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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RA pain or something else?

RCross
RCross
How can we, well I, tell the difference between joint pain from my RA and joint pain from something else? When should I have an ortho check things? I have an appt on Tuesday with an ortho about my right shoulder. It's been hurting for weeks and I can barely move my arm without extreme pain. RA is typically symmetrical but this is only one shoulder...so I'm thinking it's something else? Ugh...I really hate have autoimmune issues. It really complications things.
Christine26
Christine26
Hi RCross, You are doing the right thing by seeing ortho. This sounds like something different. Hopefully it is not rotator cuff problems. I think it is good to have more than a Rheumatologist involved in our bone and joint pain. I happened to get involved with Orthopedics a few weeks ago accidentally when I went in as a Walk in because I was having one sided flank pain. Thought it was a UTI without other symptoms and it turned out to be nerve pain. The doctor in the Urgicare clinic referred me to pain management. In order to see pain management at this facility I needed to see Ortho first so I did. Long story shot Ortho picked up on an x-ray that was done on my right knee more than 6 months ago and said my cartilage was almost gone and I am almost down to bone on bone and may need a knee replacement in the future and I could try Synvisc to see if that would help. I was informed by my Rheumatologist that I had osteo in my knees and that was it. I can see now why I have been falling a few months ago. Probably due to my knee giving out, stiffness, and knee not moving properly.
My point is that sometimes we need other doctors involved with us to give us a different point of view and to keep on top of things. Sometimes doctors can miss things. Happens all the time. Keep us posted. Hope everything works out for you. Feel better.
Angelpuss
Angelpuss
RCross,
After a fall (well before RA diagnosis) I had a rotator cuff which was torn in two places. I went to my GP who sent me to the Physiotherapist. It entailed several visits and exercising with strength bands twice a day but it healed and hasn't been a problem since, not even with the onset of RA.
Good luck.