Answer Summary

Members shared a wide range of early flare-up signals in response to the original poster's observation about heavy arms, with many describing... Read more

Members shared a wide range of early flare-up signals in response to the original poster's observation about heavy arms, with many describing similar experiences of limbs feeling like lead weights, difficulty with everyday tasks like drying hair or lifting dishes, and losing coordination to the point of dropping things. Several members mentioned specific physical warning signs including neck and shoulder pain, headaches or migraines, sausage-like swelling in the hands and fingers, spinal disks popping, mouth ulcers and cold sores, or an unusual type of yawn that signals trouble ahead. A recurring theme was the wide variation in flare cycles, from constant pain with rare good days to unpredictable patterns marked by sudden fatigue, irritability, intense carb cravings, and the need to rest or seek relief through warm water therapy like jacuzzis.