Pain in arm

774 Views 10 Replies 10 Participants Last post by Joandublin, Jan 26, 2009

Joandublin

Discussion Starter · Jan 24, 2009

Hi everyone

I was wondering if anyone else had this symptom and if so if you had any idea what was causing it.

I have terrible pain in my right arm and it is exactly at one of the trigger points of fibro, i.e. just immediately below the elbow on the forearm. The pain is really bad and prevents me from doing a lot of ordinary things. For example if I lift my arm up (say to pluck hairs from my chin - thank you steroids

) I find that after about 20 seconds I cant continue on. I just have to drop my arm because the pain wont let me hold my arm up any longer.

The pain is constant but gets worse if I raise my arm and try to do something. Its there at night when I lie down, it keeps me awake at times and it sort of makes me keep my arm dropped down by my side (I find I get some slight relief when my arm is dropped low), its there when I drive and turn the wheel of the car, its there when I try to lift a bag of shopping, its there when I try to peel potatoes for the dinner... you get the picture

It might sound trite but its really very, very sore.

It may very well be fibro but it feels more like a deep vein pain. Now bear in mind that I have no frame of reference for this pain other than a gut instinct that its not muscular! I was curious as to whether anyone else experienced this pain and ever found out the cause. Its obviously not acute because its been there for almost a year and so far I am still living to tell the tale but, boy, is it chronic and debilitating!

I have tried heat pads and rubbing the affected area and it does give a small relief but never takes away the pain completely. Strong painkillers numb it a little bit as well.

I have a diagnosis of fibro as well as SLE.

Any words of wisdom appreciated! Its probably a bit obscure but if you don't ask you don't get an answer!

Love to all
Joan:rose:

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adorable

· #2 · Jan 24, 2009

hi joan,

I also experienced that pain but heat pads and some sort of eficascent oil does wonder for me. The pain was due to a tennis elbow - over use arms, but then my rheumy told me it was connected with SLE.

Try the parafin/wax theraphy? Wow... :yes: it helps you feel better.

regards,

dors

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Aggie69

· #3 · Jan 24, 2009

Joandublin;531778 said:
Hi everyone

I was wondering if anyone else had this symptom and if so if you had any idea what was causing it.

I have terrible pain in my right arm and it is exactly at one of the trigger points of fibro, i.e. just immediately below the elbow on the forearm. The pain is really bad and prevents me from doing a lot of ordinary things. For example if I lift my arm up (say to pluck hairs from my chin - thank you steroids) I find that after about 20 seconds I cant continue on. I just have to drop my arm because the pain wont let me hold my arm up any longer.

The pain is constant but gets worse if I raise my arm and try to do something. Its there at night when I lie down, it keeps me awake at times and it sort of makes me keep my arm dropped down by my side (I find I get some slight relief when my arm is dropped low), its there when I drive and turn the wheel of the car, its there when I try to lift a bag of shopping, its there when I try to peel potatoes for the dinner... you get the picture It might sound trite but its really very, very sore.

It may very well be fibro but it feels more like a deep vein pain. Now bear in mind that I have no frame of reference for this pain other than a gut instinct that its not muscular! I was curious as to whether anyone else experienced this pain and ever found out the cause. Its obviously not acute because its been there for almost a year and so far I am still living to tell the tale but, boy, is it chronic and debilitating!

I have tried heat pads and rubbing the affected area and it does give a small relief but never takes away the pain completely. Strong painkillers numb it a little bit as well.

I have a diagnosis of fibro as well as SLE.

Any words of wisdom appreciated! Its probably a bit obscure but if you don't ask you don't get an answer!

Love to all
Joan:rose:

Just to let you know that I have been diagnosed with FM and get continous pain in the forearms too. I can only describe it as a feeling of heaviness/aching and it hurts to lift my arms (feels like a lead weight is attached). I also get the sensation in my thighs.....does this sound familiar?

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Katharine

· #4 · Jan 24, 2009

Hi Joan,

I certainly don't have any words of wisdom. I find it very difficult knowing what all these pains are except when, like you, I know it's not muscular.

I get a lot of that type of pain (not in exactly the same place) from tendon trouble, however I am relatively "unusual" in that my tendons seem pretty severely affected by all this. I have constant inflamed tendons in my hips, shoulders, knees...in addition to being inflamed they have nice calcium deposits on them which helps them hurt a bit more. My wrists (and sometimes it moves up the arm) are a constant problem and I usually have to wear a wrsit support to drive. I now also have the "attachment" of both achilles tendons inflamed - very practical as you can imagine!

Anyway, all that just to say that it could be tendon, nerve (though I found that pain more fleeting and very sharp when I was getting a lot), ligaments...basically everytime I mention something to the physio she just says to me it could be any "connective tissue" so take your pick! Lovely lady!

I'd say that only a good doc would know what it is - if you have one around, definitely worth mentioning next time.

Katharine

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lin

· #5 · Jan 24, 2009

Joan, i had an operation yrs ago for my tennis elbow, it dont seem that,
but my sister inlaw had a frozen shoulder, now she was hurting all the time, and she couldnt even comb her hair, it killed to lift hwer arm up sorry no other idea's but you must go swe youre gp if this doesnt go, as it doesnt sound fun lovey

big hugs Lin xxxxxxxxxxxx:hug:

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Mary Mc

· #6 · Jan 24, 2009

Hi Joan, I too have chronic pain in my right arm, but it's more severe for me above the elbow. I have the same difficulty raising my arm, ie get's so heavy and sore, can't do any continuous activity. Had put it down to fibro, but recently has gotten so much worse, have been wondering if its a result of coming off steroids??? Have no words of wisdom, just know how you're feeling. Mary Mc

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greenhaggis

· #7 · Jan 24, 2009

Joan,

Sorry your having so much prolonged pain!

Have you looked at Bursitis of the elbow!!!!!

Perhaps its time your get to the docs and ask for a Orthapeadic referal to get things checked out - not everything will be totally down to Lupus or Fibro but if something else can be accentuated by those problems on top of what it actually is!

If you can afford a private MRI (NHS MRI's take far too long to get), then go for that option and then seek an Orthapeadic referal.

Take care,

Love Lesley

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ALWIN

· #8 · Jan 24, 2009

Hiya

I have a support for each arm that goes over the very points below each elbow as you describe, to help relieve the pain of TENNIS ELBOWs.

I've managed to get a matching pair. Probably not helped by dressing stone with my 'little' walling hammer. Certainly haven't been able to dress any stone for quite a while now.

If that's what it is there's no way of knowing how long it will last, but it is self righting, so to speak.

It's a right nuisance and I seem to be constantly trying to find a position that puts my arm 'at rest'. In bed or watching tv I put fat pillows high either side of my hips so my arms can rest on them in an only slightly bent kind of position.

My rheumatologist prescribed the supports. They are just soft straps with a soft but firm pad attached that sits on top of the sore point. They fasten with velcro. You need to be measured to get the right fit or they'll stop the circulation in your forearms.

I don't really think they are designed to do much but 'fool' your nervous system into focussing on a different sensation (gentle pressure in this case) in a similar way to a TENS machine.

Good luck.

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onetay

· #9 · Jan 25, 2009

Joan,
I have tennis elbow and it sounds close but not the same. It is something you should look into with your doctor and find the problem. yeah it seems to of fund both elbows despite my effort to stop it. It does not sound like something you will be able to live with for very long lol. Hoping you the best and to feel better soon.
Tammy

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peonyprincess

· #10 · Jan 25, 2009

Joan,

I would raise my hand to say yes I have it as well, but that would hurt too much. The way I described it to my doc was a deep bone pain. It would get so bad that just brushing my elbow against my shirt when I was getting dressed would bring tears. I've had one doc dx as golfers elbow and I was getting it injected every 3 months and it was great. Then....it became sooner than that and my doc said, no more shots. Dang it!! So back to the drawing board. I had the muscular test and passed it with flying colors. Then came the X-rays, CT scans and right on up to MRI and guess what, yup, still no answers. So, now I use pain killers, use my left arm, and a heating pad. Sometimes I can con my husband into massaging it........ahhhhhh. If you want some immediate relief while looking for a long term solution, ask about a corticosteroid shot, maybe that can help. And if you find out any answers, please share.

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Joandublin

Discussion Starter · #11 · Jan 26, 2009

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences. Sounds like there are a few possibilities. Sorry to hear you all suffer from similar pain :hugbetter:

I will mention it to my Rheumy next month at my visit and see if he has any words of wisdom.

It feels like a pain that some sort of 'support' would help with. I was interested in your ones Alwin. I use pillows at night to rest the arm on as well.

I will let you know what the Rheumy says

Thanks again everyone!

Luv n stuff
Joan:rose:

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