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How long do "flare ups" last?

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Posted 12/9/2013 1:32 PM (GMT 0)
Hello.I was diagnosed in August but have felt symptoms on and off for over 20 years.My pain level skyrocketed in June which led to my diagnosis.Since then I have been in daily pain(which I know is common) I have good(or tolerable) days and then really bad days.What I am wondering is when people speak of flare ups, what exactly do they mean? Are we talking really bad pain for a few days or months? I guess I am just wondering if I am ever going to have a time where my pain might be minimal for a time.I am learning to cope with the pain, but have not found any medication that helps yet.
Posted 12/9/2013 1:39 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Hannah,

Welcome to the forum...

Flares can last from days to months. The best thing you can do is pace yourself to not get one. Also keep moving around. A body in motion stays in motion... And keep stress levels down. Stress can often cause us to flare.

Walking is good. I try to walk daily, though I haven't been because of snow and ice. I walk in place inside and dance to exercise.

I hope that you don't have a flare. Watch what you eat... Keep the carbs down... Keep moving and pace yourself. Don't let things stress you out. That is really important.

Take care and have a good day...

Hugs, Karen...
Posted 12/9/2013 9:23 PM (GMT 0)
My longest flare was (hard core) 3 weeks but had moderate symptoms on the front and back of that 3 weeks. Now they're usually about 4-6 days, or I will have a 5 hour one. Those are the weirdest. I will go home from work because I feel like death and then by the time evening time rolls around, I feel totally fine and like i faked it all. My flares usually consist of the widespread pain along with fatigue and flu-like symptoms. Or I will have just one of those for the shorter duration flares. Let's call them fibro hiccups. lol
Posted 12/10/2013 2:39 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for the replies.I understand better now what constitutes a flare up.I definitely have these and they last sometimes as long as a few days.I was hoping that the chronic every day pain would at times go away....Almost like a remission for a time if you will.I think my body just sort of holds up a white flag and calls uncle for a few days.
Posted 12/10/2013 8:18 PM (GMT 0)
I can totally relate to what Annabanna says...go home from work feeling like death and then by evening after I have sat down for a bit, its like ive faked it - I don't get it. I seem to have lots of mini flares, where I m out 1 day or 2 days and then back again for another few days then down again...Mine seems to correspond to my sleep pattern!

Then there are other times where there is no rhyme and reason to why I have a flare up some days. I could have done nothing, had an alright sleep and then boom hits me. Have tried keeping a journal but am relatively new to fibro - only had it 1 year and still trying to find out what works for me and what my limits are
Posted 12/10/2013 11:17 PM (GMT 0)
Hello hannah,

My experiece with flare ups is, for example, my symptoms can be minamal or more tolerable for ahwhile, then BOOM!

The next day its like whoa! what happend!? I was doing so well and now its like a major relapse back to the old fms symptoms. They can flare up for a day, days or weeks sometimes months at a time. The pain scales can fluctuate though out the day.

I can even have flare ups come on daily. Meaning, i'm feeling ok and then a flare up of symptoms comes on. The pain symptoms rise from a 3 to about a 7 or 8. Then they simmer down after ahwile. This actually can happen to me anywhere from 1-3 times a day!

I finnaly after 2 years started taking medication. I take Lyrica. I have noticed a moderate improvement. I dont get as many flare ups and go for longer periods with out gettig them. I have less fatigue and less fibro fog.

Ive heard good things about Lyrica but most people complain of major weight gain. This is more common in women and i'm a male. So far so good.

Hope this helps and keep in touch.

jc77

Posted 12/11/2013 10:35 AM (GMT 0)
Mine come up after stressful events, especially when they happen some in a row. Cold is another of the reasons. I don`t have them very often but they last weeks even months. I`m never completely pain free though and have usually cognitive problems which were mistaken for dyslexia at first.

Hugs
Posted 12/12/2013 12:21 AM (GMT 0)
Oh, I wanted to say that I have noticed if I am having a particularly long flare (aka weeks -> months) that its something that I am doing. So I take a look at my diet, my activities, my sleep.....and allergens. And then reduce. Usually eliminates it pretty quickly.

ex: I was trying to quit smoking and was using the patches. I basically put myself in a flare for 3 months. I AM NOT EVEN JOKING. It wasn't until I had a 'aha' moment. I pulled it off, lit up a cigarette, and within three days I was totally normal.

We are very sensitive to chemicals and allergens. I would highly suggest anybody that is having a prolonged flare to look at their allergens/chemicals. Even laundry soap can do some people in!
Posted 12/12/2013 12:22 AM (GMT 0)
ps. I now chew the nicotine gum and feel much better. lol
Posted 12/12/2013 2:07 AM (GMT 0)
Hello, I was diagnosed with fibro on November 26,2013, and is having a hard time excepting it. I have had some tender spots on my body for at least three or more years before getting diagnosed and could live with that pain. Since being diagnosed I have had more flare-ups of pain that is sometime hard to deal with and I am having issues staying asleep at night . I feel like this pain I am having could be a mind thing since being diagnose, because it wasn't like this before November 26 2013 pain would come every blue mood or if someone touch the tender spots, Know I am feeling more pain then usually without anyone touching the tender spot and having sleeping issues I didn't have. Can my life turn around like this that fast? The day before going to the doctor I was able to sleep most of the nights and was not in pain. Once leaving his office after all the pokes and bending the pain came and have not went away. After doing some research I found that most of the pain spots I have been living with are symptoms of fibro. I just don't understand how the pain has gotten worst since being diagnose.

My doctor also prescribed me Lyrica after reading the side effects from that I am afraid to take it. Is it possible I could live with fibro without pain meds? Or is this just the beginning of the pain and it could get worst? I am very worried about what my future of my life hold. Can it get so bad that I can be hospitalized? Please forgive me if I am thinking to deep but after researching and reading some issues with this I am afraid of what my future holds.
Posted 12/12/2013 2:32 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, Hannah, and welcome! I'm so glad you found us and joined in. Flares can last a day or they can last months. We just don't know how long they will last. But the good news is that they do go away. Fibro waxes and wanes so you will have better days with some bad ones thrown in there. But always remember that those bad days do get better.

Do pace yourself when doing things, don't sit or lay too long because you will be stiff as a board and have more pain. You can use a Bed Buddy that you can get at Walgreens and other places. You pop these in the microwave and they give off moist heat. Hot showers and baths help a lot, too. But try not to stress out over the flares. Stress causes more pain for fibromites!

If you haven't already. Please read Fibro 101.. The first thread on the forum. There are links to good info about fibro and you will learn a lot there. Good starting links are called Symptoms and A Thorough Explanation of Fibromyalgia. You just might see yourself there.

I use ibuprofen with food, Tylenol, vitamin D 3, magnesium malate, and a muscle relaxer called Robaxin to help with pain and fatigue. We are all different so what works with one might not work for another but these supplements do help most. There are links in Fibro 101 that tells you all about them and how they work in your body.

I've had fibro for 26 years and have had a full and enjoyable life in spite of this illness.

Sherrine
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