Something moves in my upper arm

[redavenger]

Hi all, is it normal with PMR to feel movement in the arm as though it was broken when you lie on it? Is this caused by inflammation or what? Most disconcerting and it's been clanking about in there for months! I don't remember falling or I would have asked for an Xray!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

No I don't think that sounds like a normal part of PMR - it's something you should ask your doctor about and they may send you for a x-ray. That said - I doubt it's broken or you would have excruciating pain if it was badly enough broken to feel movement!

[redavenger in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks, that's what I thought. I wonder what is moving, could be a tendon, it has been excruciating at night and if I try to use my arm like normal, but the movement inside is more like something settling back into place and doesn't hurt.

[Julie_R in reply to redavenger]

redavenger:

It's been a while since you wrote, and this is apparently your last post. Are you still No Pred? I'm waiting definitive diagnosis; probable PMR since 12/2014, but partner cancer & slow rural USA health care access has postponed rheumy appt. However, this has allowed me to try various alternative Tx. My legs are better (both pain & function, although they may have suffered from too much car-riding in first few months). My neck is same--quite stiff. My shoulders are worse & hurt like hell; I only sleep on my back. My shoulders were always "crunchy" before PMR, which felt (and I'm told) is tendons "popping" into place. They have been quiet since Dec, & only recently began getting noisy & popping again. So I'm curious how you are doing.

[redavenger]

Hi Julie, I haven't managed to log into this site for months until last week, it forgot my login details and everything I tried was wrong! Probably some update confused things. I am still prednisone free, still slowly improving, the pain in my upper arms has just about gone. My collarbone is still painful particularly lying down, and I get the crunching in that area now when I move my arm to shoulder level. I agree it has to be connective tissue moving around! It is almost 2 years since I started the symptoms of polymyalgia, I have had a lot of acupuncture and continued with the vitamin supplements and oils, I am cautiously optimistic that it's going away now. I have recently been sleeping better, no pills, just conscious relaxation, and sometimes sleep for four hours, amazing feeling waking up almost pain free! The first 9 months were the hardest, so if it comes back I know I can get through it again, but I am hoping that my body can heal itself and keep it at bay, maybe there will be a proper cure one day! Let me know how you get on!

Cherry