Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

I saw my rheumy a few weeks ago and because I have continuing shoulder and neck pain, along with numbness and tingling in the left arm, he sent me on a round of doctors.

I saw my orthopedist on Friday - x-rays indicated that I have a very sharp, very large bone spur which has ripped through my rotator cuff on the left shoulder. It continues to rip with each movement. He scheduled me for an MRI of the neck and an arthrogram of the shoulder. I went to the MRI lab this morning, but after six tries, they could not get a steady image, even though I tried my very best to stay still. They called some valium in to my pharmacy and we'll try again on Monday. The arthrogram is the following Thursday, and the day after I am scheduled to see the neurologist.

I think I already know (after talking with my orthopedist - I've known him for years - he did both my knee replacements) what the verdict is going to be, and I'm pretty upset about it. The bone spur will have to be removed and the rotator cuff repaired. That means surgery (my 7th in 8 years). The neck is probably compressed nerves caused by my degenerative disc disease and inflammation causing the breakdown of the spinal facet joints. That means a surgery to relieve the pressure on the nerves by either a fusion or fixation of the affected vertebrae. That will put me at 8 surgeries in 8 years.

And I really can't put them off. I've been going through this additional "bonus" pain for more than six months. I can cope with the pain with the RA and fibro and back injury, but the shoulder and neck will have to be further dealt with!

I am so depressed over the whole mess.

Wow...

I am sorry to hear you will be having another surgery. That many surgeries so close to one another surely bears on your body.

Seems you just reach recovery then...wham...another one.

You will be in my prayers Jaynie. I can only imagine the terrible pain your shoulder/neck is giving you.

But, I am glad there is a surgery to help you dear friend.

Hugs

Jaynie, Let us know what the outcome is on all the test, I'll be praying for a successful everything. Blessings of health

Crap and more crap. I am so sorry you are going through this. RA is bad enough, but needing 2 surgeries (which makes 8 surgeries in 8 years) is awful. But, I hope they get you in soon so you can get rid of the terrible pain in your shoulder.

One of the theroies as to why RAD attacked me is from having numerous major surgeries one after another for 5 years. Also becoming infected 2x with MRSA after 2 of them.

They think my body stayed in a state of recovering for sooo long it may have triggered RAD.

jaynie, did you have RAD before surgeries?

Hugs

bits, I had two spinal surgeries, and a MRSA infection and Stevens-Johnson Syndrome in between. The RA didn't show up until a biopsy report on my first knee replacement. I was diagnosed at that time - going into the surgery, it was thought to be osteoarthritis (at 40?!?!) My rheumy thinks I've had RA since childhood, based on symptoms I've suffered with all my life. I probably went into remission for about 20 years before this round started and destroyed both knees. (Sometimes an illness or surgery will shock your body out of remission - this is what my rheumy thinks happened.)

These last 7 surgeries are not the only surgeries I've had - just the most serious ones. I've had close to a dozen D&C's, fissure and fistula repairs, 4 hand surgeries, nose surgery to correct a nose broken 20 years before, sinus surgery, dental surgery - you name it. I am so tired of being cut open, cut away, and having foreign objects permanently inserted into my body.

No telling what they'll want to do to me this time. I'd just ignore it, but it is searing, burning nerve pain, quite different from my chronic back, joint, and leg pain. It just won't allow me to ignore it. It's so painful that my husband just TOUCHED it last night and I had involuntary tears fill my eyes.

On the other hand, both these problems can cause other symptoms I've had "explained away" by other doctors before - ringing in the ears, ear pain, jaw pain, excruciating headaches and migraines. All these can be caused by nerve impingement in the neck! So it would make sense.

To make this a completely miserable week, I somehow developed an itchy rash all over my body. The urge to scratch is just unbearable!

I have been a member for awhile now but dont reply much. Your story as touch me,feel like it was someting i wrote. Maybe an injection would help with the pain till you get your test done. I will be praying for you as you have had your share of problems. God be with you

Matty

Gentle hugs jaynie. You are a strong, courageous woman that has displayed a beautiful spirit.

Extra gentle hugs

Thanks for all the support, ladies. I am getting little support on the home front. After a second breakout, I realized that it followed the classic Lupus malar "butterfly" pattern across my face. I've had this about six times in the last six months, always when I get out in the sun. So off to the rheumy I go. I am just feeling a tad worse than usual - lots more tired and cranky and achy. The hot weather is miserable, as my medications make me sweat profusely, and I've got another UTI, surprise surprise!

Oh, I did manage to get the MRI done on Monday with the valium. I didn't feel like it affected me at all, but I was able to lie still enough to have the MRI taken. I am allergic to the MRI dyes they use for contrast, so they are having to call in a specialist to do my arthrogram and the date changed - it's now scheduled for the 5th, and my orthopedic follow up is on the 11th, with the neurologist on the 10th.

In getting out and about lately (which for me means going to the little small-town pharmacy I use and the doctors offices) I've found myself talking to my fellow patients, and comparing notes. I invariably get told how amazed they are that I can smile and laugh and talk with all my pain and problems. It's not that I'm strong or courageous or anything. It's not because I have a particularly strong spirit or soul. It's because I was lucky enough to have been born into a family that managed adversity with a laugh and a joke. As odd as it may seem, I've got an extremely dark, warped sense of humor, and can laugh at just about anything.

My grandpap, who spent his last 10 years in a nursing home due to rheumatoid arthritis and barely-functional kidneys, would constantly make the funniest snide remarks about "those old people" he lived among. In his mind, he wasn't old at all. When he hit his 90th birthday, he spent over a week being incredulous over the fact that he was nearly a century old. He could and did laugh at everything! It was a great example to grow up with and has helped me through so much in my life. My grandpap was the only person I've ever encountered who died with a beautiful smile on his face.

So yeah, I tend to take these things in stride. Another big help is my mostly-strong faith and wonderful church family. Don't know what I'd do without them!!!!!

Good news! No lupus! The rheumy did a biopsy on the rash - it was simply allergic dermatitis. I also discovered what it was - a new makeup primer that doubles as a sunscreen, so I used it every time I'd be out in the sun. I was so silly to over-react!

Also got the results back from my neck MRI - definite pinched nerve at two levels. I did some research and found that the treatment is essentially the same as the lumbar herniations I had. They'll try to treat with steroid injections, then if that doesn't work, they'll do a fusion and I'll have more metal in my spine.

As I already know I'm going to have to have the shoulder surgery, I'm kinda bummed about the whole thing.