I’m newly diagnosed with RA. I have an appointment on Tuesday when I’m expecting to be started on Methotrexate.
But this evening my shoulder is in AGONY and I’ve taken Naproxen and paracetamol.
My question is, will putting something warm or cold on my shoulder help at all and if so, which please?
Annnnd go...........
Thank you Ajay575. Hot water bottle now in place 👍
You can get a really good hot water bottle in Argos it’s a long one, about 2ft long (sorry not sure in metric🤔) but it does the job when I have shoulder and neck pain👍 hope it soon eases for you and the tablets kick in 🤗 xx
Me too 😊
Hi Janna, are you sure it was argos ?? been looking on their website and cannot find it. Was it just a special one off.
Hi pip if you type in body bottle it will come up it’s £24.99 👍sorry should of said 🤗x
My left shoulder is a right pain for me 
I rub Red Tiger balm on it and across the base of my neck, eases the pain along with ibuprofen, a shawl and scarf.
Oh I have some red tiger balm somewhere. I’ll rub some in before bed. Thank you purl.
Yep, heat for me too! I use wheat bags for around neck, hot water bottle for lower back. Hope things improve soon for you.
Depends whether it is yr shoulder from RA or from muscles eg triceps overused to protect your shldrs etc. heat does comfort but often ice for a few mins then rest will do the job, or a rub-on gel = e.g ibufrofen thru skin rather than thru stomach.. sorry 4ty pain
It’s amazing get it quick everyone will want one 🤣
The general rule is heat for joint (or muscle) pain & cold for inflammation. Personally I respond better to heat whichever I'm having so the only way is to try. Be careful though, it's probably better to invest in an electric heat pad or wheat filled microwaveable bag. If using a hot water bottle, if it doesn't have a proper cover wrap it in a towel then you don't risk burning your skin or it becoming mottled (heard of corned beef skin?). Similarly for cold, a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel works well, you can wrap it round the affected joint, or an ice bag, the type that has a screw on lid, available on line, I got ours off eBay for a couple of pounds (my h responds better to cold).
I hope all goes well on Tuesday & you respond well to MTX. Don't expect it to work quickly though, in common with other DMARDs it's not fast acting though you should start to notice subtle improvements a few weeks in. I've been on it 9 years & of 4 DMARDs I've tried it's the best for me. If your shoulder is no better do ask if a localised steroid injection is appropriate. I've had two in my left shoulder both from the front & the back & the relief lasts a good few months. If you'll take a tip, although it's difficult when you have pain try not to not use it, if that makes sense? As the heat or cold eases the pain try to move it a little, rotate it if you can otherwise the muscles could go into spasm & you might transfer the pain to your neck too. Obviously don't push it too hard but equally don't let it become stiff.
Ice is my go to. Heat later if needed. I just was gifted an ice circulating cooler machine and I’m in heaven. Ice is on me a LOT!
Argh shoulder pain is horrendous . Sorry for the late reply and hope you got some relief and managed to sleep. I have had 13 frozen shoulders in 1 year ( others as well) . The pain is awful and makes you feel physically sick . When the pain was bad I used to get a hot shower with the water directed onto the affected areas. This with ibuprofen and paracetamol gave some relief. I have had multiple injections into both shoulders which really helped. I then had physiotherapy with exercises to improve the muscles around the joints and have not had the pain or frozen shoulders since . That was 5 years ago. I hope you have a good consultation tomorrow. Good luck xxx
I had hideous shoulder pain. Moving a finger slightly made me cry out. Short dose of Pred sorted it out in a matter of a few hours. Might work for you?
Hi, For me it is a heated wheat pad every time and Ibuprofen. When I started with RA fourteen years ago it was the onky thing that stopped me losing the plot, that and my feet in a bowl of warm water. Ice tenses me up. Actually if you are ever in desperate pain you can safely take Ibuprofen and Paracetamol together, providing you have no reason nit to take Ibuprofen and never mix like for like e.g. Ibuprofen and Naproxen or either with Aspirin based products. Equally be careful of cold treatments containing Paracetamol. Always take Ibuprofen with food and upto 1600mg within 24hrs or 2400mg upon GP advice. Take regularly rather than as and when to build up anti-inflammatory. Sorry if you know all this but in the beginning I was desperate and in a really bad place with pain and felt that no one truelly understood the intensity of my pain - very lonely.
I totally appreciate all help and advise, I’m very much at that lonely place at the moment xx
Don't be lonely or feel that nobody understands, we all do. I've paced the floor in the wee small hours with my loneliness of pain, anger and a feeling of loss for the person I was. I could see my husband and young son sound asleep and although I was so thankful that they could rest easy it tormented also me that I couldn't. Keep writing Lauranorder and keep us up to date. Take care.
It's always been heat that helps me. I loathe cold. I have wheat bags and microwave hotties for various hurting bits and Himself bought me an electric heated cape although I haven't tried it yet. I hope you managed to sleep well last night 'cos it's rubbish when you can't. Hugs
J
Any cold whatsoever, or dampness/rain makes .e hurt to the max! Heat, on the other hand, helps relieve the pain and stiffness somewhat.Compression also helps some.
Try ice or heat. Even one then the other. There’s no right or wrong thing here, justnfinding relief!
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