hi,
Has anyone had lack of motion in both elbows with RA!extremely bad pain and waking up at night not knowing where to put them and trying to find a comfortable position to support them? I was quite surprised that my consultant has phoned me up at home and said that he’s booked me in for an MRI scan in both elbows has anyone had this done before and what was your outcome?
Thanks 😊
My elbows were truly awful at one phase. They aren’t great now. I always ask for chair/seat without arms. And pop the arms out of the way on the wheelchair. A pillow is the best I can offer either under each elbow or rest arms on one across your front. No one ever offered me an mri though so pleased you are getting one.
Thank you for replying and yeah having an MRI so hopefully will get sorted I think it’s one of the worst painful places I’ve got it.😞
I’m not sure my reply is going to help as clearly your Consultant is investigating which is brilliant. My issue was slightly different that I couldn’t bend my elbow out, it’d become locked. They gave me a steroid injection into the joint which worked wonders. As I say your situation sounds very different. Maybe have a possible steroid injection for the pain as a back up plan? Good luck with it, it sounds awful. Take care.
I’m same although with scleroderma rsther than RA. Unfortunately just had MRI of neck issued by my neurologist but didn’t include my arm! 🙄 So my rheumatologist has now requested an ultrasound and EMG/ NCS to see if ulnar nerve inflammation after I told her elbow X-ray normal. She checked the mri report said no femoral entrapment or stenosis yet to explain although mri showed severe osteoarthritis in spine. It’s been 5 months of debilitating pain in left elbow radiating up and down but pain in actual elbow. My rheumatologist thinks inflammatory due to my connective tissue disease. I’m hoping the tests are soon so I can have steroid jab as can’t open or close my arm, do zips or buttons or even hold a cuppa! Lidocaine ointment and a tube grip are only things that help temporarily.
Morning thanks for your reply’s!!
I had X-rays done at some point last year and nothing really showed so I was told but you can see by just looking at my arms they don’t look right as I can’t bend them the only way I can describe them at bannna shaped!!the elbow joint hurts but it’s all down my arms the pain is awful and like you i struggle to wash my hair comb my hair and toilet issues 😞it’s awful but I was surprised yesterday my RA consultant phoned me and has booked me in for an MRI I asked him how it would be treated and he said if it’s inflammation it will be done with drugs but if it’s more than that I will be referred to a surgeon.I do t think my meds are right I’m only on 15ml of metratrexate (injection)I was also on sulphurzalizine but made came off that due to side effects .
I very much relate although mine is just left arm not right but banana arm sums up well. It’s very like what I previously had when diagnosed with seronegative RA 13 years ago. I too wasn’t offered enough MTX and had allergic reaction to Sulfasalazine. It improved when my dose increased to 20mg then better on injections.
These days I tend to blame most MSk stuff on my spinal OA. But my rheumy doesn’t think so - seems to think it’s the tightening hardening of scleroderma causing ulnar nerve damage but we will see. Next up is Rituximab if my 2g Mycophenolate isn’t doing enough. I tell myself it’s just golfers and tennis elbow combined and glare at pro tennis players and golfers on tv for giving me their repetitive strain even though, other than holding my light iPhone in left hand while typing with right - I can’t see how I’ve landed this sporty person’s combo! Good luck and let us know what MRI shows. X
My elbow pain ranges from feeling heavy and weak, pain along the ulnar nerve radiating down ring finger, a stinging, burning sensation in the elbow joint to constant nagging pain. When it feels heavy, I think it partially dislocates as my surgeon has recently described it as 'totally destroyed by the rheumatoid'. I am on the surgery waiting list for an elbow replacement. I also have haemarthrosis - bleeding into the elbow joint which shows itself as a constant large bruise all over the elbow joint.
At it's worst, I cannot do anything other than sit and support it, keep warm etc. At night I have pillows for support and take codeine.
However, nobody has ever offered me an MRI of my elbows, only x-rays. Sounds like you have a good doctor.
I currently cannot drive due to lack of movement in elbow and pain. In fact, it is more debilitating than that, it prevents me doing most activities that we take for granted.
How long have you had RA?
Please see my reply above re proper testing. Not RA in my case but sounds v similar to yours. Ultrasound and EMG / NCS have been ordered. So debilitating - mine swollen but not looking bruised so far. X-ray didn’t show anything but my rheumatologist says likely synovitis, tendon sheath rub or other causing tendons and ligaments to get inflammed. I can’t dress by self now due to the pain - use my bum bag as a sling when I’m out. It’s not my dominant arm but still v incapacitating. Sympathies from me.
I had awful problems with my elbows and the physio gave me some exercises to help build up my muscles and tendons using 1kg weights. Also advise on trying to sleep with my arms straight, difficult I know but if I wake because my arms/hands are painful I straighten my arms and it helps. I had a steroid injection that really did not help at all and I know if I have not done my exercises so they evidently help.
Having had shoulder surgery I will always go down the physio first option as much less painful and can delay the need for surgery.
Hi thanks for replying!
Yeah I feels like it’s also down my fore arm I have RA in most places but I think my elbows are the worst!!I woke alit in the night with stiffness in them and pain and it’s so hard to find a comfortable position.can I ask are you on metratrexate?my arms look odd they don’t look straight anymore is this normal with RA?
no I am on abatacept a biological and have had ra for over 25years now. Always try to keep moving and the list of physio exercises I have to draw on and help reduce pain is extensive but I find keeps me sane and moving. I would ask for physio as well as your mri they are when specialising in ra physio a fantastic drug and surgery free option.
ah so it’s not just me then. I wake at night and can’t even move my elbows - it feels like they are stuck. It takes a few minutes to get them loosened 😢. I have been given exercises to do at home, which helped, but still get periods when they are sooo painful.
I haven't had scans but many years ago now, in the earlier days of my diagnosis, I had terrible pains in both elbows and they were 'on fire' and extremely sore to touch. I had steroid injections in both and since then they have been fine, occasional flares in them but very seldom. Good luck.
I have terrible pain running down both arms but elbows are bad and i have been sleeping upright in my high back chair on and off for months as i cant lie on them.I had Xray done last month but no news yet.
hi thanks for replying!
Yeah I’m the same it’s awful my elbows look like the shape of bananas!!even to try and turn my arm on to the side the pain is horrendous! I’ve had X-rays but nothing really showed but that was a while ago now so going for an MRI see what that says
Elbow replacement 
Elbow injection
Elbow replacement
Elbows anyone?
