Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group anyone never have a flare? Pain is constant?

ive been reading a few peoples experiences on here and the net in general & im reading about flares... it seems as if some people have periods where thier AS seems to go away and then they talk about 'flare ups'.

With me its never gone away once in the time ive had it and the pain is constant and pretty consistant... id say sometimes like my ribs could be hurting me more than other times & my neck as well, that comes and goes over time, but apart from that things seem very constant.

So would a flare be something ive not experienced yet? Or when the pain gets a bit worse is this a flare?

You can tell im a little confused on this one.

Thanks

Carl.

Hi Carl - my pain is not constant like yours, I have those flares. When I am not in a flare, I feel fantastic, like nothing at all is wrong with me at all. Which is why when I was diagnosed, I couldn't believe the doctor when he said it was a chronic and progressive disease. I wanted to know how I could feel great one day and be a cripple the next? So I search on my own, and found kickas, and the NSD.

Since I stopped eating starches, I now know that my pain is related to what I am eating. When I eat a starch, I go into a flare, and I am a cripple. When I have no starch in my system, I am in no pain. It's been that simple.

After 5 months on NSD, I am healing, and when I do go into a flare now from somthing I ate, it only lasts a few hours.

Hi Carl,
If you want to talk in terms of "flares", I've been in a state of permaflare for about 7 years now. I don't ever seem to come out of it. Without enbrel and/or other meds, it would just go from bad to worse and back again. When I was younger, I had flares, where a joint would be affected for a couple of years and then get better. But now in adulthood, no such luck!
The concept of having days where I'd be free of pain and wouldn't need any meds is completely foreign to me. Although I do really well when I have the right med concoction all figured out. I would personally love to have a typical flare - because that means that there might be good days at the end of it!

Hi Carl,

Ditto Megan's post. The only difference is that I am on Humira.

Best wishes,
Jessie

Hi Carl,

I come and go with my "flares". I'm usually in constant pain, with one joint or another. Usually my hips or back is what is continuously hurting. I label my flare when the pain is so bad I just can't stand it anymore. I think different people experience different types of flares.

Hi Carl,
Overall my pain is rather consistent too, but I also get flares at least once a month. My flares either effect one part of my body, or most of my body goes into a flare. Usually it's the bad weather or over doing it that starts my flares, and they normally go away within 1-2 days. Then again, sometimes I get flares for no reason at all. I guess I'm just different that way.

Take care,
James.

Hi,

you seem just like me, with me pain was constant for years, it only got worse at some points (changing the weather,travelling.....) So when it gets worse I call it a flare, because it doesnt last it stoped eventually


sanela

well it sounds like everyone is differant... what a strange condition this is!! no wonder its confusing

Im deffinatly gonna go NSD for at least a couple of weeks... like i was saying in another post, its been the main thing in my diet for all my life really (though I suppose it is with a lot of people) so fingers crossed

Hey, Carl:

One thing I noticed: I used to flare with distinct episodes prior to taking NSAIDs, but during the time I used them I was in one long flare. I could control iritis and the sharp hip pains that did not allow me to walk somewhat by fasting, but then I would resume eating starches and the severe symptoms would creep back. Now, I only flare if I eat stealthy starches (not on the labels or hidden in salad dressing or fruits) or too much ice cream (lactose can also be a danger). I get out of the flare by fasting a day or two or taking antibiotics.

Good luck with the NSD,
John