What causes deep muscle bruising other than impact?

[Dot281]

I've had SLE, Fibromyalgia for 17 years and it is mostly controlled; Sjogrens for 4 years and was diagnosed with RA in 2009. Since being diagnosed with RA, I have broken my left ankle, ruptured a tendon on my left foot, lost my left toenail, fallen off a train, injuring my right hip, back and neck.  MRIs showed ruptured disc C-3 to C-4 and bulging discs L-3 to L-5, cervical spondylotic changes, bilateral subarticular recess narrowing.  After the fall, I developed numbness, tingling and shredding pain in the front and side of my right leg, not the back where apparently sciatica pain is located.  Was told by doctor that this was from the back injury.  Several months ago, the pain developed on the left side as well, in both the front of the leg and groin area.  Then the back pain became so intense that it is difficult for me to walk more than a block without sitting or resting and impossible to stand for any length of time.  Also, every time I try to ride my recumbent bicycle to keep the partial knee replacement in my left knee from hurting, it sets off a whole wave of the shredding pains in my leg at night.  I just saw a spine orthopedic surgeon who examined the MRI's and said they should not be causing all of the pain I was having.  He diagnosed bursitis in both hips and because of the location of the pain in the groin area, ordered an MRI of the left hip.  He advised yesterday that the MRI showed I had bruising deep in the muscle and it would take some time to heal.  I fell off the train last July (almost 8 months ago) and haven't injured myself by falling or running in to anything.  So my question is:  what would cause deep muscle brusing and is it something perhaps related to the RA?  A secondary question is, shouldn't all the meds I'm taking be doing something to relieve the bursitis and other inflammation?  Maybe I need to try another biologic drug?  I would appreciate any help on this.  Thanks!

[Abhijeet Ghosh]

Dear Friend,
Many thanks for posting the question via my forum. Before answering, I would like to remind you that , my post is like a guide for you. But to come to a pinpoint diagnosis, I will repeatedly as you to visit the treating doctor or meet a good consultant.

Please find my answers -
1) what would cause deep muscle brusing and is it something perhaps related to the RA?
Answer -   Well RA, SLE, Sjogerns syndrome are all a part of Auto-immune diseases and they are know to weaken up the body. They affect the various organs of the body. So if they are acting on the Musculo-Skeletal system than the muscle bruising can be a manifestation of this disease.
The muscles become weak and hence when stressed, may bruise or get torn.

2) shouldn't all the meds I'm taking be doing something to relieve the bursitis and other inflammation?  Maybe I need to try another biologic drug?
Answer - Well all the medicines are good and bad. SO the combined effect is nullified. That's said in a very basic sense to make you understand.Since you are having the autoimmune diseases, you have been given several medicines, some of which are decreasing your disease fighting capacity also, due to which bursitis is happening..
The problem is that there is no way out. You need to be eating these medicines, to keep a control over the disease.

So continue with your daily activities and discuss with the doctor, for cutting down the medicines.

Please feel free to discuss more with me as a fresh post.
Also , if you are satisfied with my answer, do refer your friends also.
I have got other forums also (Arthritis , Back and Neck Surgery, Back and Spine Surgery, Brain Tumor Forum, Headaches  , Hip Surgery, Knee Surgery , Neurology/Neurosurgery, Rheumatoid Arthritis. Trigeminal Neuralgia), where you can post other related queries.

Regards

[Dot281]

Forgot to list my meds - Enbrel, Methotrexate, Prednisone, Etolodac (NSAID) & Cymbalta (for pain management), plus Darvocet & Lortab as needed.