Quick question

[Znewell]

Hi everyone ive got a quick question for you i have a damaged eldow it stuck in a 90 degree angle when i start taking methotrexate will my eldow go back straight or will it be damaged for life x

[Preacherman]

Lord Willing you will be fine, provided the methotrexate works for you. Usually my left arm does that from time to time and after a few days of steroids my arm will free up and work again. I guess you might say, it just locks up. We're all different, but I'd like to think and believe you will be fine in time.

Blessings,

Brian

[Beaches2]

Hi

I had this with both elbows during my first year of diagnosis.....each time I had a steroid injection they would straighten again then slowly one or other would become bent. I had an injection into the elbow once which worked well. I'm now on a regime that is working and both elbows are now perfectly straight and I'm sure you will find the same once drugs kick in for you.

[strawberryshortcake]

My elbow has been bent for a few years but none of the doctors I have seen have given me anything for it. I have arthritis in my shoulder which is really stiff now as well. I was supposed to have had an operation to fix it but it coincided with an operation for a replacement knee. So I had that done instead.

[Matilda_1922]

From my experience it didn't but on my next appointment gave me an into the elbow joint and worked miracles

[Matilda_1922 in reply to Matilda_1922]

Injection

[cathie]

It might be a good idea to see a physio for exercises. Just gentle ones can make a difference over time. That would work with the meds.

[Em13]

That's interesting. I have just posted about my own elbow issues. My elbow hadn't been right since June and although nothing like your 90 degree angle, it bothered me that I couldn't straighten my arm fully. (It didn't seem to be the joint itself more of a tendon thing.) A steroid injection in the behind did nothing for it last month, but last week I had an injection into the elbow itself and that seems to have worked. I'm new and didn't realise it was a common problem.

[Hobbits]

I have had this happen coincidentally in my left arm as well. My elbow locked at a 90 degree and I could not straighten it, I also couldn't move my shoulder, it was locked too. I was originally misdiagnosed with a rotator cuff injury, but my physiotherapist knew right away it wasn't a rotator cuff injury. I received 40 minutes a day of physiotherapy to slowly stretch out and straighten the arm. I also had to build muscle back up because my shoulder and elbow were stuck like that for some time and the muscles quickly deminish when not in use and the tendons shorten. I won't lie, my physiotherapy was painful, but worth it for the use of my arm again

The Methotrexate may unlock up your joints, I think it depends on how long your arm has been like that. If your muscles and tendons have been 'wasted' from non-use physiotherapy really is the safest way to a aid further injury.

My ring finger in my right hand was locked in a curled up fashion for years, I couldn't straighten it. I was misdiagnosed with a sprained finger, this one straightened out about four weeks of Methotrexate. It's perfectly fine now most days.

Family physicians really don't seem to know as much about RA. Mine clearly didn't. I still remember the look on my Rheumatologist face when he heard the journey of misdiagnosis from my family doctor as prompt treatment at the beginning of the disease can make a world of difference.

I hope the Methotrexate works great for you. It was a miracle for me. However my dosage was so high and I had too many side effects. I have tried many different RA drugs and now on biological. To compare, Methotrexate actually worked the best, as far as controlling my RA pain and mobility, unfortunately my doctor had to take me off it.

[Znewell in reply to Hobbits]

Hi im not the only one then ive had my middle finger do the same as your ring finger too and been like it for 2 years now they thought it was capal tunnel but its not . it most be ra then im going to see if the meds work first but if not im going to ask doc to inject it . thank you for your comment its given me hope x

[BoneyC]

Depends how long your elbow has been stuck at 90 degrees. Mine are permanently bent and surgeons have told me (need elbow replacements) they cannot straighten them as tendons, ligaments etc. shorten.

[Znewell in reply to BoneyC]

Hi my right eldow has been like this for 2 years now but i was only told i had ra thursday went for a blood test about round when it started but they siad i was all clear till now so im a bit in limdo at min x