Late evening pains

[Guest guest]

At this time I would say 90% of my pain and stiffness in my feet and

ankles is in the first hour after I get out of bed. I'd say that 75%

of the pain and stiffness in my hands and wrists and fingers is also

in the morning, but it lasts a little longer. I usually don't take

any medication for it, I just use a balm, massage, heat, etc.

Then, in the evening, usually around 7-8pm, I have noticed a sudden

flare of stiffness and sharp pain that lasts until I break down and

hit the Ibuprofen (or tonight, I hit both Ibuprofen and Darvocet).

The sharpness of it and the sudden return of it don't seem to fit

anything I've read or heard about RA.

Could it just be that it's from all the activities I do during the

day? I volunteer at my kids schools some, I quilt, cook, help care

for three seriously ill family members (I am an LPN, but I

haven't " worked " as one for two years). That makes sense, and that's

the usual pattern: work on a quilt for 3 hours, have pain later. But

some nights, like tonight, it just happens and I can't pin a cause.

Any ideas? Anyone else get this? Does something like this late

evening pain mean I might not actually have RA?

As usual, all advice, opinions, links, helpful words, and happy

thoughts are greatly appreciated.