arthritis shoulder

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Ray Warlock - 30 Dec 2004 15:45 GMT

Went to doctor a couple of months ago because of shoulder and muscle pain in
right arm, and hand goes to sleep when laying on right side.

So far he has told me I have high blood pressure and taking medication along
with lipitore for high cholesterol.

Sent to neurologist and he says I have mild case of carpal tunnel in wrist,
do nothing right now. Asked about shoulder and told that is arthritis and
nothing can be done about it.

Shoulder and muscle still hurts like crazy off and on most of the time. Go
back to see doctor in a couple of weeks after lab tests to see if Lipitor
affecting liver, etc.

Any suggestions as to what I should tell Doctor?

Ray

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Janet R - 30 Dec 2004 16:45 GMT

Hi Ray,

I have shoulder arthritis...especially in my AC joints (where the
collarbone meets the shoulder?). I receive cortisone injections in
both joints every 2 months for now. I am getting surgery when the
weather warms up...I cannot stand the cold and do not want to travel
to PT everyday in the cold after surgery. Probably spring break is
when I will have the work done.

The shoulder pain drives me mad....I cant sleep sometimes, but the
injections really help my tolerate the pain. I see a Rheumatologist
for all my arthritis, but I am seeing a Orthopedic Surgeon
specifically about my shoulders.

I have found that ice packs help more than heat (but it's vice versa
for other folks)....I sleep on good pillows that do not let my
shoulder droop. I have an L-shaped pillow that works great! Do not
carry backpacks or anything with a strap over your shoulders!

It does sound like you need to get through to your doctors that you
are in pain and it's affecting your functionality. If they wont help
you or don't listen....find a new doc pronto!

Janet R

| Went to doctor a couple of months ago because of shoulder and muscle pain in
| right arm, and hand goes to sleep when laying on right side.
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
|
| Ray

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Ray Warlock - 30 Dec 2004 18:36 GMT

Thanks Janet for reply. Will ask about referral to Rheumatologist when see
my regular doctor.

Where did you get the pillow?

Ray

> Hi Ray,
>
[quoted text clipped - 44 lines]
> |
> | Ray

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Janet R - 30 Dec 2004 18:51 GMT

We have a store in Houston called SteinMart. That is where I
purchased mine, but I have seen them in other department stores. I
would try Bed, Bath, and Beyond or Linens and Things too!

Janet R

| Thanks Janet for reply. Will ask about referral to Rheumatologist when see
| my regular doctor.
[quoted text clipped - 51 lines]
| > |
| > | Ray

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d'huit - 30 Dec 2004 21:47 GMT

> Went to doctor a couple of months ago because of shoulder and muscle pain
> in right arm, and hand goes to sleep when laying on right side.
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>
> Ray

don't let your doctor or any doctor tell you nothing can be done about
arthritis, ray. that's very "old school thinking" and very uninformed or
lazy.

do get a referral from your regular doctor to see a rheumatologist (rd),
since you do have a diagnosis of arthritis already. (what kind of arthritis
are you dealing with, ray? if you don't know, ask. it makes a difference
in how it is treated and there are over 160 types of arthritis.) has that
shoulder been xrayed, yet? if not, you might want to ask to have it xrayed.
keep a copy of the radiologist report and your neurologist's report for your
rd.

your rd can give you a course of action to help you with that arthritic
shoulder pain. might even suggest some physical therapy for it, among other
things.

carpal tunnel is also a form of arthritis, btw. did your neurologist
reccommend a wrist brace for your ct? if not, why not? getting one and
wearing it at night, while you sleep, will help a lot with mild ct. it
might even stave off surgery down the road.

good luck, guy.
kate

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Janet R - 31 Dec 2004 02:24 GMT

Yes....I agree with the about the possible need for a brace. I sleep
with braces on both hands due to Inflammatory Erosive Osteoarthritis
in my hands. It helps me make it through the day with so much pain
and stiffness if I keep them still (braced) at night.

There are alot of therapies for arthritis....sometimes it just takes
time.

Janet R

"d'huit" <threecedars1@comcast.2net> wrote in message
<snipped>

| carpal tunnel is also a form of arthritis, btw. did your neurologist
| reccommend a wrist brace for your ct? if not, why not? getting one and
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
| good luck, guy.
| kate

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Janet R - 31 Dec 2004 02:31 GMT

Crimeny .... the typos! I meant "without so much pain"

Janet R

| Yes....I agree with the about the possible need for a brace. I sleep
| with braces on both hands due to Inflammatory Erosive Osteoarthritis
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
|| good luck, guy.
|| kate

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Butch - 31 Dec 2004 01:18 GMT

Make sure that doctor you see is an Orthopaedist. Orthopods do better
on bones than heart docs and Neuros.

Butch

> Went to doctor a couple of months ago because of shoulder and muscle pain in
> right arm, and hand goes to sleep when laying on right side.
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>
> Ray

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Nann Bell - 31 Dec 2004 13:59 GMT

> Make sure that doctor you see is an Orthopaedist. Orthopods do better
> on bones than heart docs and Neuros.

that's true for surgery or for some conditions that result from damage to the
bones or joints. However, if you have ongoing, chronic arthritis, you need
to see a rheumatologist. They know far more than (most) other docs about
holding the arthritis at bay so you don't need an orthopod as much.

Many folks here who have long-standing, inadequately surpressed arthritis end
up with both rheumatologists and orthopods treating them, but the goal is to
not need the orthopod!

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Nann
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firechief - 31 Dec 2004 19:23 GMT

>> Make sure that doctor you see is an Orthopaedist. Orthopods
>> do better on bones than heart docs and Neuros.

> that's true for surgery or for some conditions that result from damage
> to the bones or joints. However, if you have ongoing, chronic arthritis,
> you need to see a rheumatologist. They know far more than (most)
> other docs about holding the arthritis at bay so you don't need an
> orthopod as much.

I wish I had heard the word "rheumatologist" long before spending
25 years with a "bone doctor." Only after I moved to the country and
a local GP referded me did I learn about rheumatology and the type
of doctors who treat arthritis.

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