Last time I was at the doctor after she pushed on those fabulous points on my body that make me almost want to scream. She says yeah you’re having a bad flare up today. But it’s like that Everyday. So why are they called flare ups?
Hi Tara. Hmmm-today I did not go in to work because when this fabulous weather changes in an extreme way here in Tennessee, it often comes with an increase of pain due to my fibro, arthritis & DDD. Most days I have pain of some sort, but it is tolerable. A day when it disrupts my daily routine to the point that I cannot go to work–for me, that is a flare. Now I noticed after having read your profile that you mentioned that your doc is still adjusting your meds. I remember it took months to get my meds adjusted to where I could more easily function with very little pain as a result. That may be where you are right now. I had to have my Cymbalta adjusted 3 times over the course of 9 months. Even so, today I find I am having a flare up where everything hurts. I hope that you & your doctor arrive at the best meds & doses for you to greatly lesson your pain. You shouldn’t hurt in an extreme way every single day. If so, then it’s time to discuss it with your doctor to get better pain relief.
HUGS from Deb
I try not to be unrealistic about the pain. I know I will always have some pain. She said it would take time to get the medicine right. I wish I had got with my doctor a lot earlier about this, but for a long time I just figured everyone had some kind of hurt. I waited until I got to a breaking point before even mentioning it. Even then I felt unsure about talking to her about it. Afraid they would think I just wanted pain medicine. To my surprise I was asked why I waited so long. I will be glad when it is under more control. My husband is supportive and understands that it hurts. But I know he misses all the outings and stuff we used to do. And the grand kids don’t understand when hugs hurt.
Hi Tarra,
I agree with Deb that a flare is when it disrupts your normal routine to the point where you are not able to function and complete things you usually do, with the baseline level of pain that exists with this.
That said, flares are so unpredictable and hard to deal with because flares vary on so many levels. I was diagnosed in 2010 and everyday is a battle for me; but days that are the worst are a "flare". I can completely relate to how you are feeling and your question.
I hope your doctor can help you get your medications adjusted and in a normal routine for you that is helpful and allows you to feel better and do the things you want to do. I do want you to know that I speak from personal experience when I say there are good days and bad days, but the good days are great : ) I try to focus on the little successes throughout the day like getting out of bed, getting ready and making it to work (most days). We have to give ourselves credit for the small things, to make it through the larger struggles.
Hugs,
Sara
hi. i wonder that myself. I have chronic pain but it is not just from fm. i have muckeloskelol pain from CFS, plus osteoarthritis and degenerative disease of the spine so i am always in some pain . I hope you have had yourself check out good to know what is up with you or not. best of luck
HUGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGS
suzie
Thanks a bunch. It’s nice to hear from people who understand. My family sympathize, but don’t truly understand.
You’re welcome Tarra; that’s what we are here for; listening, understanding & supporting each other. Hope today is a good day for you! HUGS from Deb
some people do get times when it little less or things start to settle down for them, hence they call it flare i understand what u mean, some flares are everyday, and some lasts for months, some people have good spells i know i flare up after activity of any kind and base line is very low. We live for the few days our pain is little less but as you know few and far between. I think it would be better to say we have an active flare just how i see it, or active flaring at present, flare up i dont think dose it justice <3 hope ur getting a little peace for awhile
Hi Tarra, hope today will be good for you. I'm glad you asked this question. I've had FM for 12 years and have struggled for the right meds, level of activity, etc. Right now I am having a "major" flare-up. I am in bed instead of up and getting ready for normal daily activities, wash clothes, go to line dance class, wash hair, prepare for hosting church women potluck, etc. One very difficult thing to deal with is the frustration I feel when I can't even do one small thing. I look around and feel helpless, this is in addition to the high level of pain I'm in. The fatigue adds to this vicious cycle, and then I realize I am overly stressed. And, that adds more "fuel to the fire" of a FM flare-up. I seem to try to find the "right formula" to make this all go away. I've not found it. But, again you asked and I learned from everyone who responded.
Thank you and bless you, Mariposa
HI MARIPOSA,
Thank you for your post. I have thought and said all those things myself. Today I am having a terrible day, but this shall pass and hopefully tomorrow will be better.
Mariposa said:
Hi Tarra, hope today will be good for you. I'm glad you asked this question. I've had FM for 12 years and have struggled for the right meds, level of activity, etc. Right now I am having a "major" flare-up. I am in bed instead of up and getting ready for normal daily activities, wash clothes, go to line dance class, wash hair, prepare for hosting church women potluck, etc. One very difficult thing to deal with is the frustration I feel when I can't even do one small thing. I look around and feel helpless, this is in addition to the high level of pain I'm in. The fatigue adds to this vicious cycle, and then I realize I am overly stressed. And, that adds more "fuel to the fire" of a FM flare-up. I seem to try to find the "right formula" to make this all go away. I've not found it. But, again you asked and I learned from everyone who responded.
Thank you and bless you, Mariposa
To make us feel better, so we think we get some good days too! Just kidding!
I think it's because while we feel "rather lousy," once our meds kick in on a regular basis, on those "special" occasions we get to feeling incredibly cruddy. It lasts for several days and then kind of moves on for a while. For instance, when I was down in Florida, my left knee went out. For several days I couldn't put any weight on it at all or else it felt like my knee joint was on fire. After about a week, the symptom went away again. It'll back. It's done this before. So in that respect, I had a flare, or a time of especially nasty symptoms.
Holy moly, how do you do all of that, Mariposa? I get so much pain just from taking a shower! How do you manage to do it? I am in awed shock!
Mariposa said:
Hi Tarra, hope today will be good for you. I'm glad you asked this question. I've had FM for 12 years and have struggled for the right meds, level of activity, etc. Right now I am having a "major" flare-up. I am in bed instead of up and getting ready for normal daily activities, wash clothes, go to line dance class, wash hair, prepare for hosting church women potluck, etc. One very difficult thing to deal with is the frustration I feel when I can't even do one small thing. I look around and feel helpless, this is in addition to the high level of pain I'm in. The fatigue adds to this vicious cycle, and then I realize I am overly stressed. And, that adds more "fuel to the fire" of a FM flare-up. I seem to try to find the "right formula" to make this all go away. I've not found it. But, again you asked and I learned from everyone who responded.
Thank you and bless you, Mariposa
So true, Suzie! I had no idea that osteoarthritis could be so painful! I always thought it just meant some stiffness to your hands or back. Not true! I am sure that the actual condition causes symptoms but maybe fibro makes it feel worse. It's important to know what exactly you are dealing with, and then to give yourself credit for dealing with it. I think that's very important. Most of us have more than one issue but they all seemed to have heightened symptoms to them since we got the fibro. My cutie pie hound jumped right on to the knee pressure point and I just howled (pardon the pun) in pain!
suzie said:
hi. i wonder that myself. I have chronic pain but it is not just from fm. i have muckeloskelol pain from CFS, plus osteoarthritis and degenerative disease of the spine so i am always in some pain . I hope you have had yourself check out good to know what is up with you or not. best of luck
HUGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGS
suzie