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Tendon and muscle pain
My symptoms include severe tendon pain in my right wrist, pain in my neck and right shoulder muscles with some muscles atrophied. I am taking 500 mg ibuprofen twice a day, but not sure if it is having any impact. I also have a 3M Futuro elastic brace on my right wrist.
Some history; I had the the flu first of January which lasted a week and then I was weak until the first of February. I started some light weight lifting in early February and strained my left and right shoulder muscles. About 2 weeks later I developed a severe burning in my left shoulder area and a mild burning in my right shoulder. Pain was so severe I couldn’t sleep on my sides. I took Celebrex every night and after a week the pain lessened. I was finally able to get a doctors appointment. He took a blood test (CK) for muscle damage which came back negative. He prescribed 500 mg twice a day for the pain. After the doctors appoinment my right wrist tendon pain became severe. I am in the process of scheduling another doctors appointment
Looking for any one with similar experience and recommendations. I hope my message wasn’t too long. Thanks for any insights. Jim
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I also need to protect my kidney because I only have one. I take NSAIDs sometimes because a short course or usually just 1-2 days is enough to calm my pain down so I can function better. I have a couple issues that I still really want to find the root cause for though because they just keep cropping up eventually after I stop taking the NSAIDs.
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1 Reaction@wrig1jam Hello Jim. Your description of burning in your shoulders may be an issue with the spine. This came on suddenly, after lifting and working out. You would be recruiting some muscles in your neck to do that, and everything in the shoulder connects to the spine. It may be worth asking for some MRI imaging of the cervical and shoulder area. Pain getting worse after a couple weeks is kind of suspect for possibly herniating a spinal disc. Muscle atrophy may be caused by a nerve compression that services that muscle. It might be worth starting with a consult with a spine surgeon who would then order the imaging.
I am a spine surgery patient and had a compressed spinal cord caused by bone spur growth next to a herniated disc. If that is what happened to you, a herniated disc causes inflammation which can initiate bone spur growth causing further problems that continue to worsen . It could have happened where the nerve exits the spine for the muscle that has atrophied. The sooner you catch a problem like that, the better. Spine issues can cause a lot of damage before they are discovered, and the earlier they are corrected may be able to lessen permanent damage. It depends on what is wrong, what dysfunction is being caused, and how fast it is changing. Information will give you what you need to make decisions and manage problems.
When you have weakness on one side of a limb, the stronger side might beat up the weaker side a bit. Muscles work in opposition where one side creates the contraction for movement, and the other side opposes that to limit or control that movement. When it becomes unbalanced due to injury, the strong side can overpower the weak side. You may also have tight scar tissue or tight fascia from the injury that extends its pull on the muscle and into the attached tendons. I have that situation because of an ankle fracture, and I've learned to release that muscle tightness that is causing pain and extra pressure on the ligaments and tendons on one side.
Have you had any spine imaging done before?
Jennifer
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1 ReactionThx Jennifer, i am considering your suggestions. Jim
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1 ReactionIf you took Cipro or Levoquin for anything prior to this happening it could be why.
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1 ReactionHi Jim,
You may want to ask them to test for HLA-B27 if they haven't already. I have experienced something similar. I had a doctor at Emory tell me he hadn't seen so much tendinosis. My pain is primarily buttocks and hamstrings, but I've had wrist and elbow pain too. Had several trigger finger surgeries. I finally found a good rheumatologist who considered my symptoms and not just imaging and blood work.
Cosentyx works for me, as well as letting go of sugar and gluten. Get rest but stay active. I know it sucks. Tramadol helps when it's bad. Ensure you are getting restful sleep--do whatever it takes.
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3 ReactionsI agree, a rheumatologist can be the best option especially when a musculoskeletal cause can be ruled out. I ended up wit ha seronegative condition, so my HLA-B27 test was negative too! Glad the Cosentyx works for you. I take Humira.
I’ve had various muscle issues. I can’t say what caused them. Years ago, I had 2 frozen shoulders at once. A rheumatologist gave me cortisone injections in each and prescribed PT, which helped with eventual healing. Very painful. I also had stubborn back spasm and weak, sore leg muscles years ago.
Recently, I suffered severe tennis elbow that caused pain in upper and lower arm. The pain was extending into my wrist and hand. I saw orthopedic doctor who prescribed me to wear an arm brace for 3 weeks constantly. Now, for 3 weeks wear it while active. It’s slowly improving. It was surprising how painful it was. I got it in November of 2023! I took ibuprofen in small doses, but it did help.
Emo, I am somewhat belatedly reading your message to Jim, and am grateful for your mention of seronegative spondyloarthropathy. I had never heard of it, and have been chasing solutions to muscle/tendon pain in glutes, hamstrings, adductors, psoas and pelvis for years. I have 3 diagnosed autoimmune illnesses (celiac sprue, ulcerative colitis, and lupus), and have seen numerous physicians about the pain, but none -- including my rheumatologist -- has ever put the two factors together. So I can't help but be angry that none (3 orthopedists as well as my rheumatologist) has ever had a clue about this possibility. Thanks for the tip-off; at least now I'll have something specific to ask the doc about!
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1 ReactionI'm so sorry for what you're going through. I have never heard of joints and tendons being affected this way. I recently read an article on the suspected causes of Long Covid, and one theory is that some virus "hides" and can reinfect after the initial phase of the illness is over.
I don't know if the virus attacks the tendons and ligaments - more likely this is an excessive immune response that would cause a lot of inflammation in the joints that could lead to the symptoms you describe.
I'm mostly speculating, but much more is known now about Long Covid and its causes. Seems a rheumatologist would be your best bet.
I sincerely hope you and others posting here find some relief. I have had one known case of Covid, but have gotten all vaccinations and boosters so mine was really mild. I don't understand why some people get hit much harder, or why some develop LC.
All the best to you. You have been helpful because I'll certainly stay on top of my vaccinations. Not even sure Covid is what's ailing you, but it sounds like it.
Get well! Joe
If you research Enthesitis and enthesopathy it can manifest in several rheumatologic disorders.
Areas affected can be spinal column, elbows and wrists, achilles and plantar fascia, elbows and knees,hips and shoulders. Any areas with mobile tendons associated with our joints. May not be seen a regular X-rays. Ultrasound and MRI are helpful in diagnosing the inflammatory change. Mine also included groin pain and adductor tendon tear.The tear resolved the pain.
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