arms ache

[lucybooz]

about a month ago i had a stiffness and soreness in my left shoulder. went to the doctor and he had it x-rayed and gave me a cortisone injection. x-ray showed arthritis but nothing serious. since then BOTH upper arms/shoulders are so sore and achey. i have been taking actonel for bone health and i read that one of the side effects of that pill can be muscle soreness and stiffness. i stopped the pill and plan to stay off for maybe 2-3 weeks to see if that might be it. it's really getting on my nerves to be feeling pain all the time. along with this i have chronic back problems that, too, are giving me alot of trouble just now.

i've been taking aleve which seems to help. also taking ultracet 2 pills/day for the back pain. back pain is bad right now - sciatic nerve, tiredness and weak feeling in lower back, and pain down the shin of the leg. not a happy camper right now.

does my explanation of the pain in my upper arms/shoulders sound familiar to anyone?

i am a waitress, so all these problems are really hindering my job. really need some relief.

thanks for anything anyone can tell me on this.

[bookworm76]

My shoulders started to hurt 9 years ago. I've had tests done for RA, lupus (which my grandmother had), and anything else you can imagine. I got fed up with being told that I was depressed or drug seeking so I stopped going to the doctor. In March my husband convinced me to go one last time and I finally got someone who said that the grinding and popping wasn't depression. I'm going to see an orthropedic doctor the week after next. I still don't know what's wrong but if I find anything out I'll get back with you. I do know what you're going through. I hope you start to feel better soon.

[Kissa]

Grinding and popping can be a result of problems with your ligaments, muscles or tendons or also can be a problem with damage cartilage. A healthy normal joint does not generally make noises. X-rays will help to determine if you have OA but will not tell you if there is any damage to the rotator cuff, for that you'll need an MRI.

No doctor has the right to tell you that it's all in your head but sadly many do nowadays. The key is to not give up on a diagnosis but instead seek out the appropriate doctor for treatment, in your case an orthopeadist.

In regards to the tired and sore arms that too could be a problem with OA, bursitis or many other various problems. Sadly you are in a proffession that is very difficult on your body. I really do suggest you seek out a doctor for an appropriate diagnosis. You could potentially be causing further damage to your joints and not know it.