shoulder pain — what's it like?

Question:

Hi Mary, Sorry to hear about your shoulder pain.  Yes, it can be RA causing your shoulder to hurt.  Early on in my RA my shoulder froze up (I had been ironing pieces to a quilt for several hours) in extreme pain.  Could not move it into any position, the swollen joint had pinched off a nerve. Drove to my rheumy’s office the next morning and parked my butt in his office until he could squeeze me in.  Got a cortisone shot in my shoulder and 36 hours later my shoulder was back to normal! Pain pills may help you to fall asleep tonight. Even if your doc won’t treat you for RA, you can probably convince him/her or another doc (I’ve gone shopping before until I find one to say yes!) to give you a shot. Best of luck, I know what you’re going through. Jean in Portland, OR

Response:

I’ve been *very* tired lately, and work’s been hard, so I’ve been lurking more than posting. My new rheumatologist wants to give my thyroid levels a chance to even out (and remove the complicating symptoms of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis) until autumn to say for *sure* that I have RA and decide how to treat it. And all of a sudden, right in the middle of today, I have extreme *shoulder* pain. I don’t know if this could be RA, or a pinched nerve, or what, so I’ll ask the same question I did about my hip: What does *your* shoulder pain feel like? How does it affect your range of motion? What part of the arm/shoulder/neck/back is it in? What kind of movement causes pain? I haven’t had shoulder pain (not on this level, of this type) before, and it was sudden and surprising. Before I get too into diagnosis (and before I plan to take Tuesday off and call the doctor for a visit) I want your points of view, to see how likely this is to be related to my (probable) RA or is something completely different. Mary http://www.prado.com/~iris

Response:

>What does *your* shoulder pain feel like? How does it affect your >range of motion? What part of the arm/shoulder/neck/back is it in? >What kind of movement causes pain?

At this point, a few hours later, from what I’ve read online, it’s seeming like a rotator cuff injury. Dang it. Oh well, at least it’s at the beginning of a long weekend so I don’t have to miss work.) Mary http://www.prado.com/~iris

Response:

Mary, In the months before I was diagnosed, one of my "injuries" was a rotator cuff injury. Had it injected with cortisone and it didn’t bother me for a year or so. RA shoulder pain can be very similar to rotator cuff pain. ~Krissy Akron, Ohio http://arthritisinsight.com Knowledge is power…support is essential.

Response:

Hi Mary,  A sharp sudden pain usually involves a nerve that could be in you shoulder, neck or upper back.  RA should pain involves loss of function.  I cannot play through the pain so to speak and I have problems with my shoulders from RA.  It did not come on quickly and has not completely gone away even with Enbrel.  I think your plan for Tuesday is a good idea and good luck with trying to get in.  Some people have to wait a couple of months or get on a cancellation list if someone does not make their appointment. Harv – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I’ve been *very* tired lately, and work’s been hard, so I’ve been > lurking more than posting. > My new rheumatologist wants to give my thyroid levels a chance to even > out (and remove the complicating symptoms of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis) > until autumn to say for *sure* that I have RA and decide how to treat > it. > And all of a sudden, right in the middle of today, I have extreme > *shoulder* pain. I don’t know if this could be RA, or a pinched nerve, > or what, so I’ll ask the same question I did about my hip: > What does *your* shoulder pain feel like? How does it affect your > range of motion? What part of the arm/shoulder/neck/back is it in? > What kind of movement causes pain? > I haven’t had shoulder pain (not on this level, of this type) before, > and it was sudden and surprising. Before I get too into diagnosis (and > before I plan to take Tuesday off and call the doctor for a visit) I > want your points of view, to see how likely this is to be related to > my (probable) RA or is something completely different. > Mary > http://www.prado.com/~iris

Response:

Mary, when my RA acts up in my shoulders it has always been bilateral. Never just one shoulder.  That may be OA or, more likely, a bursa flaring up (bursitis).  A steroid/medrol shot will probably fix it up. Best, Larry Before you buy.

Response:

Mary… Unless specifically recall an injury incident, I doubt a rotator cuff injury.  Sounds like tendonitis or osteo arthritis.  I was out putting up Christmas lights a couple ofl years ago.  It was chilly that day.  Before I finished, I had shoulder and hand joint pain.  Up to that time I had not had any pain like this.  That night I could not sleep.  Went to the Doc and she said it was Osteo Arthritis… gave me a shot, sent me to therapy, started exercise regime, and put me on high doses of ibuprofen. Cleared up within 6 weeks, lasted for about a year.  When it started again, keeping me awake at night (the pain never really goes away) I had quit ibuprofen.. and I didnt want another shot…I heard that stuff destroys tissue, so I looked up Arthritis on the Internet and discovered glucosamine with chondroiten, a dietary supplement.  Also took calcium, ginko biloba and vitamin E. I consulted my MD on this plan and she said go for it.  Long story short, I have stopped everything but the glucosamine w/chondroiten and cut that back to 2xs a day and it is much improved… I’s say 80%.  Been doing this for over a year, never take ibuprophen except for an occasional head ache.  wooly * Sent from AltaVista http://www.altavista.com Where you can also find related Web Pages, Images, Audios, Videos, News, and Shopping.  Smart is Beautiful

Response:

>Mary… Unless specifically recall an injury incident, I >doubt a rotator cuff injury.

It *feels* like one … I know better than to diagnose myself with one It’s got the symptoms that fit rotator cuff injury well. And rather than diagnose myself with OA either, I’m going to go to my doctor (either my PCP or the RD who’s holding off treating my RA assertively until she knows for sure it’s not an extreme case of Hashimoto’s disease) and ask what it might be, and what I should do about it. My body’s currently too confused for me to assume a single cause of anything, but so far, my shoulder (and its reactions to movement and manipulation) seem more similar to a pinched nerve or injury related to RA or a rotator cuff injury than they do to osteoarthritis. But it *could* be tendinitis. At any rate, I’ll check with the docs tomorrow morning. Mary http://www.prado.com/~iris

Response:

Cortisone shots didn’t  work for me, though, and I ultimately had to have a debridement of the > joint.

And CindyR wants to know: ‘"debridement" – does that mean that your shoulder joint is getting a divorce?

Response:

> Cortisone shots didn’t  work for me, though, and I ultimately had to have a > debridement of the > joint. > And CindyR wants to know: > ‘"debridement" – does that mean that your shoulder joint is getting a > divorce?

LOLOLOLOLOLOL

Response:

Mary: Michele here.  When I as first diagnosis with  RA the pain in my shoulder was unbelievable.  Many times in the middle of the night I would try to roll over and I was unable to lift my left shoulder unless I physically moved it with my right hand. Best of Luck Michele

Response:

> Mary: > Michele here.  When I as first diagnosis with  RA the pain in my shoulder was > unbelievable.  Many times in the middle of the night I would try to roll over > and I was unable to lift my left shoulder unless I physically moved it with my > right hand. Best of Luck > Michele

Been there, done that, too. Harv

Response:

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