Tendons

[Luppylou]

Hi can I ask if anyone has problems with the tendons in their shoulders or down the back of their thighs. I’ve had pain for months but as always my blood results come back normal! I’m sure my doctors think I’m making it up. Thank you.

[Callie]

Hi Luppylou.

I am having awful problems with ligaments / tendons like you in my shoulders and hips and ankles, my GP sent me for x-rays on my shoulders last week to see if l have OA , but l said to him that l felt it was more tendons than arthritis. the pain radiates down my arms and legs, weirdly even the side that l had a hip replacement done in 2017 that leg is also painful. My pain is more on the outside of my shoulders and legs. I would see your GP and ask for another opinion. Good luck. x

[chrisj]

Hi - I've had tendonitis (so the rheumatologist told me last year) in my right arm for about 18 months. Apart from physio and pain killers there seems to be nothing else they can do. I'm at a loss as to how to get rid of it....He did send me for an x ray on my right shoulder last year to check for OA as I have that in other areas but it came back with no problems.

[soootired]

I have had shoulder issues for a few years, and funnily I've had this odd pain kind of at the back of my knee - or thigh. It's worse when I bend it - I find it really difficult to crouch down for example. It's sort of at the top of my calf upwards to the back of my thigh. It's really troubling me as I don't know what's causing it. I'm going to mention it to my rheumatologist when I next see him.

[Lisalou19]

Yes , I have recently had an mri I have tendinitis even though I am not physically exercising. The pain in my legs in horrendous and is stopping me from doing loads with my children because I can’t walk for long.

I have been complaining about my legs since last year. I’ve no idea what is causing it

X

[Luppylou]

Thanks everyone. I’m living overseas and a trip to the doctors will cost me £80 just to be told to take painkillers and that my blood tests are good, so I think I’ll wait until I see my rheumy.

Sometimes it’s so frustrating that my blood tests are clear - it’s why it took them nearly 20 years to diagnose me in the first place. 😩

Hope you can all get some relief soon! 🤞

[soootired in reply to Luppylou]

My bloods are always "ok" to, I keep meaning to ask for a print out because I've been thinking that they may be "normal" in terms of being within normal range, but there might show a variation within that range ie. if there is some fluctuation but still within normal range, when I'm flaring, eg normal for me is 2, but goes up to 5 or 6 sometimes when flaring, however normal range is below 7 so I'd still be classed as normal, but actually they do show my disease activity???

[milkwoman]

I had tendinitis in my right arm and a series of cortisone shots (two shots, 6 months apart) did the trick. It took two shots because I didn’t do exactly as I was told after the first one. The shots take away the pain so it’s easy to keep injuring the area without knowing it.

After the second shot, I wore a rigid wrist brace (the kind with a metal bar as it’s actually a weak wrist that is the issue) and used my left arm as much as possible to give my right arm a rest. I’m right handed do this was not easy. It takes time but it WILL heal. On average, it takes about 12-18 months.

Here’s the kind of brace I used. I found mine at my local pharmacy and was able to get a small sized one since I am small framed but the principle is the same.

Wrist Brace - Removable Splint amazon.com/dp/B00VXEF46M/re...

[Oscarbella]

Hi luppylou. Yes, I have had pain in my left shoulder for 4 months. Can’t lay on that side or raise my arm up. Had a scan done, it showed tendonitis and bursitis. My movement was so restricted in that arm. I had a cortisone injection in the bursa last week. That has helped to take down the inflammation. I’m having physio for it now. Focusing on strengthening that area and my back. Still can’t lift my arm up too high, but hopefully that will come back after some more physio. I asked my rheumy if it was caused by the lupus, he said it may have been triggered initially by the lupus, but now it is classed as tendornitus and bursitis. I also have trigger finger x

[Chanpreet_Walia LUPUS UK]

Hi Luppylou,

Tendonitis (inflammation of the tendons) is not uncommon in SLE. According to The Lupus Encyclopedia, "tendonitis usually causes pain around and between the joints of the body. Sometimes there can be swelling as well. Some examples of tendonitis that can occur in SLE include rotator cuff tendonitis (at the shoulder), epicondylitis at the elbow (commonly called tennis elbow, flexor tenosynovitis in the palm of the hand (also called trigger finger)".

Tendonitis of SLE can be treated with NSAIDs, steroids and hydroxychloroquine. Cortisone injections are one of the safest and quickest ways to treat tendonitis.

If you feel your doctor is not taking your concerns seriously, you can ask to be referred to a different doctor for a second opinion.

Best wishes!