Why does RA affect muscles and tendons ?

[Helz]

[StarlightinJuly]

Hi, I'm sorry I can't help but I too would like to know the answer! My legs have been SO painful through the night that they kept me awake. Usually it is near the left shin bone all the way down but, this time, both legs are bad. It feels like bone pain! Which muscles are bothering you?

[LavendarLady]

I wish I knew the answer as well. I get pain in my arm muscles and every time I turn over in bed, it wakes me up and the arm is very stiff and sore the next day.

It only seems to affect one arm rather than both although occasionally it will cause the other arm to flare up. And I have terrible trouble with my feet which flare up from time to time and I have to keep stretching the muscles there to unknot them. If anyone has the answer, please let us know. LavendarLady x

[Hidden]

Hi all, this is a really useful load of information about the pain and why you get it. I would recommend having a look. Hope it helps you, it includes muscular pain and wasting of muscles etc.

patient.co.uk/health/Rheuma...

Just copy and paste the above link into browser.

Petra xx

[Hidden]

patient.co.uk/health/Rheuma...

Sorry, wrong link, this will work

[LavendarLady in reply to Hidden]

Thanks. Interesting Article. LavendarLady x

[Trish53]

I don't know about muscles, but I think it affects the tendons because they are surrounded in the tendon sheath by synovial fluid, the same as the fluid surrounding the joints, which is attacked by the immune system in RA. I have this problem with the tendon of my right ring finger and it causes my whole hand to swell with the finger 'triggering' down towards my palm.

x

[LavendarLady in reply to Trish53]

Hi Trish, hadn't thought of the synovial fluid. Of course, that makes sense as all tendon sheaths are surrounded with the stuff.

I get similar problems with my fingers when the tendons seem to shorten and pull my fingers downwards. The hospital told me to bend the fingers back to stretch the tendons. That seems to work at present.

LavendarLady x

[cathie]

I get cramp in my legs sometimes but not what you're describing. A nurse advised Indian tonic water for the cramp - I think it was the quinine I should have

[Philip in reply to cathie]

The tonic water must include QUININE in the tonic water also and it is very good for restless legs syndrome, a lot of fibromyalgia sufferers use it too. You can get the quinine in tablet form from your GP and is available on prescription.

[thinkpositive]

Hi there.

The muscles and tendons are there to try and protect the joints .I suppose with RA they have to work extra hard.Trying tp protect the joint, so they are more painful, you should ask your physio if possible Helz

PAT

[muffin]

I also have pain in muscles and tendons. This was been put down, in part to fybromyalgia for the muscles, and my ortho specialist is always telling me that rheumatoids always have rubbish tendons. By this he means they have been stretched during flare they cause problems afterwards.

Muffin

[cathie]

I think that's why tai chi is so suitable for us