1. Community
  2. Bones, joints and muscles
  3. Rheumatoid Arthritis

is it possible to only have rheumatoid arthritis in your shoulders?

Posted , 8 users are following.

sharney1986
sharney1986

Hi all,

I have suffered from what I would call chronic shoulder pain for around 2 years now. Everyday seems to be unique as to pain level. I am always in pain in both shoulders on some level but I get what id call flare ups quite often where the pain is debilitating and hard to go about daily life. Ive taken prednisone, celebrex, tramadol, done physiotherapy but it never goes away. Pain killers only somewhat ease the pain. I do occasionally get some pain in the hip.

A rheumatologist has prescribed plaquenil for me to take to see if that helps but he has never specifically said I have RA. From what i understand is its joint pain, but Is it possible to have RA when its only really my shoulders?

Cheers,

Sharney.

1 like, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • michelle1901
    michelle1901 sharney1986

    Posted

    Morning sharney,

    Sorry to hear of your pain. I too am currently suffering with shoulder pain but I have been diagnosed with RA. I have it in many joints and started in my wrists and hands and then spread around my joints. it's hard to say if you have the same illness. I would certainly get it checked out. I currently can't lift my arms up frost thing in a morning and they are extremely uncomfortable and stiff and they click a lot. (As do all my joints). I hope you get some answers. My GP referred me to a rheumatologist after 3 visits so my diagnosis came quickly. I haven't started any course of medication yet as my next appointment is nt until 23rd June so I have had Steriods and naproxen so far. Neither have made a big difference to my RA as I still suffer with sleep problems, pain and stiffness.

    Keep us informed

    Michelle

  • Rowbirdie
    Rowbirdie sharney1986

    Posted

    Hi Sharney

    my ra began with shoulder pain in 1 shoulder, thought to be tendonitis which I had for 4 months before I got pain elsewhere in right knee and base of right thumb. All of this was very painful. So GP did blood tests which led to diagnosis of RA. But you seem to have had problems with your shoukders for quite a while so difficult to know. But just to let you know the first symptom can be in the shoulder.

  • Light
    Light sharney1986

    Posted

    My RA started with shoulder pain on one side. After that everything was bilateral.

    I tested sero-negative for RA, which apparently 20% of sufferers are, so clinically speaking it doesn't make a lot of difference, as the treatment will be the same.

    Could you have 'frozen shoulder' on both sides? I gather it's not an autoimmune condition, but not sure.

    Good luck!

    As far as I know it is perfectly possible to have RA ony in the shoulders, and for this long, though RA does tend to move around.

  • david00596
    david00596 sharney1986

    Posted

    Hi sharney,Not sure if this helps,had lots of pain across neck & shoulders,had physio,about a year,found its cervical spondolitis, also over last few years had shoulder, hip and joint pains,tried  physio, steroids,hydroxychloroquine,ibrufen,codydromol,

    to no effect apart putting on weight with the steroids, now trying meloxicam,  they reckon fybromyalgia.Thankfully not RA, try to keep smiling

Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.