In agony with my arm

[Sharonbernt]

I was hoping for some advise. I have been in agony with my right arm from my shoulder to my fingers for two weeks now. I am on steroids 20mg prednisone I have been taking ibuprofen for two weeks. I am trying to rest the arm and have tried heat and cold none of which is helping. Any suggestions would be welcome.

[AgedCrone]

Have you been diagnosed with RA.....?

[Sharonbernt in reply to AgedCrone]

Yes I was diagnosed seven years ago I am on hydroxychloroquine and sulfasalazine I am waiting for my assessment to go on biologics.

[AgedCrone in reply to Sharonbernt]

If that is what your rheumatologist recommends let’s hope a Biologic Drug will help....I had terrible trouble with aching arms when I was first diagnosed...... Mtx suited me & they improved 90%.....but they are still the first to hurt if I’m heading for a flare.

Thankfully I can’t take Pred.......if you can possibly manage to....I’d ry to get off it asap.

[Sharonbernt in reply to AgedCrone]

I went to the doctors and they just put me on steroids. I can’t use the arm at all as soon as I try to the pain is intense.

[AgedCrone in reply to Sharonbernt]

I do know what do you mean ....when I was first diagnosed I would stay in my PJ‘s for days because I couldn’t move my arms to get dressed.

Do you mean you saw your rheumatologist who put you on steroids, or a GP? If the latter.....go back to your rheumatologist & discuss with him.

You only have to read on here to see how difficult it is to stop taking Pred to realise that soonest off really is best.

Of course there will always be the unfortunate person who cannot stop taking it....but it’s well worth trying before you are too dependent.

[Sharonbernt in reply to AgedCrone]

I went to the GP but also spoke to my Rheumy nurse. I will drop the dose and come off the steroids to be honest they haven’t made any difference to the pain.

[AgedCrone in reply to Sharonbernt]

You must discuss with your rheumy before changing any prescribed medication.

Certainly DON’T just stop taking steroids...you need a managed withdrawal plan......& only a qualified clinician who knows your medical condition can advise on that. Just stopping can cause all sorts of problems.

I know it seems overkill to keep asking questions....but it’s the only way to get on a regime that helps.

[HappykindaGal in reply to Sharonbernt]

I took steroids for two years. If you’ve been taking them for a while, don’t just stop,as you’ll end up in an even worse state. It was an online American doc that finally made sense as I’d made two attempts and failed.

He said it was the percentage you come off, rather than the milligrams. So going from 5mg to 1mg is too big a drop at one time. Needs to be around 20% at a time. Worked for me!

It must be absolutely awful for you. So much pain that you don’t know what to do with yourself. Is it less painful in a sling?

[Sharonbernt in reply to HappykindaGal]

Yesterday I went to my local hospital, they have given me a sling and they are writing to my doctor to be referred for an urgent scan. So fingers crossed.

[allanah]

Oh that's awful. If the steroids arent helping its maybe time to talk to the doctors again.? Could it be nerve type pain or fluid in the joint ? It sounds like it needs looking at again. Feel for you , I hate when my shoulders hurt xxxx

[Sharonbernt in reply to allanah]

The doctor said it is tendinitis. Nothing is touching the pain. I will try again with the doctor.

[allanah in reply to Sharonbernt]

Sounds like your best bet xxxx hugs x

[Mumcon in reply to Sharonbernt]

I’ve had tendinitis twice in my life, before I was diagnosed with RA I really feel for you as I know the pain is excruciating The only thing that helped me was an injection straight into the tendon I would ask your Gp about this I hope you get ease soon xx

[Mmrr]

I struggle with tenosynovitis in my wrists and shoulders. It might sound strange, but sometimes gentle walking helps my shoulders, but unfortunately sometimes nothing much helps.

Hopefully biologics will help you.

[Sharonbernt in reply to Mmrr]

Thank you.

[oldtimer]

If you have access to a physio, it might help both with a more precise diagnosis of this particular pain and with advice on how to use it to minimise the pain. Doctors often are not good at precise diagnosis of musculo-skeletal or nerve root pain (they don't have that training usually) and this could have elements of both.

[Lolabridge]

I wonder whether a steroid injection into the shoulders would help. Contact your Rheumy and ask.

When I couldn’t move my arms I had one in each shoulder and they worked well.

[Sharonbernt]

Thank you everyone for your advise.

[TPaine]

I wonder if this may be coming from your neck as pain from the cervical spine can cause referred pain to the arm and hand.... may be worth asking as then you might need a different drug to help. I have amitriptyline for neck issues which affected my arm really badly, which has helped so much..

Good luck

Tracy