such a thing as a "flair up"? I keep reading about RA and OA and have not seen any instance of a "flair up" being written about. Thank you again. I'll post the news when I get to see the doctor.
I have OA in my hips and right hand, but my Dad suffered with RA for many years, and it does "flair" up as far as I remember. The good news is there are many, many treatments for RA today that were not available to my Dad, and if not for the cancer he would have lived well into his nineties, so it did slow him down, but did not put him out of the game, if you know what I mean. We all care here - arthritis is the tie that binds us - so good luck, and please do post what the doctor has to say. It might help another one of us in here!
I have used Homeopathy to keep my arthritis under control and suggest you might try some Arnica cream on your hand. Any Health Store will have some Traumeel is a German brand that is good. It has no side effects except it does not like open wounds or scrapes and may redden that area. It does not interfere with medications you might be taking. It just supports the immune system to do its work.
It has always helped me and many others. You can read lots of stuff about Homeopathy and arnica on line
Hope that helps
John
