From time to time you may experience a flare-up. This is when the symptoms of arthritis temporarily worsen.
A flare-up could include an increase in pain, swelling, stiffness and reduced mobility. You may also notice an increase in fatigue, trouble sleeping, anxiety, stress. Setbacks or flare-ups are often caused by doing too much, overdoing it, or pressure from others.
The good news is that these flare-ups are usually temporary. If the symptoms persist, it is recommended that you discuss it with your doctor.
How to Reduce Flare-Ups
- Learn about your condition – there is plenty of useful information on the internet, and you can start by reading more about your form of arthritis
- Proactive self-management – read more about living well with arthritis
- Use medications as prescribed
How to Manage Flare-Ups
- Plan ahead – have a setback plan
- Be kind to yourself
- Prioritise your responsibilities
- Break up tasks into smaller portions
- Say “NO”
- Ask for help
- Rest/sleep/relaxation
- Hot and cold therapies
- Gentle exercise-stretching and moving
- Assistive devices
- Contact an Arthritis Educator for more information and support on 0800 663 463 or click the button below to fill in the arthritis educator call-back form
Download this information as a printable PDF here.
