MartiK: I think it's essential to have a doctor that you can trust and you can feel comfortable with. If a new drug is suggested, and you're not comfortable with it, you need to tell the doctor and have a conversation about what drug you'd want to be on. I have a litany of drugs that made me sick, or I didn't feel comfortable switching to. I talked it out with the rheumy, and then we decided where to go from there.

PeggykAnne: My rheumy gave me a prescription for prednisone for flareups. He wrote it out when he knew I was going to Cali from Conn. I carried it with me and didn't need it on the trip. I always carry prednisone when I travel. I've used it once while traveling and several times at home. I do a 5-day treatment where I take 5 tablets the first day, 4 the next day, 3 on the third day, then 2, and on the 5th day, I take one. The flare is usually just 2-3 days with the prednisone treatment, but you need to wean slowly so you need to do the 5-day treatment. If it's a really bad flare, the doctor may recommend a 7-day treatment.

That is how ra hit for me. Woke up in intense pain. Thought I stepped on glass.

How long can a flare last Going on a big trip soon and so so sore Worried that it will spoil the holiday

It does seem like an uneven step can cause it. Every so often my ankle gets swollen and black and blue. I notice it once in awhile, but can't remember pain that would have caused it. Icing does help a bit.

Years ago,I was at the grocery store one day to pick up something for dinner. By the time I got to the checkout, I could barely walk. Somehow I made it out to the car... my knee was huge and I couldn't bend it. I don't know hoe I made it home, but couldn't pull into the driveway... it had just been tarred. I had to text my kids to come out and help me in. I called my rheumy (it was his day off), and he was concerned and had me meet me at his office. After he removed a lot of fluid by syringe, then gave me a prescription for prednisone for a week. Eventually the knee was replaced.