Tendonitis

[Alan7690]

Anyone has or had tendonitis as part of their RA?

I’m having a lot of bicep muscle pain as well as shoulder joint pain. RA nurse said to take paracetamol but not helping.

Not sure what to do but the pain when using my arms is bad.

[Runrig01]

Paracetamol unfortunately will not do much for tendonitis. You need something to tackle the inflammation, like a nsaid or a course of steroids. I often need a steroid injection to settle mine down.

[welsh12]

Yes I have had it when RA not under control and when overdoing arm shoulder exercises it can take some time to go . I use the variety of heat and cold pain releiving gel

[Madmusiclover]

Let the nurse know it’s not working. I get a fair bit of tendon issues. Steroid jabs used to help but I’ve stopped responding to them.

[LTC1607]

I find a Tens machine gives relief

[pippin_fort]

Yes and have had tendonitis in Achilles for over ver a year now. Recently had a scan. No tears fortunately, but can’t take anti-inflammatories because I have been on blood thinners since having a PE with Covid. Rheumy has been useless. He is getting ready to retire and just biding his time methinks! Probably caused by Ciprofloxacillin but have PsA so that could be part of it too. I have previously had tendinitis in shins and shoulders too. Had cortisone injection for shoulders.

[welsh12 in reply to pippin_fort]

I have it in Achilles podiatry told me to stretch calves and have sports massage which I have not found yet

[Monkeysmum]

Hi Alan. Yes I have had tendinitis when in RA flares. Only thing which seems to help for me is regular icing and rest (easier said than done I know!)

[cyberbarn]

I have PsA and get that. I was being seen by a physio once and she said she couldn't figure out why I was having pain there because there is no joint there.

Sadly everyone seems to assume that the only pain arthritis causes is inside the joint, some people don't seem to understand that the inflammation where the tendons ligaments join the bones can also get inflamed and painful.

I just wait until it eases. I can't take anything other paracetamol and I am not on any medication for the PsA. The rheumatology team in my area couldn't arrange a birthday party!

[OSTEOARTHRITISRA]

Hi yes a lot I'd phone doc

For strong pain relief if needed and a nsaid

The paracetamol is my first then add onns

The paracetamol helps other pain meds work better

[Akaka]

Yes, I have in my wrists and shoulders and even feet at times. I’ve lived with it in my shoulders for 2 years now, I’ve had injections which help with the pain but never got my full mobility back and my wrists come and go with it. I had Rituximab infusions in Feb/March but so far they haven’t helped but I’ve been told I have to wait a year to see if there is any improvement, in the mean time my knee has swollen up again…..

[FLS1]

I had a lot of shoulder joint and muscle pain that became worse and worse. Was given various painkillers but nothing helped. Eventually had an x ray which showed calcified tendinitis.

Had a steroid injection using ultrasound, into the shoulder and also into the calcium deposits to break them up then physio.

I would push for further investigations as I accepted the advice to just take more painkillers, and the pain became so bad that I would feel physically sick when I moved my arm.

Good luck and hope you can get it resolved.

[Hippo1234567]

I had it so bad in shoulders to start with and in other parts of the body especially hands. When the RA was brought under control any attacks of tendinitis were much less painful. If you’re getting it so bad maybe you need a review of your meds?

[Braecoon]

I had it bad in both elbows (tennis elbow), and shoulder before diagnosis. My Rheumy kept questioning if I had PsA instead of RA because of my repeated issues with tendons, but I was a very high Rheumatoid Factor score and do not have any psoriasis, so my diagnosis is RA. Over last 10 years, I have continued to have shoulder tendonitis on and off, carpal tunnel tendonitis, and De Quevains tendonitis (wrist below thumb). Last year, I had Achilles tendonitis in both heels but this was due to antibiotic Ciprofloxacin. If you are over 60 and have RA let health professionals know if they try to prescribe this antibiotic (strong risk factors for this adverse effect). As well as damaging the tendon, you are also at risk of the tendon rupturing and muscle damage.

Self care for shoulder tendonitis is regular icing, strong strength voltarol gel or Icy Hot lotion and oral pain killers. If full blown frozen shoulder, I have worn a sling to keep it immobilised and from moving it, as the pain is excruciating. For the wrist, same as above icing, anti inflammatory gel and a wrist splint to immobilise until pain subsides. As others have said, better control of your RA is important and Rheumy can offer further local treatment such as steroid injections when acute and RA is not well controlled or you have changed medication, etc.

[J1707-]

I have had tendon pain since diagnosis 8 years ago . I was originally diagnosed with RA recently re diagnosed with inflammatory arthritis as many tendons often inflamed along with enthitis . Paracetamol is no good nsaids is the best or a steroid injection as that treats the whole body .. I love a steroid injection it works quickly and can last up to 3 months for me . Don’t suffer you know your body . Leaving it untreated will lead to long term damage I know I have many tears and calcification of my Achilles due not being diagnosed/ treated properly.

[Otto11]

I have a lot of tendinitis but not in shoulders. Mine is golfers elbow which is always there. I’ve had guided steroid injections into my wrist which worked really well. I also get enthesitis around both elbows & knees. I take Celebrex when it’s particularly bad. I was prescribed pepper cream to rub on can’t remember exactly the name Capcasium or something like that. A shoulder maybe too big an area to use it on though. Definitely mention it to your Rheumy team.

[Peagreeen]

Hi Alan. I get it at the back of my heel which makes walking painful. Steroid jabs help and I've got some exercises from the physio now but it does get you down.

[Boxerlady]

When I had a shoulder tendon injury (pre-RA diagnosis but I do wonder if it was related 🤔) I was told by GP and physio to take two paracetamol and ibuprofen four times a day to get on top of the pain and allow me to do the physio exercises and that worked for me. Obviously you should get medical advice based on your situation but apparently the combination of the two medications is what really works.

[Lester23]

I am also suffering from achilles tendonitis and initially my GP said it wasn't RA related but my RA nurse has said it is. I have been advised to get myself on the physio waiting list. Haven't yet found any painkillers that really help. From reading other comments I am also going to try ice and see if that helps. Good luck and hope you find something that works for you soon!

[Barrcroom]

I found solpadol going to bed eased the pain and ensured a good night sleep. In moderation.

[Mardie]

Hello. Interested to read your question because I am having a bad flare up at the moment and have what I thought could be tendonitis in one shoulder but didn't think it could be related to RA. Having read all the replies to you it seems it could be. I'm just taking paracetamol at the moment, which is vaguely helping and then a rub on the particularly sore area. Hope you find something to help you soon. I have a rdv with my rheumatologist in about six weeks but I might try to get one earlier.

[Mostmoses]

I had tendonitis early in my RA joirney. In my case, nothing really helped, but it did eventually subside to near-zero. Hope your will go away quickly!

[nanapat61]

I have suffered from Achilles tendinitis and found acupuncture to be very helpful in easing the pain. It's not available on the NHS in my area (East Lancs) so I paid to be treated at a local private clinic. A course of six sessions sorted it and when the pain returned a couple of years later I had another six sessions which, again, eased the pain. Might be worth a try for you? Tendinitis is horrible and debilitating - I wish you all the best in finding a solution!

[Aliceeliza]

I've had, achilles,golfers and tennis elbow,tendonitis in wrist and base of thumbs, plantar fas ciitis, but nobody has ever agreed that is due to RA . I was only diagnosed with inflammatory 4 years ago but have suffered with tendon problems all my life. I also have hip bursitis at oresent

[J1707- in reply to Aliceeliza]

Are we twins !👯 😂😂I have the Same

[LillyBeagle]

You have my sympathy because I now how bad that pain is. trying to anything that involves hands and arms especially opening bottles, jars etc and it kills my shoulders and arms to try and dry my hair.

I've had it twice this year so far. I try painkillers but only steroids help. I had an injection in March when it was bad. This lasted 3 mths . All flared up again recently and now have an oral course over 3 weeks. Its so good to have respite from the pain for a while and always hope that its going to stay away. Wishing you well and hope that you can get the pain sorted.

[Linysaurous]

Hi Alan, I’ve had tendinitis in my hip and connected thigh, shoulder and connected arm and both wrists. I tried meds and went to GP who told me steroid jabs will probably make things worse in the long term

I then tried ice and heat pads but what worked best was compression, which is now what I turn to any time my tendons are sore. The first time I had it I went for a swim in the cold, cold sea, it worked an absolute treat.

I hope you find what works best for you soon, I’m sure you will, L

[Happy5]

I get it in my wrists , I use ice packs if hot weather, heat pads in cold weather. Agree with others on here at times in my case it's part of a flare so I contact the RA dept and sometimes need steroid injection. I was prescribed Co-codamol which is helpful for me with extreme pain. be good to discuss different options to this pain you're experiencing, hopefully you'll get a more sympathetic RA nurse to discuss it?