Pain in upper arms - steroid injections?

[HKAnne]

Hi Everyone, this is my first ME post.

I have been suffering since the end of last October with pains in my upper arms, I can't raise my left arm to it's full capacity. I believe this could be another symptom of ME?

I have seen my GP who does not know what it can be, I am having an X-ray next week. GP has also recommended steroid injections, which I am a bit wary of for the following reasons: 1. she does not have a diagnosis and 2. I am worried about having an injection as I have had bad reactions to injections before.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks.

[Hidden]

Injections are not all the same so unless you had a butcher go at you wrong the drug inside the syringe dictates what you experience, not the injection itself.

A lot of the times Dr's do not have a sound diagnosis, they are going on a working diagnosis and treating the presenting symptoms to the best of their ability. I assume its the same in your case.

A steroidal injection for pain and movement issues would not be uncommon and I personally speaking would be glad they are looking at it that way and not as a psychosomatic issue.

Is it just pain stopping you making the movement or is there like a physical barrier, if you can follow me?

Have you considered going dairy and gluten free? When I became very unwell with ME I was seen by a specialist who recommend these measures along with vitamin D which I duly followed and within days I had relief of some of the pains that were wracking my body. Definitely read up on the Vit D as deficiency can cause symptoms you are experiencing:

healthline.com/nutrition/vi...

Hope that helps.

[ceramo]

Muscle pain and burn is usual, I get it too, intermittently. My bible for helpful info is Dr Myhill’s book on CFS and ME, and as I understand it the pain has to do with lactic acid (athletes get this too during extreme exertion), which is produced when the energy supply on a cellular level simply can’t keep up with the demand. See also her website?

Our massively incapacitating problem is that, for whatever mysterious reason, we just can’t any longer produce the energy needed for even simple normal living. The explanations are highly technical (re mitochondrial function and the production of something called ATP). I would suggest trying a specialist sugar (also used by athletes) called D-ribose, which you can buy as a powder and put in coffee or on food. This apparently works wonders for some when used regularly, though I myself just use it as a standby, as I have a particular problem. It is good stuff but I don’t handle sugars well: I apparently don’t digest my food properly, but rather ferment it in the gut instead. Being pretty sensitive to medications and also many foodstuffs, I personally would avoid drugs and above all injections, except where absolutely necessary, and stick with appropriate diet supplements instead. And I would support Raffs diet suggestion - I have been gluten free for many years and am now (am getting older, into late 70s) needing to be even stricter, more paleo. Definitely helps!

[HKAnne in reply to ceramo]

Hi Ceramo,

Many thanks for your reply and apologies for taking so long to reply. I have had a few domestic issues to deal with which wiped me out for a few days.

The information that you have given me is really interesting and I shall definitely have a look at Dr. Myhills book.

I agree, food and diet is very important - for me, it always has been, even before I had any health issues.

I am glad that you have found ways to make your ME more tolerable and wish you all the best for the future.

Thanks again for your advice.

[ceramo in reply to HKAnne]

Obviously, pacing too is key! I learned that the hard way, behaving for far too long as if mind could win over matter. But all the same, stress is unavoidable, that is life. The hardest thing is to know when to stop fighting the illness and to accept what you have, I think.

A constant negotiation? I find it very difficult.

All the best to you!

[HKAnne in reply to ceramo]

Thanks again Ceramo, all the best to you too!