Question
Hi,
I'm a 17 year old female who was very into swimming and surf life saving. I have lived with Rheumatoid Arthritis since the age of 4 and i think i cope well.
At the moment I'm meant to be in remission and my rheumatologist can not feel any active arthritis in any of my joints.

But i have this stabbing pain in my shoulders. i first felt it about a year and a half ago. it was bearable at first but just got worse and worse until it stopped me from doing any activity at all. i have been to see my GP, a physiotherapist, my rheumatologist, a few people in different kinds of natural medicine and a different rheumatologist. i have had x-rays and ultrasounds and blood tests. nothing abnormal appeared, only a slight squareness of my shoulders, but all the doctors don't think it has anything to do with the pain. they say it wouldn't cause as much pain as i am feeling.

they have also trailed me on prenisone (sorry about the spelling, it was a strong steroid) and now they want me to have quatazone injection into one of my shoulders while doing an ultra sound.

i was wondering if you though this could have anything to do with my arthritis? or over use?  

Answer
Emma,

I am sorry to hear about the pain you are in. It is possible that this has to do with your arthritis. JRA and RA can effect the soft tissue around the joint causing inflammation that will not show up on X-rays.

If this were the case I am surprised the prednisone did not make a big difference.

If it is over use the taking a break from exercise should have cleared up the problem.

I hope the cortisone injections help.

Also have the looked at your neck? A problem with the disk between the sixth and seventy cervical vertebrae can cause pain in your shoulders. Usually there will be pain that travels down you arm and numbness in your hands when this happens but not always.

Rusty