is this joint inflammation?

So.  For the last two years or more, I have had a sore right shoulder, and  aches/ tingliness in my hands.  Sometimes it just feels as if my whole arm is weak. Sometimes even like a fluey ache all up my arm.  And the shoulder pain is deep in the shoulder, feels like its the joint not just surface muscles.   At first I thought it was from sleeping on my shoulder, as i tend to be a side sleepr.  BUT when I first noticed it i was not long out from hip surgery for hip dysplacia so most definitely was not sleeping on my right side due to hip pain.  

Went to rheumatologist in september 2008 - i was positive for an inflammatory factor, but negative for Rheumatoid factor and xrays should no arthritis.  All very vague and inconclusive, but she thought I may have an autoimmune disorder due to scalp psoriasis and signs of raynauds phenomenon.  I went for a while thinking it may be an overuse thing, i am a student and type a lot, and play cello, neither of which help the pain!!

It can go for a while being fine, then I get a flare up - once it was sort of in between thumb and pointer finger, so had difficulty holding a pen, using a knife, holding anything really.  And recently had one where my right hand had this bad throbing ache on the part of my hand under my little finger (so opposite side of hand than the previous major flareup) - moving my hand to put it in a jumper sleeve, or changing gears when driving, was excruciating.  But that only lasted a day or two.  But when I am not having flare up i have constant very mild tenderness in my hands and shoulder.  My chiropractor thinks it could be mild joint inflammation.  Does this kind of achey (achy) pain sound like inflammation?   If so what should I do to prevent flareups?  Any other advice please?  

[TrudieC]

It definitely sounds like inflammation.  Do you have results from your previous blood tests?  It would be helpful if you had them and posted so we would know what you have been tested for.  Some auto-immune syndromes/diseases can take a while to show up in your blood.  Do you have any soreness anywhere else in your body?