Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...

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Invictus13 09/08/2015

Hello All!

I am hoping that maybe some of you might have some recommendations regarding how to deal with major flare ups. I've had RA for a bit over a year now and am in the process of changing medications. I'm on MTX and Plaquenil and my Rheumy fiercely advocated against using steroids anymore when I have flares. I was completely pumped with our new plan to drop Humira ( since it was doing nothing for me anymore) and switching to IV infusions in a few weeks.

Then last night happened. While getting into bed my shoulder started erupting in pain. I wasn't able to get comfortable laying or sitting up in any way possible and the pain was pretty unbearable. Given that my arthritis has spread to my back and I was already having that pain I was losing it. I had also already had surgery on that shoulder and thought for a bit that I had torn/damaged my previous surgery.

While at physical therapy today my therapist looked at my shoulder and said that it was so severe of a flare up that he couldn't even work on it as the muscles were completely locked up and that the nerves were getting fried. His only recommendation was to do moist heat and get in with my rheumy or primary care doc since something was definitely not working if this flare was happening this bad.

Does any one have any recommendations for how to deal with this or had similar stories regarding major joints flaring like this? I won't be able to meet with another doctor for a week and I know I'm going to try and get xrays of the area to make sure that nothing severe has happened, but I'm lost at this point. I can't wear a backpack/pack for school, can barely sit up or do anything without the shoulder erupting in pain.

Lost in a haze of pain and desperate for help,
Invictus

2leftfeet 09/08/2015

I have shoulder issues, but due to Osteo arthritis, bone spur that is causing tendenitis, and bursitis, and rotator cuff problems - for this I have had physical therapy and shots in the shoulder. Have had an MRI on the shoulder a few months ago. Would shot in the shoulder help? I have had four-- 2 helped, 2 did nothing...... Hopefully you can find relief soon.

orchidisland 09/08/2015

I'm new to this RA world but wanted to tell you I'm sorry you are having so much pain. I hope someone here with experience can help you. All I have to offer at this point is a soft hug and wishes for a better tomorrow.

jteach 09/08/2015

Sorry you are in such pain. I'm sending healing thoughts your way.

Juls

steppiemum 09/09/2015

OMG this is happening to me too! Recent shoulder surgery, horrid upper back pain. Yesterday I went to my physical therapist and he tried working on my back and shoulder. Completely tight. We tried Thera tape, but it's not much better.

Not to be corny, but "I feel your pain." Right now have a heating pad on, a microwave heated thing and it's hot in the house. Are we having fun yet?!

2leftfeet 09/09/2015

Sadly, I think a lot of us can say 'I feel your pain", or "I know what you mean".

graceSimply 09/09/2015

I experienced intense shoulder flare ups weeks before I was diagnosed with RA. It was horrible! And for the longest time, I did not even hook it up with the other painful mysteries involving my hands and feet. Totally freaked me out how I would be in such terrible pain for hours on end and then the pain would just disappear. And it would hit again without warning. That went on for several days. Then I forgot all about it when the new mysteries came along....like my hands swelling up like balloons, the intense pain in my thumb, and the problems piling on without end regarding my feet. I went around mumbling, "hands and feet, hands and feet!" It was this mental chanting that finally brought about a vision of a textbook passage summarizing RA. I found that textbook, looked up the passage, and promptly requested RA testing through my PCP. She complied and it was positive. And yet, by then, I had forgotten all about that painful episode with my shoulder. Since then, having a little more information and a little more experience, I have wondered if the shoulder pain was RA pain or bursitis or if it even matters at this point. So I can't really give you any helpful information. I used ice and heat with NSAIDs. Other than that, I tried to act as normal as possible at work just to survive the days, then sobbed in bed between shifts. It hurt! Good news was always the minute it went away. Better news was the minute it went away for good!

Very, very sorry that you are experiencing this! Hoping relief finds you very, very soon!

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