I have RA for 2.5 yrs. and am on Embrel and Naproxen. I flare regularly and had to take Naproxen to ease my flares. Here is the question: When I flare, does this means that my joints are being demage eventhough I'm on Embrel? If yes, what is the next course of action do I need to take?
Thank you for any response you can provide.
Ronie has given you lots of good advice - basically, everything I would've told you. What can I say, the woman is brilliant. 
I do want to add one thing, though. Flares are not necessarily inevitable. if your medication is controlling your RA and you continue to take it on the schedule that you and your doctor have agreed on, you should not experience an RA flare (i.e., a recurrence of your symptoms, including swelling and inflammation). On the other hand, an increase in pain can come after overdoing it - something I'm very familiar with - and it may require you to rest and take a couple of days off, but does not necessarily include swelling. It's a bit of a technical definition and most of us use the word flare to cover both situations, but one has the potential to damage your joints and the other one tends to just mess with your day.
That said, Ronie is right that an occasional brief flare likely won't cause any damage, however it may be in indication that you need to up your medication or add some prednisone. I definitely recommend that you have a chat with your rheumatologist about this to make sure that you protect your joints in the long run.
The answer is yes and no.
While pain and swelling is an indication that something is wrong, a flare is a sign that your RA has awakened and is actively moving around even if it is for a couple hours or couple days. When not under control your immune system is triggered to see synovial fluid (liquid in your joints)as an invader like it would attack a virus. It takes a lot of time to do damage, so a flare here and there doesn't necessarily mean you are falling apart. While Enbrel is a good bio med to suppress your RA, flares are inevitable and a part of our lives. If you are flaring regularly, ask your rheumy to possibly switch up or add a med or two. Most of us take a bio med, an anti inflammatory like naproxen or Mobic, plus a DMARD like methotrexate, plaquenil or Arava. Prednisone can also be in the mix to keep the swelling down. Regular or continuous flares mean you RA is not being suppressed.
Please keep in mind that sometimes things are going on even though you are not flaring. Your rheumie might want to regularly check your RA factor and other blood markers to make sure your RA is under control.
The next course is pretty much make an appointment to find out through tests and bloodwork to find out exactly what is going on. Stay as active as best you can as activity improves bloodflood and keep the body healthy. A healthy body is the one point you have complete control over for healing. Laugh and have fun. Keep the blood and heart pumping.
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