What is a Flare?

[Guest guest]

What is a flare? Is it an overall feeling of " bad " , or does it attack

individual parts of the body, or just different parts then are the norm? I

have always say that I've never had a " flare " , that my pain is a steady

thing that doesn't change to much one way or the other to any extent. But.

for example, my knees are nasty but don't really hurt, the last MRI in 2000

showed no less then 14 bone spurs on my left knee. Both knees grind and pop

when I move them. The ortho wanted to operate, but my rheumatologist said

to leave it alone unless it was a really causing me problems. Now I would

think that stress could be a cause of a flare, and it seems that when I plan

a big trip (about every 4 years) I get this migrating pain that effects

parts of my body (knees, ankles, feet, etc) that usually lie dormant, so to

speak and increases the stress involved in planning the trip. In 2000 when

planning a 2-week trip across Ireland, my left knee got so bad that it

prompted the MRI and the proposed surgery. I left it alone and it has done

ok, I know it is a problem, but nothing I can't handle. Now, I am planning

a 15 Day round trip cruise to Hawaii (in 30 days), and what happens. It

started with the a tendon in my foot, which required 3 weeks of PT and over

a month to start feeling better and now for the past week I can hardly walk

on this @#%* & left knee. Earlier in the week it was the outside of the knee,

it felt very weak and like it was going to give out every time I took a

step. Over the weekend, it has been feeling better, until last night just

before bed the right front of the knee cap got all swollen and it was very

hard to walk. Now it hurts quite a bit, and feels really tight, but I can

walk on it if I am careful. If I go to the Doctor, they will do another MRI

and again offer to operate on it. This darn thing hasn't bothered me to

any extent since 2000.

Now traveling, even small trips are out of my comfort zone, a big trip

destroy my comfort zone. However, as a rule once I get underway, I am fine.

Do you suppose that the problems that pop up during the planning stages are

caused not just by the underlying bone issues, but by the stress that I

create for myself in the planning stage? I am beginning to wonder if I am

loosing it. this can't all be in my head.

Don't get me wrong, I am very excited about my cruise, and I know all will

be fine. However, the stress of getting ready to leave my job for an

extended time and the preparation for the trip, seem to weigh on me.

Thanks for listening to my ramblings,

Becky

(Soon to be sipping my first pomegranate martini, while reading my favorite

novel, and lounging on the deck of a ship cruising to Hawaii)

" Becky Raine " <beccajane@...>