Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsFrequent SymptomsTypes of FlaresSymptomsHow Long a Flare LastsComplicationsWhen to Seek Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Frequent Symptoms
Types of Flares
Symptoms
How Long a Flare Lasts
Complications
When to Seek Care
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a form of arthritis and an autoimmune disease. An RA flare, also known as an exacerbation, occurs when a person experiences transient worsening of theirrheumatoid arthritissymptoms—such as joint pain and swelling—which indicates increased inflammation and disease activity.
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Symptoms of an RA flare are the samesymptoms as those of RA(anautoimmune disease), but they are more severe. They include:
People with RA often experience a cluster of these symptoms. It’s important to note that not all patients will experience all of the above symptoms during an RA flare.
There are two types of RA flares: predictable and unpredictable.
Predictable Flares
With a predictable flare, you’ll temporarily feel worse, but your symptoms will resolve in time.
Unpredictable Flares
On the other hand, unpredictable flares don’t have an obvious trigger. These flares might not get better on their own.This type of flare is more challenging to prevent and treat.
What Does an RA Flare Feel Like?
Someone with RA may usually be able to do household chores, but a flare can interfere with their ability to perform these tasks. Even simple things like using the bathroom and combing one’s hair can become extremely difficult and tiring to complete.Some people have said that their joint stiffness was so severe that it felt like their limbs were stuck together with superglue.
Those experiencing a flare are likely feeling symptoms from head to toe. Fatigue can be debilitating, so much so that people experiencing an RA flare don’t feel refreshed even if they sleep for long periods of time.It may also keep someone in bed for hours or days.
The symptoms of an RA flare can be so bad that a person experiencing one feels like their thoughts are scattered and they will retreat from interacting with others. Flares can also result in significant distress, including tearfulness, irritability, and frustration, and lead to depression, which can lead to suicide ideation.
The length of a flare varies, and can be different for different people. Some may experience it for a year, months, or days. A flare can last as long as there isn’t a change in treatment.
In one study, flares lasted longer than two weeks in 30% of participants, one to two weeks in 13%, and less than one week in 57%.Longer duration of a flare was associated with changes in disease-modifying therapy.
It’s essential to work with your healthcare provider to monitor your symptoms and tweak yourtreatment planaccordingly when you experience RA flares.
People with RA experience flares more often when noted to be in higher disease activity states than when in remission.
Much remains unknown about RA flares, and scientists are still trying to find out how flares affect people with this condition.
Another study suggests that flares contribute to the overall worsening of RA symptoms and one’s quality of life both in the short-term and the long-term, and that intensifying treatment during a flare might help reduce their future frequency.
The medications used to treat RA can also lead to complications in the stomach, lungs, liver, and more.Be sure to see your healthcare provider when any new or worsening symptoms arise.
When to Talk to Your Healthcare Provider
If you are experiencing worsening symptoms of RA, you should see your practitioner for an evaluation of your symptoms and current medications. Flares may require a change in yourRA treatment planto resolve.
During an RA flare, talk to your healthcare provider to determine both a medical course of action and what can be done at home to remedy the impact. This might include applying ice or heat packs to the affected joints, taking hot showers to alleviate stiffness, or practicing some gentle stretching.Healthy habits—such as getting enough sleep, eating healthy, anti-inflammatory foods, and minimizing stress through meditation or deep-breathing exercises—are recommended.
During an RA flare, talk to your healthcare provider to determine both a medical course of action and what can be done at home to remedy the impact. This might include applying ice or heat packs to the affected joints, taking hot showers to alleviate stiffness, or practicing some gentle stretching.
Healthy habits—such as getting enough sleep, eating healthy, anti-inflammatory foods, and minimizing stress through meditation or deep-breathing exercises—are recommended.
Summary
The frequency, duration, and severity of RA flares can vary. Consult with your healthcare provider to possibly modify your treatment plan, including your RA medication, to both minimize the effects of a flare and help prevent future ones.
11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Bykerk VP, Bingham CO, Choy EH, et al.Identifying flares in rheumatoid arthritis: reliability and construct validation of the OMERACT RA Flare Core Domain Set.RMD Open. 2016;2(1):e000225. doi:10.1136/rmdopen-2015-000225McWilliams DF, Rahman S, James RJE, et al.Disease activity flares and pain flares in an early rheumatoid arthritis inception cohort; characteristics, antecedents and sequelae.BMC Rheumatol. 2019;3:49. doi:10.1186/s41927-019-0100-9Arthritis Foundation.Understanding rheumatoid arthritis flares.Tedeschi SK, Frits M, Cui J, et al.Diet and rheumatoid arthritis symptoms: Survey results from a rheumatoid arthritis registry.Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2017;69(12):1920-1925. doi:10.1002/acr.23225Bechman K, Tweehuysen L, Garrood T, et al.Flares in rheumatoid arthritis patients with low disease activity: Predictability and association with worse clinical outcomes.J Rheumatol. 2018;45(11):1515-1521. doi:10.3899/jrheum.171375Hewlett S, Sanderson T, May J, et al.‘I’m hurting, I want to kill myself’: rheumatoid arthritis flare is more than a high joint count–an international patient perspective on flare where medical help is sought.Rheumatology (Oxford). 2012;51(1):69-76. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/keq455Bykerk VP, Shadick N, Frits M, et al.Flares in rheumatoid arthritis: frequency and management. A report from the BRASS registry.J Rheumatol. 2014;41(2):227-34. doi:10.3899/jrheum.121521Prince FH, Bykerk VP, Shadick NA, et al.Sustained rheumatoid arthritis remission is uncommon in clinical practice.Arthritis Res Ther. 2012;14(2):R68. doi:10.1186/ar3785Markusse IM, Dirven L, Gerards AH, et al.Disease flares in rheumatoid arthritis are associated with joint damage progression and disability: 10-year results from the BeSt study.Arthritis Res Ther. 2015;17(1):232. doi:10.1186/s13075-015-0730-2Negrei C, Bojinca V, Balanescu A, et al.Management of rheumatoid arthritis: Impact and risks of various therapeutic approaches.Exp Ther Med. 2016;11(4):1177-1183. doi:10.3892/etm.2016.3045Arthritis Foundation.Coping with an arthritis flare.
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Bykerk VP, Bingham CO, Choy EH, et al.Identifying flares in rheumatoid arthritis: reliability and construct validation of the OMERACT RA Flare Core Domain Set.RMD Open. 2016;2(1):e000225. doi:10.1136/rmdopen-2015-000225McWilliams DF, Rahman S, James RJE, et al.Disease activity flares and pain flares in an early rheumatoid arthritis inception cohort; characteristics, antecedents and sequelae.BMC Rheumatol. 2019;3:49. doi:10.1186/s41927-019-0100-9Arthritis Foundation.Understanding rheumatoid arthritis flares.Tedeschi SK, Frits M, Cui J, et al.Diet and rheumatoid arthritis symptoms: Survey results from a rheumatoid arthritis registry.Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2017;69(12):1920-1925. doi:10.1002/acr.23225Bechman K, Tweehuysen L, Garrood T, et al.Flares in rheumatoid arthritis patients with low disease activity: Predictability and association with worse clinical outcomes.J Rheumatol. 2018;45(11):1515-1521. doi:10.3899/jrheum.171375Hewlett S, Sanderson T, May J, et al.‘I’m hurting, I want to kill myself’: rheumatoid arthritis flare is more than a high joint count–an international patient perspective on flare where medical help is sought.Rheumatology (Oxford). 2012;51(1):69-76. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/keq455Bykerk VP, Shadick N, Frits M, et al.Flares in rheumatoid arthritis: frequency and management. A report from the BRASS registry.J Rheumatol. 2014;41(2):227-34. doi:10.3899/jrheum.121521Prince FH, Bykerk VP, Shadick NA, et al.Sustained rheumatoid arthritis remission is uncommon in clinical practice.Arthritis Res Ther. 2012;14(2):R68. doi:10.1186/ar3785Markusse IM, Dirven L, Gerards AH, et al.Disease flares in rheumatoid arthritis are associated with joint damage progression and disability: 10-year results from the BeSt study.Arthritis Res Ther. 2015;17(1):232. doi:10.1186/s13075-015-0730-2Negrei C, Bojinca V, Balanescu A, et al.Management of rheumatoid arthritis: Impact and risks of various therapeutic approaches.Exp Ther Med. 2016;11(4):1177-1183. doi:10.3892/etm.2016.3045Arthritis Foundation.Coping with an arthritis flare.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Bykerk VP, Bingham CO, Choy EH, et al.Identifying flares in rheumatoid arthritis: reliability and construct validation of the OMERACT RA Flare Core Domain Set.RMD Open. 2016;2(1):e000225. doi:10.1136/rmdopen-2015-000225McWilliams DF, Rahman S, James RJE, et al.Disease activity flares and pain flares in an early rheumatoid arthritis inception cohort; characteristics, antecedents and sequelae.BMC Rheumatol. 2019;3:49. doi:10.1186/s41927-019-0100-9Arthritis Foundation.Understanding rheumatoid arthritis flares.Tedeschi SK, Frits M, Cui J, et al.Diet and rheumatoid arthritis symptoms: Survey results from a rheumatoid arthritis registry.Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2017;69(12):1920-1925. doi:10.1002/acr.23225Bechman K, Tweehuysen L, Garrood T, et al.Flares in rheumatoid arthritis patients with low disease activity: Predictability and association with worse clinical outcomes.J Rheumatol. 2018;45(11):1515-1521. doi:10.3899/jrheum.171375Hewlett S, Sanderson T, May J, et al.‘I’m hurting, I want to kill myself’: rheumatoid arthritis flare is more than a high joint count–an international patient perspective on flare where medical help is sought.Rheumatology (Oxford). 2012;51(1):69-76. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/keq455Bykerk VP, Shadick N, Frits M, et al.Flares in rheumatoid arthritis: frequency and management. A report from the BRASS registry.J Rheumatol. 2014;41(2):227-34. doi:10.3899/jrheum.121521Prince FH, Bykerk VP, Shadick NA, et al.Sustained rheumatoid arthritis remission is uncommon in clinical practice.Arthritis Res Ther. 2012;14(2):R68. doi:10.1186/ar3785Markusse IM, Dirven L, Gerards AH, et al.Disease flares in rheumatoid arthritis are associated with joint damage progression and disability: 10-year results from the BeSt study.Arthritis Res Ther. 2015;17(1):232. doi:10.1186/s13075-015-0730-2Negrei C, Bojinca V, Balanescu A, et al.Management of rheumatoid arthritis: Impact and risks of various therapeutic approaches.Exp Ther Med. 2016;11(4):1177-1183. doi:10.3892/etm.2016.3045Arthritis Foundation.Coping with an arthritis flare.
Bykerk VP, Bingham CO, Choy EH, et al.Identifying flares in rheumatoid arthritis: reliability and construct validation of the OMERACT RA Flare Core Domain Set.RMD Open. 2016;2(1):e000225. doi:10.1136/rmdopen-2015-000225
McWilliams DF, Rahman S, James RJE, et al.Disease activity flares and pain flares in an early rheumatoid arthritis inception cohort; characteristics, antecedents and sequelae.BMC Rheumatol. 2019;3:49. doi:10.1186/s41927-019-0100-9
Arthritis Foundation.Understanding rheumatoid arthritis flares.
Tedeschi SK, Frits M, Cui J, et al.Diet and rheumatoid arthritis symptoms: Survey results from a rheumatoid arthritis registry.Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2017;69(12):1920-1925. doi:10.1002/acr.23225
Bechman K, Tweehuysen L, Garrood T, et al.Flares in rheumatoid arthritis patients with low disease activity: Predictability and association with worse clinical outcomes.J Rheumatol. 2018;45(11):1515-1521. doi:10.3899/jrheum.171375
Hewlett S, Sanderson T, May J, et al.‘I’m hurting, I want to kill myself’: rheumatoid arthritis flare is more than a high joint count–an international patient perspective on flare where medical help is sought.Rheumatology (Oxford). 2012;51(1):69-76. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/keq455
Bykerk VP, Shadick N, Frits M, et al.Flares in rheumatoid arthritis: frequency and management. A report from the BRASS registry.J Rheumatol. 2014;41(2):227-34. doi:10.3899/jrheum.121521
Prince FH, Bykerk VP, Shadick NA, et al.Sustained rheumatoid arthritis remission is uncommon in clinical practice.Arthritis Res Ther. 2012;14(2):R68. doi:10.1186/ar3785
Markusse IM, Dirven L, Gerards AH, et al.Disease flares in rheumatoid arthritis are associated with joint damage progression and disability: 10-year results from the BeSt study.Arthritis Res Ther. 2015;17(1):232. doi:10.1186/s13075-015-0730-2
Negrei C, Bojinca V, Balanescu A, et al.Management of rheumatoid arthritis: Impact and risks of various therapeutic approaches.Exp Ther Med. 2016;11(4):1177-1183. doi:10.3892/etm.2016.3045
Arthritis Foundation.Coping with an arthritis flare.
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