SHOULDER PAIN

[Ihurt]

I know this is Bursitis in other words related to the PA and this nasty weather. I can't lift my arms at all, Im in a tremendous amount of pain.

How do you all handle the shoulder pain? What can I do to stop this agonizing pain tonight, I can't even sleep and it does look like there will be school tomorrow so I will have to drive ay 6 am.

Can anyone help me tonight? Pain meds aren't touching it and the hot tub is not helping.

I try to cover up but then I get the sweats (probably my pain meds). All week this is happening. Sweats, chills, sweats chills. Menopause too?

Elaine

[ouchyk]

Elaine,

This past summer I thought I dislocated my shoulder. I went to the urgent care clinic where I have my medical needs taken care of, thought SURE that somehow it was dislocated it was red hot, swollen and looked out of place...the doctor told me It was my PA which I refused to believe, I figured he ran out and looked at my records quickly ( and he did )...He x-rayed my shoulder and it was not dislocated. My dx ~ bursitis compliments of PA.

I could not dress, I had to go without an undergarment on.. I could not lift up my arm at all...and believe it or not, he gave me exercises to do. :eek: I thought no way in h*ll could I do it but I did and between that rest/ice/heat and of course humira I was good to go in a few days...

He told me to take a can of soup ( you may use veggies lol or whatever ) let my arm hang down and to make small circles, clockwise and counter-clockwise and to do this for a few mins a few times a day and to widen the circles slowly and increase the reps..so the shoulder wouldn't freeze. Otherwise I would have to come back in for an ortho consult for a cortisone shot... It worked for me...

You dont want a frozen shoulder!!

It hurt like a son of a gun... :(

Feel better,
Karen

[Ihurt]

It hurt like a son of a gun... :(

Feel better,
Karen



TELL ME ABOUT IT. Been up all night...it's not just oe shoulder, it's BOTH, and both equally painful. VERY TIRED.

I managed to drive the kids to school (did I tell you I hate Pleasant Valley School district????)

My daughter had to clean off the car..I couldn't do it. I could drive as long as I didn't raise the arms too much. If Im not any better tomorrow I will ask Margaret to do the morning and afternoon shifts though...may be dangerous me driving like this and here I am refusing to put my child on a bus with a dangerous bus driver!!!!

I will do the can thing...thanks for letting me know. BUT if this isn't any better I will call Ludivico for a medrol pack (and you know how much I despise the steroids!) so that gives you some measure of the amount of pain I am in!!!!!

Thanks again...boy am I glad I have this place!!!!

Hugs
Elaine

[Had-It-Forever]

Elaine,

I'm so sorry for all the pain that you have. If I were you I would ask the doc to up your Humira to every week. When I started my Humira I was at the point of almost every joint in my body hurting. I was on 3 vicodin a day and nothing was helping. My doc started me right off with the 40 mg of Humira every week. Since I had the first injection I haven't had one ounce of pain. I am also still on 20 mg of methotrexate once a week also. With these cold temps in Pennsylvania coming, you should at least ask your doc.

Take care - Lisa

[Ihurt]

Im going in tomorrow at 10:30 to see the NP...probably end up having him come into the exam room. I cannot stay like this...I need to be able to cook! Im going to talk to them tomorrow. Im not going to take the shots in my shoulders though...that would be way too painfull.

I think you and Karen are right,I might need to be on Humira weekly istead of bi weekly. I too am up to three vicodin a day and I hate it...Im not agood drug patient! I don't like how I feel, plus this is nerve pain, excruciating to say the least!

Last time I was there he changed my vicodin to the 7/750 every four hours. Im lucky if I can handle them every 6! I have been on Humira for eleven weeks now with no relief. MXT is still 20mg and I truly believe it's the only thing working., but it only lasts one day :( Tomorrow is MXT day and it won't kick in really well until Friday!

Thanks Lisa!

[docmks]

Hi Elaine,

Gosh I am so sorry that you are in such pain. A round of prenisone/medrol dose pack would probably help. A shoulder injection might help as well. In my experience, shoulder shots don't hurt as badly as others I have had (in the heel). Of course, nobody wants to volunteer for injections into a joint. You've gotten some great advice--Humira once a week is something that I am doing. Without that I wouldn't be able to function.

I wish I had something new and different to offer, but all I got is my sympathy. I hope that you get the help you need to get through the day and the week!

Take good care,
MK

[nyoki]

I finally had my right shoulder operated on a couple of years ago. Geez that was painful, I had bursitis and a bone spur. I never did find a way (prior to surgery) that really helped. Heat and tying my arm to my side helped a bit sometimes. I'm convinced that bursitis is even more painful than PsA. I wish I could be more help.









Blaidd Drwg

[AnnieB]

I had a rotator cuff injury (just the right one) and at one point I also could not lift the arm AT ALL. I ended up working with a great physical therapist who gave me exercises to do at home (including the "making circles" one). I also found Naproxen helpful. And a heating pad with a sponge insert for "warm heat". Eventually I was able to regain most of the strength and range of motion. Gentle yoga helps as well. Now Humira has reduced the inflammation so it is "almost" normal. Don't know if this all applies to you but...

[pgerpup]

Hi Elaine!

I've had chronic shoulder pain for years too! I went to PT for mine. Start with the small circles, when you feel up to it, get a broom, using the broom handle, hold the broom in front of you so your arms are down. Now slowly move the broom to the left and then to the right as far as you can. Try to go a little further each time. Five reps, rest, five more reps, building each day. There are several other exercises and you can do them at home. I'll send them to you from home. I'm at work right now.

Hope you are feeling better.

Love you guys!
Fay

[Ihurt]

Im going in tomorrow at 10:30 to see the NP...probably end up having him come into the exam room. I cannot stay like this...I need to be able to cook! Im going to talk to them tomorrow. Im not going to take the shots in my shoulders though...that would be way too painfull.

I think you and Karen are right,I might need to be on Humira weekly istead of bi weekly. I too am up to three vicodin a day and I hate it...Im not agood drug patient! I don't like how I feel, plus this is nerve pain, excruciating to say the least!

Last time I was there he changed my vicodin to the 7/750 every four hours. Im lucky if I can handle them every 6! I have been on Humira for eleven weeks now with no relief. MXT is still 20mg and I truly believe it's the only thing working., but it only lasts one day :( Tomorrow is MXT day and it won't kick in really well until Friday!

Thanks Lisa!

Ok so I went to the doc. Not that I don't like them,but this is now my third visit in three weeks when I normally don't go but once a month or once every two months.

I saw the NP. I told her I belong to this group...we share stories, yada yada yada and that IT HAD BEEN SUGGESTED that maybe I need to be on weekly HUMIRA!!!! Her response "Elaine...that's a very very good idea...Im on board with that". She examined me and commented that she's never seen this much P on me before and I should not be swelling like this or having this much pain. She said it was obvious the meds were not working in the present dosage. (I have plaque p covering my elbows(I never get plaque-this is a freak occurance for me), guttate on my backside and up my back, and now on my clavicle. This is probably the worst outbreak I have had in a year and a half. Also by the time I got to the office this morning, I could not walk with out my cane, and could not turn my neck at all!!!!! It was extremely painful to sit in the waiting room...I was bargaining with God! lol

She also upped the MXT to 20mg now. Gave me a medrol pack that KICKED IN IMMEDIATELY (THANK YOU VERY MUCH GOD). SHE GAVE ME A NOTE FOR THE AIRPLANE TO CARRY MY INJECTABLE MEDS ON THE AIRCRAFT (Dec 6th leaving for Houston) AND now instead of PT she feels I need physical massage because my fibromyaliga is playing a big part with the cervical area (shoulder pain, myofascial pain and the headaches).

So, Humira once weekly now, MXT 20mg and that's that.


NOW....Her words to me were...you know, after this...we have maxed out everythng we can with you...we will be at maximum treatment. After this you must take that trip to Ohio or back to NYC for a THIRD opinion.

When Im serving food and eating with my family tomorrow I am going to thank God for the medrol pack...(don't laugh I really am). Within 2.5 hours I loosened up so much you would have thought I was the tin man who just got oiled!!!!!!

I COULD NOT get out of bed this morning. My DH took one look at me and said Im calling the kids to tell them not to come tomorrow...you can't cook like this. We will get somethng and bring it home. Does this man not understand that women live to be with their adult children and family on Holidays such as this????? I told him, NO WAY...Im going to see Nancy the NP, I already got an appointment and your driving me. He looked at me with surprise and said...you got an appointment????? I know why your going (besides your shoulders hurting) you want steroids!!!! lol

He knows I hate them, but he also knows when I "freeze up" in that amount of pain when Im faced with having to do soooo much I will resort to using medrol. However the way he said it to me sounded like he was accusing me of wanting pain meds lol!

So...with the help of my FDIL and my 15 yr old daughter we cooked the following so far:

Large pot of homeade garlic mashed potatoes
Sweet potatoe casserole
2 green bean casseroles
Lg Broccoli/corn bake
Huge pot of stuffing
1 Carrot cake w/cream cheese icing (from scratch)
My own jellied cranberry sauce w/walnuts and clemetines thrown in

TOMORROW: 24 pound Butterball

Carrots and Onion in butter and brown sugar
Asparagus with dill and butter
Stuffed mushrooms
gravy

The girls did all the heavy work. Meg washed dishes, and peeled carrots, among other things. Alicia peeled potatoes, cut them, mixed things, etc.
I supervised and did alot of other things but most of the time I was sitting, not standing on my feet, and it all worked out!!!! WHEW!

Now for the the rest, my other FDIL Patti will be here. She usually makes the stuffed mushrooms with me surpervising. The rest is easy. I will get up at 6, wash the Turkey with vinegar, season it well, layer it with Bacon, cover it and cook. I NEVER STUFF MY TURKEY...as a nurse I have seen too many horror cases of salmonella.

THEN IM DONE!!!!!! STICK A FORK IN ME!

Thanks for all the info on the excersizes for the shoulder guys. Nancy even agreed that I cannot let them lock up, and I have to bring down the swelling. I did my Humira shot tonight, will do MXT tonight as well. KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED!!!!!! Ohio is a long way away and I really want to get out of the club that does not respond!

Oh yeah I forgot....she's scheduling me for Bone Density too!

Have a Very happy memory filled Thanksgiving everyone!

Elaine

[nyoki]

That sounds delicious...all of it. I'm as ready as I can be for the morning start. I also have a lot of help: hubby, mom, mom-in-law, sister. I've got a 13lb turkey. 10lb glazed ham (spiral), mashed taters, baked yams, mashed turnips, carrots, peas, and stuffing of course (can't forget the stuffing)...ummmm, oh yeah, creamed onions, corn bread, biscuits and I'm sure I'm forgetting stuff.

When I was doing pt for my shoulder they had me "walk my fingers" up the wall as high as I could go and hold it for 10 seconds, repeat 3 times. I found that very helpful and one of the things I could easily do at home.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving e1. Eat and enjoy!

[nyoki]

Wow, Ihurt, how did you type that much? heheh

[Ihurt]

Wow, Ihurt, how did you type that much? heheh

By Friday my decoratins should all be up and you will find me outside trimming my neighbors shrubbs!lol

BTW did I tell you I clean houses in the middle of the night when im on this stuff?

[nyoki]

I'm a night owl. I do everything in the middle of the night, everything except sleep of course. ;)

[mamaooch]

Elaine,
Glad to hear you are finding some relief. Your Thanksgiving food sounds so delicious. Have a great day with your family.

Happy Thanksgiving!
Cindy

[tmartha]

Hooray - you not only got relief from your pain but your doc listens to you! (or is it she listens to everyone here? :) )

A third opinion - sounds smart. I wonder about more than one autoimmune disease overlapping? (I'm sorry, I don't remember all of your history). Not a fun thought - but I was reading that they do that sometimes. (great...) So I wonder about it not just for you but for all of us.

I'm glad you had others do a lot of the work for Thanksgiving - I laughed out loud at sticking a fork in you - you're done! lol again!

Thanks for sharing it all with us and making me smile.

p.s. YES to the gentle, range of motion exercises - they HELP. Just start very slowly, small, gentle. I don't know with bursitis, but my rhuemy said that with PA the synovial fluid gels up around the joints - that's why it's so hard to get going in the morning, after sitting, etc. YOU probably know all this, Elaine - I'm just chatty today. :)

[Ihurt]

Hooray - you not only got relief from your pain but your doc listens to you! (or is it she listens to everyone here? :) )

A third opinion - sounds smart. I wonder about more than one autoimmune disease overlapping? (I'm sorry, I don't remember all of your history). Not a fun thought - but I was reading that they do that sometimes. (great...) So I wonder about it not just for you but for all of us.

I'm glad you had others do a lot of the work for Thanksgiving - I laughed out loud at sticking a fork in you - you're done! lol again!

Thanks for sharing it all with us and making me smile.

p.s. YES to the gentle, range of motion exercises - they HELP. Just start very slowly, small, gentle. I don't know with bursitis, but my rhuemy said that with PA the synovial fluid gels up around the joints - that's why it's so hard to get going in the morning, after sitting, etc. YOU probably know all this, Elaine - I'm just chatty today. :)

Since I've stayed in that group my doc describes as his [10% of patients that don't respond]...for soooooo long! Sometimes a little denial sneaks in and says "you really don't have this disease Elaine...they don't know what you have, they are probably treating you for something you don't even have".....Hence, I have P, I have swelling, nail pitting, etc. Now my daughter has been dx'ed...so....who am I kidding.

But I think you could be right. There might be another AID playing a role, I have often thought about it believe me. I see so many others who with really good treatment have gone into REMISSION...I don't even know what that's like (accept for the brief good time I had on Remicade). I look at the posts from these people and I wonder..."WOW..COULD THIS REALLY BE TRUE?//IT COULD REALLY HAPPEN FOR ME??/ I COULD REALLY GET MY LIFE BACK???? IS THIS EVEN POSSIBLE???

Let's not forget that I was treated for years for Lymes disease (3 years) with IV Abntibiotics, AND I NEVER HAD LYMES!!!! Portable catheter inserted into my chest and all! No Lymes, PA all the while! So I guess Im am natural skeptic after all these years, but I know now that PA is my biggest problem.

People like Annie...who remained in remission. Im both delighted for her and envious of her! Im always so high strung, can you imagine what I could do if I were healthy?????????? Damn, the money I could make?????? Life would enhance in ways I can't even dream of now.

Yes my doc and his NP listen..they are wonderful., and as we all know that's half the battle. If this doesn't work I will go the the Cleveland Clinic. Hey, I've never visited Ohio before...there's a first for everything. Been to the Hospital for Special Surgeries in NY, and everyone raves about that, but I had a terrible experience there! I wouldn't give ya two cents for it! The traffic was a complete nightmare, no parking and then the doctor told me he wasn't even sure I had PA (hadn't read any of the paperwork my doc sent him weeks before and wanted to know "why was I there?)(meanwhile I had been treating for it with all the signs of it for 3.5 yrs and dx'ed by two other doctors). He seemed "bothered' by me, and told me I had "Fat legs". Wanted to take me off MXT all together because he said it wasn't "doing anything for me".

He's lucky I wasn't feeling that good that day or my fat legs might have been up his fat _____. Terrible terrible doctor! Wouldn't have brought one of my animals there. My doc knows all about it and agreed with me, and was taken aback because that's not the doctor he referred me to, somebody played musical chairs with me. Seemed the doc I was supposed to see said I had to see this doc! UHG! WHAT A GIANT WASTE OF TIME ENERGY & MONEY THIS WAS

Anyway, the idea that there's more to this than PA is forever on my mind, especially in Winter. I know I suffer from SAD-Seasonal Affective Disorder-need more sun and light and I recognize a whole bunch of other changes in me that are directly related to my Hypathalamus....(i.e. inability to regulate body temp, SAD, depression, sweats, chills)...it's something I've long thought about and plan to continue to research believe me! IM ALWAYS BETTER IN THE SUMMER.

Elaine

[tim49120]

I had a rotator cuff injury (just the right one) and at one point I also could not lift the arm AT ALL. I ended up working with a great physical therapist who gave me exercises to do at home (including the "making circles" one). I also found Naproxen helpful. And a heating pad with a sponge insert for "warm heat". Eventually I was able to regain most of the strength and range of motion. Gentle yoga helps as well. Now Humira has reduced the inflammation so it is "almost" normal. Don't know if this all applies to you but...

I have had rotator surgery 3 times. Twice on the right side and once on the left. My right side was done with a scope. I had hoped to return to work but never have. That was 5 years ago. The first doctor is a well known that dose all the work for a major university. I went to another doctor that dose work for many pro teams. He said he may be able to reduce some of the pain on my right side but wont know till he gets inside. My left side was hurting so I elected to have surgery on it. He ONLY will do open surgery for rotators said he wants to see what he is going. I can say recovery from the open surgery was much easier then both times with the scope. HOWEVER rotator surgery is very painfull and a long recovery.

[AnnieB]

There was no tear or separation involved in my injury, so no one ever suggested surgery. If my PA had not been diagnosed, I most likely would have been in for a series of cortisone shots. But as I said, even before I started taking humira, a really excellent physical therapist had helped me improve the shoulder with exercise.

[squeepig]

My stupid ex-rheumatologist kept telling me that bursitis can't be caused by PA.

[mamaooch]

Elaine,
I often ask myself, what is remission? Pain everyday, some good days, more bad days, but I walk on and some days that is a hard task.

Take Care,
Cindy

[Ihurt]

Thanks Cindy...I think I'll start a new thread for that one! :)

[AnnieB]

Well, I think it is easy to mistake the symptoms of bursitis for other conditions cause by PA--like tendonitis and enthesitis. Anything with an -itis just means inflammation, anyway. The key is to figure out specifically what is inflammed and why and what to do about it! If only it were easy!!!

[Ihurt]

Thank God the steroids worked and Im not feeling the pain AS I DID, but a little of it is still there. It's inflammation that causes it...pa, bursitis...whatever, inflammation is at the root cause. Getting the inflammation down is key.

[ouchyk]

Well, I think it is easy to mistake the symptoms of bursitis for other conditions cause by PA--like tendonitis and enthesitis. Anything with an -itis just means inflammation, anyway. The key is to figure out specifically what is inflammed and why and what to do about it! If only it were easy!!!


My rheumatologist told me that my chronic bursitis is a direct result of my inflammatory arthritis. I also get bursitis in my hips compliments of arthur.

Karen

[nyoki]

I did not know that bursitis can be a result of PsA. I had my right shoulder operated on and they removed bursa fluid and my rheumy said I also have bursitis in my right hip. FUN FUN FUN

Blaidd Drwg

[ouchyk]

........................ :( ................................

Im going tomorrow and asking for my hips to be injected with cortisone, I have no idea what they are doing with my elbow...hoping for an aspiration then injection of cortisone...that really chills my joints out for a while, that and PT.

Feel better
Karen

[Ihurt]

........................ :( ................................

Im going tomorrow and asking for my hips to be injected with cortisone, I have no idea what they are doing with my elbow...hoping for an aspiration then injection of cortisone...that really chills my joints out for a while, that and PT.

Feel better
Karen

That must hurt Karen :eek: , but if your anything like me, you;ll be good for the next week energy wise. Kennelog is good stuff :p

Well yesterday was my last steroid from the dose pak, and I also got the gastroenteritis my daughter had. It didn't last long, only the night, but I do feel wiped out. WORSE PART IS...my shoulder pain is back, so is the cracking. I cannot move them without them cracking, and the cracking really hurts. Both top of the shoulders are extremely tender. Tomorrow will be the day for Humira and MXT..Im debating about whether or not I should take my shots. I feel ok (not sick like I was last night), just don't know if Im done with the bug.

As for your elbow, kennelog I bet. It's what is usually used for tennis elbow anyway. I don't envy you going through it, but I envy the relief you;ll have for the next two weeks :)

Good luck tomorrow. Let us know!

Elaine

[ouchyk]

prednisone & prevacid..... :o = me cleaning my house at 3 am lol. ahhhhh what can ya do?

Good news is ~ no damage..but I need to switch my meds, have an appt next month to choose as I am always reluctant to change things up....

I'll be okay I'll be okay I'll be okay I'll be okay I'll be okay I'll be okay.

okay. I'm okay now lol. :)

xo
Karen