HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Anyone else have soft tissue inflamm (bursae, tendons, fascia)?

Support Forums
>
Rheumatoid Arthritis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 8/1/2013 3:24 AM (GMT 0)
Hi all,

Anyone else out there have "soft tissue rheumatism"? Things like bursitis, carpal tunnel, plantar fasciitis, trigger fingers...? If so, what have your docs said and done to help?

I've had RA since 1996, but after first 6 years, my joints haven't flared unless I stopped or missed doses of meds. I take sulfasalazine, Mobic, levoxyl for hypothyroid, plus a bunch meds for my fibromyalgia. I see my Rheumy every 3 months. But...

- 4 yrs ago I had neuropathy in multiple places. Neurologist Dx with carpal tunnel, cubital tunnel, and cervical disc degeneration. Had surgery on the elbow. Others are ongoing.

- Then 6 months ago, terrible foot pain. My Rheumy Dx plantar fasciitis, oral steroids worked.

- A couple months later, I had trigger finger and tendon contractures in my hands. Sent to Hand specialist, who said it was "rheumatoid tenovitis" and gave multiple steroid injections, which worked like a charm.

- Now for 10 days I've been completely bedridden with unbelievable hip and lumbar and groin pain (again some neuropathy). My pain mgmt doc says it's multiple things: a lumbar spine facet joint, the sacroiliac joint, and bursitis in my hip. I'm scheduled for more steroid injections (these require anesthesia).

I trust they'll work... But hello?! Isn't there a bigger picture here? My Rheumy (who I love) treats each one like its separate, and sends me to a specialist. But I've been reading (not much else to do!) that RA can attack soft tissues too (tendons, bursa, fascia). So is this my RA not being as "controlled" as I thought?

Has anyone out there had a similar experience?
Posted 8/1/2013 3:33 AM (GMT 0)
Yeah I seem to get it in my tendons or along tendon sheaths frequently. Bursitis is common. I've taken to joining a hydro therapy class which keeps up my core strength and has helped amazingly with the bursitis.
My rheumy is alwas giving me shots of cortisone into joints to help- sometimes it works. Just seems to be where I am vulnerable. Maybe you are the same, I think its harder to treat, but the main thing is staying as flexible and strong as you can manage. Thats helped me.
Goodluck with it all. Talk to your rheumy. Mine was very good with the explanations. golitho
Posted 8/1/2013 5:19 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks golitho!

That's really helpful. Sorry you're going through all that too though. I'll definitely look into a strengthening regime, once I can move again. That would be great if that could decrease these flare ups, or at least minimize impact.
Posted 8/1/2013 1:59 PM (GMT 0)
I also have the same problems in multiple areas. The cortisone shots have been the most helpful and seem to last quite a while for me. Aqua therapy has also been very helpful.

Good Luck!!!
Posted 8/1/2013 2:13 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Gina. Sounds like steroids are the tx of choice... Plus exercise.

Anyone have suspicions about why these soft tisse flare ups might be escalating in frequency? Do you guys see patterns in your own flare up? I want to make sure I'm doing as much as I can preventively.
Posted 8/2/2013 4:17 AM (GMT 0)
I get them as well and there is no rhyme or reason that I have found. Definitely tied to RA since the meds seem to decrease the frequency. I have the sinovial sheath around my Achilles disintegrate and bunch like a sock at the base. That wasnt real comfortable.
Posted 8/2/2013 4:47 AM (GMT 0)
Yikes! That sounds nasty. :( I hope there was something they could do to repair that, or at least make it not so painful!

I was wondering if increasing or adjusting my meds would help decrease the frequency of these episodes... I'll ask my doc. It seems odd to me that she's hasn't mentioned that these soft tissue problems are related to my RA. It's very validating hearing from others with similar experiences. Thanks everyone.
Posted 8/3/2013 3:09 AM (GMT 0)
Not quite as bad as you described but PINS which is a soft tissue inflammation that caused nerve damage, inflammation in my shoulder and back muscles. My rheumy says its the RA not being well controlled enough because I am not sleeping enough-she has a point.
Posted 8/3/2013 5:44 PM (GMT 0)
I have the soft tissue musculoskeletal symptoms without a diagnosis of RA, although I do have diagnosed osteoarthritis. I have multiple joint bursitis, chronic/recurring tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, trigger fingers, etc. It's pretty miserable sometimes.
Posted 8/3/2013 6:20 PM (GMT 0)
Yuk, it is miserable at times, isn't it?! Judy, I'm so sorry that your steroid treatments have caused so many other issues. Steroids can be a miracle in relieving the flare ups, but there can be a high price to pay. shakehead

Sjkly, it can be such a vicious cycle with sleep, right? Have you ever tried zanaflex for muscle and nerve pain? My pain doc prescribed it to take before bed, and it really helps me to fall - and stay - asleep... At least until it wears off. rolleyes
Posted 8/4/2013 3:19 AM (GMT 0)
No, I have to be really careful with pain meds I get Tramadol. The Valerian root my doc told me to take does help with sleep.
Posted 8/4/2013 3:26 AM (GMT 0)
Glad you found something that helps. Melatonin is a good natural sleep aid too.
Posted 8/13/2013 2:26 AM (GMT 0)
I find it hard to stay asleep rom the pain in my body waking me up. I get so exhausted from it all. I found physio therapy helps too with the tendon damage, they can increase muscle strength in other areas to take the pressure off the damage or relearn how to use your body.
Its just expensive seeing physios but I do it when things are bad. Cotisone shots only sometimes work but its fantastic when they do.
How are you going Rosie's girl?
Posted 8/13/2013 6:17 AM (GMT 0)
I'm definitely a lot better since getting the cortisone shots a few days ago (8 of them! lumbar spine, SI joint, and 2 bursae in the hip). I'm having some trouble sleeping too, and stayed home from work one more day BC it was still too uncomfortable to sit. I plan to go back tomorrow if I can sit long enough to drive there! It's been 3 wks off of work! :(

I have an appt with my Rheumy this week, and I'm def going to request PT. Thanks for the suggestions and encouragement, it helps!
Posted 8/14/2013 5:15 AM (GMT 0)
I noticed that someone here mentioned taking melentonin for sleep aid. Ii found out that people with autoimmune diseases should avoid it. It can cause flares in us.
Posted 8/14/2013 5:15 AM (GMT 0)
I noticed that someone here mentioned taking melentonin for sleep aid. Ii found out that people with autoimmune diseases should avoid it. It can cause flares in us.
Posted 8/14/2013 10:40 PM (GMT 0)
I am a 45 yr. Old male 350 lbs. I just found out
I HAVE R.A. back in 2011. I am a truck driver for a waste
Company. I am in pain daily. I cant sleep well cause of pain as well. I feel lost.
Posted 8/15/2013 4:14 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Driver1, yeah pain can be so exhausting then not sleeping makes you even more tired. I tried to learn relaxation therapies to help me relax but when the pain keeps waking you up it gets pretty hard. I end up getting up and watching a lot of trashy TV to take my mind off things.

I have sleeping tablets but they are so addictive I don't want to rely on them. Pain killers only take the edge off and sometimes just don't work at all- like today.

So welcome welcome and know you are not alone.

What has you rheumy said to you? Have they got your symptoms under control? It can take a while especially if you have only just been diagnosed. All you can do is keep going back to the rheumy until they get you on the right mix of meds to keep your life more livable. Then you will have good times and bad, just hang out for the good days. Some people go into remission as well.- you may be one of the lucky ones!

So keep your head up, you're not alone, there are many good meds out there for us now.

Best wishes, golitho

Rosie, I'm so pleased the shots have helped- you are right to rest after them, that way you get the best result from them staying in your joints for longer.

Hope you get back to work soon, big hugs, golitho

✚ New Topic ✚ Reply