Can You Explain What's Going On? | Arthritis Information

I'm having an odd occurrance that I just don't understand and I'm hoping someone out there can explain it. My left sided pain has been pretty well controlled with the RA drugs. The RD is pleased because even with the blood work, he wasn't sure if my problem was related to an autoimmune disease and I had always thought my problem was somehow spine related, although two neurologists disagreed. Anyway, our computer is being upgraded so I had to use the library computer and after just a short time, I developed a lot of pain in my left arm and it was starting to move all along my left side, just like before I started the RA drugs. This has me confused. It's as if the chair at the library desk was off and making me sit in such a way that was throwing my spine off and so I was having pain. But if this is an autoimmune issue and not a spine issue, why did that pain start?

To add to my confusion, today we moved the computer set-up at home to another desk and now I'm having the same pain issues at home. Each time the pain stopped after getting away from the computer. I'm starting to wonder if this really was spine related all along and I wouldn't need this medication if my spine problem was corrected. Or am I totally off base? Is it possible that even with a correct diagnosis of an autoimmune disease, symptoms can return for other reasons? I know that overdoing it or straining can cause problems, but just sitting? I hoping some of you veterans can shed some light on this for me. I'm starting to doubt my whole diagnosis now. Thank you for your help and insight.

Jesse882008-08-03 13:43:05Wow that stinks to have it be fine then act up like that.

I do notice when I am at the computer or sometimes sitting holding a book or such my arms one or both will go numb or just hurt real bad. It's almost like just holding them up causes it. And sometimes they don't have to be up very high at all.

A few weeks ago I went to the movies with DD. And just having my arms rest on the arm rest they hurt and went numb. That's all I was doing sitting and watching a movie. I really really think mine has to do with my shoulders.

I hope the pain stops for you. Or you can at least figure out what is setting it off.

Good luck.

I don't know why you are having the pain but hope you can get the correct answer soon.

Jan

Thanks Jan and Shy. Shy, it sounds like you have a similar issue and are not sure what's causing it. Maybe it's normal to have the same RA type pain from other non-RA causes? Maybe others can shed some light on this. HI Jesse,

It can be really hard sometimes to know exactly what is going on. Maybe there is more than one issue causing the pain? Carrying groceries causes me elbow pain because it somehow makes the RA flare. On the other hand, I have had terrible shoulder pain for months which I did nothing about since I thought it was "just" the arthritis. Turns out I had a turned rib head and needed physical therapy.

Unfortunately it usually takes me a lot of time and thinking to get a sense of what I am doing at the time that I have the pain so that my dr can figure out the cause. I have had to make a lot of "ergonomic" type adjustments because pressure on a nerve can cause pain. I think I would move forward on both fronts if it did not involve surgery - keep on with the meds and pursue solving the spine problem. What would need to be done to correct the spine problem?

Hi Laker. Thanks for your response. Since the pain is related to the computer we may just end up putting it back where it was before.

The neurosurgeon told me no surgery was indicated as of a couple of years ago but that the herniated discs would probably have to be fixed in the future. I don't know if that's contributing to this new computer-related pain or not. It really is a puzzle, trying to figure out what pains are RA related and what is from something else.

Jesse.. how did you deal w/ your herniations before? did you have PT exercises to do?

if so.. do them! I've had a double herniated L5 since 1992... and I just do the good ole exercises when the aches return...

and in a few days.. I'm feeling back to good w/ the back issues..

my best to you..

babs

I have no knowledge on the subject but just wanted to say hope it resolves and you feel better soon!

Thanks, wantto. Fortunately I can pinpoint this particular cause and effect and move the computer. But that won't tell me why the arm pain happened.

Babs, I was doing PT when first diagnosed, but strangely enough, the RA drugs have helped quite a bit with the stiffness and pain in my cervical spine, even though it's supposed to be OA and not RA. Go figure. I'm just wondering why I would have pain come back in my arm (supposedly autoimmune related) just from sitting in a different way. Apparently I'm expecting too much, thinking that successful treatment means I'll never have pain in the arm or left side again as long as I keep up with the meds. T'aint so, I'm thinking. I'm also seriously thinking of switching to AP so that's also in the mix of my confusion. There's nothing clear-cut or black and white about this disease and that's something I find extremely hard to deal with. I don't like shades of gray and that seems to be all this ever is. I look back fondly on the days when all I had to deal with was a simple bronchitis or bladder infection that could be treated for 10 days and then it's over....gone and forgotten. This business of no clear dx, tweaking drugs to find the right mix, then finding it's not working anymore and you have to tweak again, etc. is more frustration than I can sometimes deal with. Never mind. I know I have to just muddle through this as well....and I will.

Your right , there is no clear cut black and white with this disease and it can be so frustrating. And I also look back at the days when all I took were vitamins.

You never know when a new pain comes along if it is Ra related but it is always good to get it checked out.

I hope find out the problem and start to feel better.This Ra stuff really sucks!

Thanks Maimi. It's really good to be able to discuss these issues with people who really "get it."