Hey gang......my PsA pain is more from the tendons, I'm guessing,,,,,,, and I have been doing really very well for the last couple of months....should have known. Anyway, my right shoulder is giving me FITS and the question is....how do you tell or is it possible to tell, if its PsA or bursitis or what? I can barely lift my arm :( I've had pain in this shoulder before but I remember it being different somehow.....
Thanks again for your help!
I don't have tendonitis or bursitis in my shoulder. Lefty shoulder has been replaced, so the pain I feel in it is radiculopathy from my cervical spine involvement. The rotator cuff in right shoulder was "massively torn", so that just aches if I'm banging out a brief--or like this weekend, going through my closet getting rid of clothes and replacing winter stuff with spring/summer.
I do, however, have bursitis in my hip. The pain is different from the enthesitis in my feet--bursitis (for me) is like a very deep, achy bruise with a very tender spot if I happen to roll over on my right hip. The enthesitis part is more a naggy, sort of burn-y pain than an ache, albeit with some tender spots.
Thanks.....I'm in too much pain to tell whats what at this point....guess time will tell.
sixcatlawyer said:
I don't have tendonitis or bursitis in my shoulder. Lefty shoulder has been replaced, so the pain I feel in it is radiculopathy from my cervical spine involvement. The rotator cuff in right shoulder was "massively torn", so that just aches if I'm banging out a brief--or like this weekend, going through my closet getting rid of clothes and replacing winter stuff with spring/summer.
I do, however, have bursitis in my hip. The pain is different from the enthesitis in my feet--bursitis (for me) is like a very deep, achy bruise with a very tender spot if I happen to roll over on my right hip. The enthesitis part is more a naggy, sort of burn-y pain than an ache, albeit with some tender spots.
Sunshine, I'm sorry you're in so much pain. When I had sub-acromial bursitis and impingement in my shoulder it was the worst, most unrelenting pain I've ever experienced, even breathing made it hurt .... so I get what you're going through. My initial diagnosis was made based on the location of the pain and worst tenderness right at the top of the outside of my arm/shoulder junction and my inability to raise my arm. It was later confirmed by ultrasound.
Icing helped a little along with frequent doses of pain relief (ibuprofen and paracetamol/tylenol) but it was only an ultrasound guided steroid injection that kicked it in to touch. It's still my weak spot and any sort of repetitive movement will cause it to flare. Right shoulder (I'm right handed, of course) is the worst but the left joins in from time to time.
I was able to get the referral for the steroid injection quicker through my chiropractor than my GP or rheumy. Just a thought.
Thanks Jules......your description feels very familiar! I'm a bit better today....will give it another day or two and then go in if not better....thanks again! :)
I too have more tendon issues than anything else. Chronic tendonitis in my elbows and shoulders. What I wanted to to add is that a year and a half ago I was diagnosed with bursitis of my hip. I had pain with walking, going up stairs and could not lay on my side or sit on a hard surface without pain. I had several steroid injections and physical therapy, went to 4 different doctors seeking relief because the pain just kept getting worse. Eventually I was walking with a serious limp. Finally got a hip surgeon to check an MRI and I had a torn abductor tendon. Last March I had it surgically repaired, pain gone and limp gone! This past December the same pain started on the opposite hip, MRI confirmed a tear in the abductor tendon on that hip so this March I had it surgically repaired. I am still in the recovery phase, but already the pain I had pre-op is gone and just soreness now at the incision. My surgeon said it is not common but if I had not had them repaired would have always had a limp and would have needed an assistive device to walk. I'm only 51 and active so that did not fit my life!
sixcatlawyer said:
I don't have tendonitis or bursitis in my shoulder. Lefty shoulder has been replaced, so the pain I feel in it is radiculopathy from my cervical spine involvement. The rotator cuff in right shoulder was "massively torn", so that just aches if I'm banging out a brief--or like this weekend, going through my closet getting rid of clothes and replacing winter stuff with spring/summer.
I do, however, have bursitis in my hip. The pain is different from the enthesitis in my feet--bursitis (for me) is like a very deep, achy bruise with a very tender spot if I happen to roll over on my right hip. The enthesitis part is more a naggy, sort of burn-y pain than an ache, albeit with some tender spots.
Thanks for all the replies! So....is the tendonitis and tearing of the tendons related to the PsA or is it a separate issue??
And Ansella, how in the world did you tear your abductor tendons?? Do you run or do Yoga??
I am not an athlete. It wasn't an injury. The orthopedic surgeon said it was degenerative but I'm not old enough for that. I finally asked my rheumatologist about enthesitis and he said that could be what contributed to it. I feel like it is related to the PsA, there really isn't any other explanation.
sunshine said:
Thanks for all the replies! So....is the tendonitis and tearing of the tendons related to the PsA or is it a separate issue??
And Ansella, how in the world did you tear your abductor tendons?? Do you run or do Yoga??
Wow.....good to know. Sometimes I think PsA is still a mystery to a lot of Rheumy's!
I have it all according to my PCP and Rheumy. The bursitis was diagnosed before PsA. The enthesitis, after. Bursitis, to me, is a bruised feeling. My PCP actually pushed into the area on top of my shoulder with her thumb and it felt like she was pushing into a bruise. Same with the hips. MRI's confirmed the bursitis in both shoulders and hips. I don't remember if I could raise my arms or not. Enthesitis is a kind of tightness with a swollen ball of tenderness at the insertion point. Kind of hard to describe. I think they all tend to aggravate each other.
Thanks Tirezza for the great descriptions! :)