Rheumatoid Arthritis and pain across shoulders

[strongmouse]

My husband has RA and gets a lot of pain across the top of his shoulders. He also has osteoarthritis aswell, and has had both knees replaced. He is on tocilizumab infusions every four weeks.

When he spoke to one of the RA doctors about it (not his favourite one!) he was told it was due to 'scar tissue'. During the day he mainly copes with it, but at night it causes him a lot of pain. He tends to sleep on his side. He has been prescribed cocodamol, but hates taking it - makes him feel unwell and become constipated.

Is there anything he can do to help relieve the pain? I have wondered about some sort of pillow that supports his head better? Even touching it, when I give him a hug for instance, can cause pain.

Any ideas welcome. Thank you.

[AgedCrone]

You definitely have the right idea to try to find a suitable pillow. I have had neck problems since a car accident in which I had two crushed cervical vertebrae which were repaired with bone taken from my hip.

If your husband could see a physiotherapist he/she could advise once they examine him.

I think my physio must haunt John Lewis....he has. all the style names of their pillows done Pat!

I do hope you get some help….pain from the neck is like very bad toothache!

[strongmouse in reply to AgedCrone]

I have suggested that he sees a physiotherapist but he can't bear the thought of someone touching the whole area let alone giving him any therapy!

Some good ideas on here about different pillows which I'll look into.

[AgedCrone in reply to strongmouse]

If you telephone a physio explaining how much pain your husband is in I’m sure they will be able to give him advice without touching him….experienced physios are able to understand where the pain is by talking to their patient & looking at the way the patient holds himself….do be careful choosing pillows without any professional clinical advice.

I know only too well from sleeping at friend’s houses…how I can go to bed feeling fine..but wake up in agony - from sleeping on a strange pillow.

[wishbone]

I have a lot of trouble with both shoulder joints and arms for several years. Can't put any pressure on my shoulders for much more than 10 minutes. I tend to sleep just tilted back a little in a riser/recliner chair. To relieve the pressure I fold a pillow in half and place it between the base of my back and the chair back. Then my wife puts one of those foam filled horseshoe shaped pillows around my neck so both pillows keep most of the pressure off my shoulders. I can put the horseshoe around my neck, but it's painful doing so. Good fun innit............not!! ☹️

If you do buy a horseshoe pillow (don't know the correct name) then make sure it's firm enough to support the neck.

[wishbone in reply to wishbone]

PS....if someone knows of a better way to help problem shoulders than the one in my post, then it would be most welcome as the method I use, though it helps, is not that great? I've searched disability aids websites but not come across anything.

[strongmouse in reply to wishbone]

Sorry to hear that you have such problems too. Yes RA is one of those diseases you really, really don't want. 😒

Several ideas below. Seems that a groove pillow might help. It does interfere with sleep.

[Skyeblue2]

Hello Strongmouse.

I too have problems with both my shoulders and my neck and I have bought a huge array of pillows over the years, each one promising to relieve the pain to ensure the best sleep ever!! I was a side sleeper and I have had to train myself to sleep on my back. My physio told me to place two pillows in a V shape onto the mattress and a third across the top of the V. This supports your shoulders and neck and I found it worked to a degree. I then found a soft foam V pillow in J Lewis and depending on the pain level I either place it flat to the mattress and then another pillow on top or pillow flat and V pillow on top. I also have a pillow under my knees and I now find that I can sleep much more comfortably. As always it's trial and error. Hope your husband finds something to help soon.

[Gottarelax]

I've had shoulder issues for a long time and also a side sleeper. When at it's worst, I use a frozen pad shoulder brace like this...

amazon.co.uk/NEWGO-Shoulder.... Surprisingly, I find it fine to sleep with it on and don't find that I get cold.

And I have a firm memory foam pillow that I have to use and take with me if I'm away from home. It's a solid one (most you see are not solid and so not so supportive. It's also full sized (often they are 3/4 sized pillows). Mine looks like the one in the link. amazon.co.uk/Findigit-Cervi...

Have to add that due to a head injury when young, I only use one pillow so not sure if this would work if your husband stacks pillows like mine has to.

It's also been suggested that you put a pillow under your arm pit on the side you sleep on and lay your arm out at a right angle (between the head pillow and side pillow) so that the pillow supports your body weight on the side rather than your shoulder but I found that didn't work for me because I toss between stomach sleeping and side sleeping through the night.

Hope he finds something that works for him.

[Sunshinereturns]

I have two ideas that work for me. Etoricoxib for pain relief, it’s the only one that touches it. And groove pillows. Just got mine and I love it, just Google it!

[Pollybess]

I have similar problems with my shoulders and neck pain also. I bought a Groove memory foam pillow about a month ago and have really felt the benefit. It took a couple of nights to get used to it but I am sleeping so much better now.

[strongmouse]

Thanks for all the replies. Some good ideas which I'll talk through with my husband and see which is likely to help him.

Just to add to the mix he's today been diagnosed with mild sleep apnoea and is now waiting an appointment to discuss treatment options! Who was it that said RA is the disease which keeps on giving? Not that the sleep apnoea is related, simply that at times it seems one thing after another.

[Lynnels]

Has he tried the ibruprofen gel 10%? I’m also on Toci 4 weekly. It’s been my lifeline and given me my life back. But I was told early on that the shoulder pain was more than likely Fibromyalgia as it is part and parcel of RA. The Ibruprofen gel really helps me at night. The 10% is on prescription

Hope this helps

[strongmouse in reply to Lynnels]

Thanks Lynnels. Glad you've found something which works. Unfortunately he can't take NSAIDS. He is allergic to aspirin.

[Flowersaregreat]

I use an electric throw across my neck for issue sleeping, the heat helps me. Also I use long thin wheat warmer - carefully placed. I got mine in superdrug - do read the safety instructions!

As for medication, I have the same problem with anything containing codeine but find tramadol helps instead (used sparingly). However, despite the drowsiness warning, for me personally it makes me alert like I've had a triple espresso! So I avoid using it after about 4pm. This is an unusual reaction according to my gp.

Movelat gel has also given me some mild relief.