? about flaring

Hello,

I am a 63yr old Dx'd with RA+ILD in 04/07.  Have been receiving IV infusions of 750mg abatacept since 01/09 along with daily, oral 5mg pred. and IA pred. PRN, usually 40mg in hands/fingers at least every 3 mos.

I've flared pretty badly within 48hrs following my last two infusions and am now at day #8 post infusion with swelling, stiffness and much pain in hands, fingers, knees and feet. Don't want to bump up the oral pred as my BGL's are in the 125-135 range as it is and I tend to get rather nasty (understatement) when on higher doses of oral pred.

Anyone on biologics experience flaring after infusion?  I thought one was supposed to feel so much better following these infusions. The only time I ever actually feel real relief is following a pred injection.  I can then function almost normally for 2-3 mos., so my problem is that I don't know if the abatacept is even working for me since I usually have a pretty decent steady plasma state of pred on board as well.