I guess I should clarify that arthritic pain that accompanies any infection in your body is not always a “major flare”. I might experience minor joint issues that don’t require any additional medication. And sometimes I won’t have any joint pain at all! The instances of pain with infection have been less frequent as I have gotten older. I still get stand alone osteoarthritis or inflammatory arthritis pain.
Now I have been dealing with the pain from PMR for the last two years—I’m currently on my 2nd flare up of PMR.