What triggers a flare and what helps going back into remission?

[Guest guest]

My right knee has been swelled for several months now (due to

Reiter's) and I have had such swelling in the same knee twice before

over a period of ten years, but both time it went away with an

injection of cortisol into the knee. This time it went away and came

back after two months. MRI says my knee has no problem and my doctor

has told me there is not much he can do for me.

I am not taking any NSAIDS (they hurt my stomach) or any other

medicine. I was wondering if any of you during your years of

experience with Reiter has come to find something that might help

bring one back into remission. Has anyone found a way to decrease knee

swelling? How long your flares last? What causes a flare? Anything

that you can think of would be much appreciated, as for now I'm really

tired of this problem. Please share your experience and knowledge.

Thanks so much,

Saeid

[Guest guest]

Saeid wrote " I am not taking any NSAIDS (they hurt my

stomach) or any

> other medicine. I was wondering if any of you during your

> years of experience with Reiter has come to find something

> that might help bring one back into remission. Has anyone

> found a way to decrease knee swelling? How long your

> flares last? "

Hi Saeid

I am on my 3rd lfare of Reiter's. My knees have always been

my worst affected joints. The first flare went into

remission after 6 months and I was on the DMARD drug

salazopyrin/sulphasalazine (plus an NSAID). I had a

remission of 3 years. The 2nd flare lasted 8 months and was

sent into remission by using the DMARDS salazyporin and also

methotrexate. This remission lasted 6 years. Cortisteroid

injections are helpful too, but are not usually enough to

cause a remission.

Most remissions require the use of DMARD drugs (disease

modifying drugs) to push the body into remission, by

reducing inflammation. It would be hard to achieve a

remission if you are not on any such drugs.

All the best,

[Guest guest]

> I am on my 3rd lfare of Reiter's. My knees have always been

> my worst affected joints. The first flare went into

> remission after 6 months and I was on the DMARD drug

> salazopyrin/sulphasalazine (plus an NSAID). I had a

> remission of 3 years. The 2nd flare lasted 8 months and was

Thanks . One question. If you get into remission by taking a drug

, can you stop taking that drug while you are in remission?

My first two remissions each lasting three years came with single

injection of corticosteroid, so I know that such injections can cause

a remission. But this time it didn't work. My knew swelling was back

after three months. Maybe corticosteroid was not as strong as those I

had taken before (I wish I knew the names) or perhaps my flare was

stronger this time (though it had only affected the same knee).

I really appreciate anyone who can share informaiton with me.

Saeid

[Guest guest]

>

> My right knee has been swelled for several months now (due to

> Reiter's) and I have had such swelling in the same knee twice before

> over a period of ten years, but both time it went away with an

Does ESR goes up during a flare? My ESR is very low but my synovial

fluid analysis shows very high White blood cells. Are these typical

findings in Reiter's during a flare?

Thanks,

Saeid

[Guest guest]

Saeid wrote " Thanks . One question. If you get into

remission by

taking a drug , can you stop taking that drug while you

are in remission? "

Hi Saeid

Again, I can only speak of my own experience, but my

rheumatologist kept me on the disease-modifying drugs for 2

years after each remission began, then he slowly tapered me

off them, one at a time, until I was drug-free.

I think it's also fairly common for each subsequent flare to

be more severe than the one preceding it.