Severe Shoulder Pain

I am 38 years old and I have had RA now for over 20years. The medication I am on is Sulfasalazine (been on this for over 3 years now) 500mg 2 twice a day, Tramadol 50mg 4 times a day and Amitriptyline 25mg 3 at night. In April I had injections in both knees.

My new problem started early June this year, I stretched my right arm out and my arm went click (it just felt like my arm came out of its socket and I had to push it back in). From then on I have had nothing but problems with my shoulder and arm.

My shoulder is constantly sore, (sometimes worse than other days). It hurts when I laugh as well. I’m having trouble sleeping I cant lie down at nights with the pain (I use to look forward to bed time as I had some relief from my Arthritis, but not now. I sleep propped at night, sitting at the side of my bed from time to time at night for relief, from the pain in my shoulder. I am up in the mornings between 1.30am and 5am. As I can’t take being in bed any more. Also I am getting pins and needles all the way down my arm to my fingers, just below my elbow when I have the pins and needles I get a throbbing pain.

I went to see my doctor in August about this and she doubled my tramadol to 100mg 3 times a day, but it didn’t do anything to help. I went back to see her 2 weeks later and she referred me back to the hospital emergence clinic. I was there Monday 21st September, she done my full blood count to make sure everything was alright and it was, she said it was 20 which it has been for the last few years with being on Sulfasalazine. They said it was my Arthritis and have booked me in for injections in my shoulder on the 23rd October.

My husband thinks I might have trapped a nerve or something when stretching my arm. I didn’t have any trouble with my shoulder before this incident. But the doctors seem to think it’s my arthritis. I feel this is just an excuse using my arthritis.

I just can’t take any more sleepless nights, PLEASE HELP!

[TrudieC]

It certainly sounds like a trapped nerve or injury.  I wonder if an alternative health practitioner might help in this instance.  Perhaps a chiropractor?  

[smcal57]

Thanks I'll look into that.