Problems with arm

Tink,

This is just too weird.... I'm dealing with exactly that same problem with my right arm.  I can't raise my arm straight in front of me. It's super painful right in the shoulder joint. Mostly in the front, like you mentioned. 

I had it ultrasounded and xray'd.  Came back with bicep tendonitis. So I"m doing physio to treat it.  My issue is that it is caused by the massive camera I lug around for my work.  It's the position I have my arm in for up to 12 hours every weekend shooting a wedding.  That 90 degree angle I have my arm at is the most stessful position for the shoulder to be in.

So are you doing repetitive stuff with your arm that would contribute to the pain?  The physio guy did say that lupus will cause early deterioration of tendons, muscles etc.  That's why I went for nearly a decade with absolutely no pain, doing my photography, and now I'm getting it.  It's progressive apparently.

think about what you do on a daily basis and see if there's a job or something that is putting your arm in that 90 degree angle for a long period of time.  Even sitting at the computer with your arm up using the mouse, etc, can cause it.

I hope this helps.  I know how painful it is. I feel like I'm losing the use of my right arm too.....

Ginny

Hello Ginny and Denise, I had a similar problem several years back. Everytime I would reach up to hit the return on the typewriter (yes . . . was filling out little forms at work), I would get get very sharp pain in shoulder and my arm could not go up as high as my shoulder. I called it a frozen shoulder, but not sure that is a correct term. Anyway, it just wouldn't go away so I went to a ortho doc. He said to rest it until the pain left and then start walking. The motion of gentle arm swinging while walking is a perfect exercise for the shoulder . . . it really helped and I haven't had that same issue since. Not sure you both are experiencing the same thing . . . but WOW that hurt. Blessings!

Hi Tink. At the time, I didn't realize I had autoimmune issues. It was just another weird thing. Doc told me to take 600mg ibuprofen 4x/day. He said that when the pain stopped, to continue the ibuprofen for a full month. Also, when the pain stopped, I was to do the mild walking/exercise. The intense pain subsided withing a couple days of all that ibuprofen (I was actually surprised) and the mild pain that remained lasted for another week and then gradually disappeared. I started with a short walk, to make sure it wouldn't get things going again, and then I walked for about 1/2 hour each day. If you can't walk, maybe you could sit in a kitchen-type chair and do gentle arm swings at that point. BUT . . . again, who knows if your issue is the same as mine. YES! I had to make a sling in order to sleep (or, if you can sleep on your back, you can place your hand inside the waste-band of your PJ's . . . LOL) I was not told to use a sling during the day, but it sure felt as though that would have been a good idea. Go for it!! Hope this helps.

Thanks for the help Ginny and Rosie.

I would like to make a suggestion because my husband has a similar problem. You need to find a way to document how you sleep. We discovered my husband often will prop his head o his hand during sleep or worse lay on his arm. That can irritate the nerves fairly bad. Also pay attention throughout the day to how and when you move that arm. Repetative motion is bad, but so is lack of motion. I would get a sling and ask your rheumy for something to help inflammation. Also ask about physio therapy. Then listen to the advice you have already gotten but also pay attention to the things I mentioned. I wish you luck.