I understand how you feel. There are definitely different types of pain. Sometimes it’s a sharp joint pain. Other times it seems more of an ache and soreness. My hands hurt a lot and I use Voltarin jell on the hands, tops of my feet and knees every morning. At night when I try to sleep it’s hands, shoulders, neck and top of feet. My legs ache from my knees to my ankles. Some nights my lower back hurts.i use the Voltarin before I get into bed. Weather seems to make pain sharper. As far as flairs go I use to never be able to tell if it was my normal pain or a flair simply because I had it so much it didn’t seem to ever go away. I do now have a few days that I feel some better. But it never lasts long. I hope summer, if it ever gets here, will bring some better days.

Yes, #3. My physiotherapist said I have very tight tendons. And tendons can become inflamed. So pain. But the cause? RA? RA is about inflammation so maybe.... But maybe injury, too. The worst for me is my neck and shoulder from when I got terrible whiplash many years ago. But instead of getting better, it's seems that with age and RA it gets worse. I think sometimes that they all inflame each other. Whatever the reason, I know it can be overwhelming.

Yaaaasssss! #3 is usually my worst and it’s hardly even listed as a RA symptom so I’ve wondered that too. It hits me the worst at nighttime so keeps me up at night, but comes and goes throughout the days too. This aches, that aches, then OWWWWIEEEE I was just stabbed somewhere else. It’s good to finally hear I’m not alone... I’ve often wondered if it could be something else too.

Sounds like you might be in the middle of a flare. There are some questions that might need to answer with the shooting pain. Pinched nerve from damaged joint or tendon, anxiety can make skin and nerves inflamed.Having to work through a flare can cause alot of stress. If its too severe ,see your family doctor who are more knowledgable about you. Good luck and take care of yourself.

Definitely sounds like me and I’ve had RA from 1 year old to now 50 Years Old. As I’m typing I’m having shooting pains through my puffed up , inflamed huge elbow. Yes, the huge bump on my elbow makes me cry to, but I’m so used to it and now I don’t even think about it. I don’t know how you can work with that type of pain. I’m very impressed with the people that work. I haven’t worked in awhile and it’s not good because I isolate myself to much. I believe you could have RA. It’s not the end of the world. You’ll have better days. Hang in there and cry all you want. It does help and if you need any advice you can ask me. I’ve had my whole life. 1-50 Years.