Shoulder pain and discoid rash on forearms

[Rosy1234]

My mother had lupus I have now developed discoid rash on my arms and rash over one eyebrow. I have pains in my knees and last few months my shoulder . On waking in morning very painful to move duvet with arm. If I carry a bag my arms feel weak afterwards. I had bloods done and all clear was given antihistamines however had no effect on rash . The doctor felt I was too old to have lupus or at least highly unlikely im 53. However my mother was not diagnosed till 50 with sle she died from complications with disease. I am worried as cannot figure out what’s going on with my own body . I usually would have been very fit . Anyone with similar symptoms to mine thank you

[leslieliesel]

I was just DX'd last fall at 62!!!...Have you had your rash biopsied?? I had my rash Biopsied at my insistence ......yep Lupus.....I take Hydroxachloaquine(sp?) my pain is all but gone...I am still fatigued at some point every day....and I have to PROTECT myself from the glorious sunshine....again, even I thought..who gets lupus at 62???? Mine is is subacute lupus...but Discoid lupus was also batted around during my DXing

[Rosy1234 in reply to leslieliesel]

Thank you Leslie for taking time to reply I will organize a biopsy . Rosy

[Rosy1234]

Thank you Leslie for taking time to reply . I will see if can get a biopsy organized as have nothing to loose. Suppose I have not felt that Sick but as my mother had such difficult time with lupus need to be safe rather than sorry but thank you again for reply and stay healthy rosy

[panda2]

Hi Rosy,

Did they do an ANA blood test to check your antibodies? Or just the regular Full blood count, organ function sets of tests..? You can get Lupus or other connective tissue diseases at any age. I'm presently in a year long (so far) diagnosis process of Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease and I'm 49.

Good luck with all of it. Sorry to know it's such a struggle right now.

Panda x

[Rosy1234 in reply to panda2]

Thank you for your reply i had negative Ana in blood test which is why they consider it unlikely to be any sort of lupus . I still have rash on forearms and shoulder pain similar to rotator cuff injury however both arms ache like as if I had done 20 pressups ....as my mother had lupus and died from complications that’s why was concerned but thank you rosy

[panda2]

Hi Rosy,

Well, that makes sense to be concerned. There still are connective tissue diseases that occur with negative ANA, but as you've experienced, it makes it much much harder to get doctor's to take notice in the CTD direction I understand. The rash could certainly provide your much needed information from a biopsy as leslieleisel says. I've just had a biopsy myself on my forearm rash and both connective tissue disease as well as vascular disease have been flagged up. It's important the rash gets biopsied when it's fairly fresh.

Incidentally, antihistamines had no effect on my rashes or urticaria flares either. And I've told my husband exactly(!) what you have, how sometimes my arms feel so bad that it hurts to lift the bed covers. It's really a struggle to feel yourself change so much from fit and energetic to finding bags difficult to carry.. So sorry you're experiencing this. Definitely try the biopsy route. Let us know how you go.

Panda x