Mine are particularly bad having overtaken my upper back and neck.
Lying in bed in the early hours my right elbow ache turned into a searing pain so bad it almost made me cry. It went after a while but for about 2 weeks now all the joints in my arms are achy and weak and so stiff it is affecting my movements. Getting in and out of the car etc.
Have taken a Naproxen just now and will take another before bed.
Does anyone else get this, if so, if it carries on would it be worth asking for a steroid injection into the elbow?
Thanks all. x
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Brychni
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My elbows and hands at the moment the worst. I put vicks in my elbows to keep them warm and then peas on them to cool when searing. I am co codamol for pain. As naproxen does nothing for me. I have phases so last year had 3months of severe arm pain then it went away. But now comes back on and off each month not as severe as first attack but still painful and makes doing things hard😘
Hi Deeb - my whole arm hurts too. It's almost as if the joints from shoulder through to my middle finger are on fire with a horrible pulling pain in between. Had the same thing in my right leg a few months ago - that was when I had a steroid injection.
Yes it went through the whole arm shoulder to fingertips had issues drinking eating writing it was a messy time hated it and very exhausting too. I was put on high dose steroids to help and tapered down .
Sorry to hear your elbow is bothering you Brychni. From personal experience, I know how annoying (and painful!) elbow issues can be. My right elbow was bothering me in autumn but, after a few months, the pain went away. The pain I experienced was different from my other joint pain, in that the elbow pain was 'sharp'. I hope you feel better soon. If you don't, I would certainly consider asking for a steroid injection.
My elbow was bad for 4 months nothing helped depo injection did nothing. Then it just went away. This has happened to various joints . It’s like RA has decided to attack a particular area then says had enough fun here who’s next ?
that's exactly how I feel! I'm beginning to see a pattern too, in that as soon as it becomes unbearable and I 'report' it to rheumatology, it will stop and then pop up somewhere else! First it was the leg, then the back and neck and now the elbow/arm.
Hi M - not great actually. Doesn't help that it's hard to describe pains, aches sensations. I want to say that I also have fatigue but it's not what I felt 10 months ago shortly after I had my diagnosis and actually that was fairly short lived. Now it's the muscle weakness and dragging sensation, like jelly legs but in my arms. It makes me feel as though I have literally no oomph, I'm wary of picking a mug up with one hand. It comes and goes and I've noticed the weakness accompanies the aching. But I'm feeling it head to toe as well and a bit fluey - again I used to get that when my neck was bad even before diagnosis but I was very aware of where it was coming from, if that makes sense.they have upped MTX from 10 to 15mg a week as it really hasn't done anything but it starts next week. The thing is they keep asking me about swelling and I wonder why because everything I read, including on NRAS website, Versus Arthritis etc personal stories, that swelling isn't particularly a symptom that everyone has. I don't really have swelling apart from my fingers. Sometimes my wrists and the right elbow but it feels more like it's inside and not really noticeable to anyone else. My middle knuckle also looks slightly red and bruised all the time, sometimes gets hot.
I'm very aware that I am not in as much pain as a lot of people here on the forum and my disease is not as advanced but I don't see that is under control and feel that's it's just getting worse.
what about you? I think you're still waiting for the biologic?
My joints don’t always look that swollen...especially not to a casual observer. But my MRIs always show large effusions. It’s all inflamed right inside my joint. So don’t be fooled by looks!
Shame they can't start it sooner, its like come on you've been in pain for a while now.
I know what you mean about pain bopping about around the body I get this.
I took my 2nd benepali injection today, im already feeling the benefits as managed to do some seated dancing to Boney M with my girls (dont ask) which is an absolute miracle for me ! Plus I'm doing things and then think to myself "ooh that didn't hurt".
I have got terrible IBS though and bloating / consti (apologies tmi) , I don't know if it's a side affect of benepali or i am a bit anxious about starting it. I've still got to get my head around being on medication, but so far no other side affects.
Hope you get things sorted soon, you must be completely fed right up x
Hey steady on now M. Seat dancing to Boney M - before long you'll be doing the hand-jive too 😁. Great to hear you're feeling benefits already, hope it continues for you. x
My left elbow is so swollen I can’t straighten my arm or bend it to reach my mouth. Makes it hard to put jumpers on too. And the pain when trying to find a comfortable position to sleep in is unbearable. I’ve never had elbow injections, only knee and wrist ones. But they have helped. Hope you manage to get some respite from it soon!
Hi, I did get weird cramps / aches and some shooting pains in my shoulders, upper arms radiating into my elbows the intensity of it took my breath away at times. The only thing that helped was prednisolone.I'm now improving on toficitinib and leflunomide, with much reduced prednisolone. This RD is a strange old disease.
I've had elbow problems for many years. I was first referred to an upper limb surgeon in 1998 but, after 22 years have still not had replacement surgery to my shoulders or elbows, despite it being offered many times.
I've taken NSAID's for 50 years and also codeine in the last 12 years.
If I don't "upset" my elbows they are not too bad, but my arms are banana shaped which prevents me from building up much muscle and strength in my arms. Surgery would not straighten them and there would be a limit to what I could carry - I can't carry much now anyway! Therefore I weighed up the benefits and risks and decided not to go for surgery but know its an option for the future when hopefully replacements are more sophisticated and last longer.
I've had Depo-Medrone injections in other joints but not elbows, but its worth a try.
I have RA and suffered with my elbow very badly. It got to the stage we’re it was stuck and I could not move it. I had many steroid injections. My rheumatologist said it needs replacing. I had it done 3 yrs ago best thing I ever did. My right elbow is starting to go the same way . I will not wait as long to have it replaced. See someone asap
I find it hurts even when resting. I used to get the burning thing in my upper arm right inside the muscle years and years ago. It is so similar I wonder now if it was a first sign.I have some capsaicin which I'm going to try . I read somewhere that the burning could be tendons or muscles being affected by the inflammation - in the case of the muscles it's what caused the wasting. I've tried doing some more gentle exercises to keep them strong and read recently that it's important - but it hurts 😯😫
Hi Brychni, I suffer really bad with my left elbow, started about 3 years ago along with my right shoulder & left hamstring, I’ve had 4 steroid injections in my elbow, 2 on the outer side & 2 on the inner, these did help somewhat but the pain was so bad trying to drive, get dressed, washing dishes when I have to extend my arm to the draining board, using the keyboard for work etc I’ve been in agony, I also developed a burning sensation from my forearm to my wrist & pain in my fingers & knuckles, the rheumatologist said this is caused from the inflammation pressing on a nerve.
I’m now having to take gabapentin & up to 1500mg per day along with etoricoxib 90mg per day, hydroxychloroquine 200mg per day & methotrexate which has been increased from 15mg to 20mg, the rheumatologist said to give the mtx 4 more weeks, I’ve got 2 weeks left till then. Really feel for you as you don’t realize how much you use & rely on your elbows, I’ve also had to take cocodamol & amitryptaline when the pains got just too bad I’m crying. Hope you find some relief soon x
Hi Brychni, I’ve been on mtx since 13 November at 15mg then after 8 weeks on the 8 January increased to 20mg, I saw the consultant on 19 January who said to give it 4 more weeks & to increase the gabapentin for the nerve pain. He didn’t say what to do after 4 weeks but did say he would add me to the NHs list as I’ll probably need more treatment that could cost thousands, I don’t know what he meant by this but then reading some of the comments & posts on this site wonder if he means biologics which I understand cost a fortune (I paid to see him private last year although the insurance has covered some of the costs so didn’t go through the normal NHs route) he said the list could be a year or longer. I’m going to give it 5 weeks which will be 22 February, if no change I’ll email his secretary again to see what he says x
I get shouod pain lately my elbows it now and again but the doc has said about a steroid injection just once, try talk to your doc am sure you will get help
It is 4 yrs in March . I saw the Surgion in the January. I live in Wigan so go to Wrightington we’re the great John Charley pioneered the hips and knees.
Hi GlamNana, although your post on elbows was eleven months ago I’ve only just seen it. You had elbow replacement 4 or 5 years ago? I attend Wrightington Hospital in Appley Bridge and have just had a wrist op. I’m now waiting for elbow surgery. How have you found your elbow function since as I’ve heard they’re not as stable or lasting as hip replacements. My right elbow is very painful and my left one is now joining the party! Was it a painful procedure with a lengthy recovery time? I’d really appreciate hearing from you and many thanks in advance.
I have not had any problems with my elbow replacement. If I need my other one done I would not hesitate. I to attend Wrightington Hospital . Best in UK
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