When the pain knocks you flat......

I'm feeling a bit rough today. I ache in my arms and legs, and my back hurts. If I didn't know different I would have said I'd been to the gym yesterday, and over done it. That's probably the easiest way to describe how I feel right now. Basically I'm having an arthritis/fibromyalgia flare up! It makes me feel really tired and also sometimes hot and bothered, if you get what I mean? My finger joints feel hot and swollen, as do my ankles and feet. I don't get a bad flare up very often, but I think I knew this was coming because over the weekend I was restless at night and found it hard to get up in the morning. Because I have both rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia the flare ups are very draining. 

Basically I need to rest, and just do everything I normally do with just a bit more care. 

When I get a flare up it makes me really understand what it must be like to live with chronic pain all the time. 

I don't have seriously bad rheumatoid arthritis or fibromyalgia, and the diseases don't stop me from doing most things. Obviously there are a few things I cant do now, like some of the sport I used to do. I used to love playing badminton and going to the gym. I would go clubbing a couple of times a week, and dance all night to house and trance music (showing my age here). I do realise as you get older your body cant always do what it used to, but I see no reason why a 59 year old can't dance or play sport. Yet I can't do it, unfortunately. The pressure on my joints makes it very painful and the repercussions, if I try, are days of aching and discomfort. It's so annoying, so frustrating. My mind wants to dance, and do things, but my body just can't seem to keep up. 

Please don't misunderstand. I really don't have either disease as bad as some people , and yet it's bad enough to me. There are many, many people who are far worse than me and I don't want to detract from how they are feeling, but I don't feel myself today, and haven't for a few days. I've got to say I even feel a bit low, and that's hard when Neil has his anxiety difficulties. I want to hide it from him but I can't because I feel like crying. We know each other so well after all these years together, and he knows anyway because I struggle to walk properly, compensating with a rolling gait as my legs hurt. He's very good when I get like this and makes me rest.

Imagine how it must be to be in such pain every day? I admire, and sympathise with, anyone that suffers this pain all the time. How strong and amazing they are. It makes me appreciate the fact that I am pretty much ok, and can do most things usually. Not only that but I know this flare up will be over soon, and not every one can say that about the pain they are in. So I need to keep positive and keep taking my medication. There are a few things I can do to stay as healthy as I can and so I need to make sure I keep them up. I am lucky to have a hospital help line I can call if I feel bad, too. I've never had to use it yet and I hope never to have to, but it's there if I need it. My doctor is great and supportive, as are all my family. I'm very lucky really! So I'm going to be positive and go to bed early, and hopefully tomorrow I will wake up that little bit better than to day!

https://rheumatoidarthritis.net/what-is-ra/ra-flare/

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/315646.php

https://www.healthline.com/health/rheumatoid-arthritis-vs-fibromyalgia