Having RA for 40 years i have noticed that when the disease is active it damages the bone so during remission you still have pain and immobility. Despite being in remission with no meds I have issues with simple things and the fatigue plus pain while doing things. I stil have to rest a lot. So besides flu symptoms when I n active flare it's better but your not a normal person after RA gets you

My doctor told me I was in remission. She said, that remission means that the disease doesn't keep attacking your joints. I don't think it means that you won't have flares, but my experience is that they are not as bad and don't last as long. I'm not a doctor or a researcher but that is what my doc said and that has been my experience. My hand are swollen today, but that do not ache near as much as they did before. I was standing a lot today preaching a funeral so my knees are swollen a bit. I swell up when I get really hot. So, I feel that today because even after 44 years of preaching (started at 15) I still get nervous and butterflies, the whole thing. So, that makes my temp rise and so it makes me swell in some places. I hope this helps, I don't know anything, but I will try to help with what I know. By the way, welcome to the website. This is a wonderful place.

I don't believe in "remission". Remission in my eyes means that you do not need any treatment for an ailment that is in remission. As in cancer. If one is in remission with cancer you don't need any chemo, or radiation anymore and be without cancer, without meds etc. This is not the case with RA.

To me remission means no symptoms, so if you are having flares you are not in remission. Whether or not a rheumy would agree with me is another story!

I am on Humira and believed I was in remission for the last 6 years. But recently I took on a demanding new job that was both emotionally draining as well as long working hours and my symptoms started to reoccur, with some swelling but mainly a strong feeling of being fragile and fearful that I was returning to my previous ill health that had been very debilitating.
Tests showed that Humira was still working so I realised that my new work regime was not working for my RA.
I have taken time off work and a new path is being sought as I, with advice from my rheumatologist, have decided my health must come first and my previous regime with time for Pilates and hydrotherapy was actually essential to the maintainance of my remission.