Why do I have such severe pain in my upper arms between my shoulders and my elbows?

I have exactly the same problem as you Christy and am in agony in the morning and during the night with severe pain in my upper arms. It slowly subsides after I take my usual dihydrocodine and 2paracetamols(every 4 hours)I have been diagnosed with inflammatory arthritis and have already spoken to my doc about this flare up with upper arms and he said to take 2 dihydrocodine at night but it has made no difference. Any advice anyone??

I just started on methotrexate 5 weeks ago. I'm up to 7 tablets (17.5mg) once a week. Today I started having severe pain in my arms from the elbows to the shoulders. It's nearly unbearable. Yes, it's like you can't hardly move your arm. And it's the whole arm, like it's radiating throughout, not just muscle or bone or nerves. It's like someone took a baseball bat and beat the heck out of my arms.

I've been diagnosed with inflammatory arthritis and fibromyalgia (myofascial syndrome?)

And you know the usual kinds of pain you have and this is NOT like anything I've experienced before.

April

I too had the upper arm pain and was eventually diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis. I began my treatment with anti inflammatory drugs and Methotrexate and progressed to Humira. Today, I am in remission and have been for several years. The best advice I can give anyone is to start making changes in your lifestyle. Begin with exercise, then make changes in your diet. Are you eating or drinking things that you know are toxic and have no nutritional value? I exercise M-F for 1hour each day. I no longer drink diet soda, I am very careful in how much processed foods I eat and if I start feeling bad I go all fruits and veggies and proteins until I feel better. I take a multi vitamin daily and always get 7 to 8 hours sleep. I am a true believer in listening to body. When you have inflammation that causes pain, you have to figure out what is causing it, drugs should only be temporary to get you through figuring it out. It takes time but is well worth it!

I have experienced bilateral upper arm pain for 3-4 months now, alongside my diagnosed Rheumatoid Arthritis diagnosed 6-7 years ago. I am on Humira (not the "wonder" drug I had been waiting for after having been on it for over a year .... .?? Previously just on methotrexate injections (which made me feel totally sick AND in pain for 6-7 days a week) then on Methotrexate with Humira (didn't feel any changes at all other than still feeling sick after methotrexate !) now just on Humira but disappointed that I have these "new" upper arm pains ever since!?! Especially bad during evening and night and first thing in the morning, although strangely keep waking up with my arms up either side of my head, as that seems to be the only way I can get to sleep, as lying on either arm is painful enough to wake me up after a few minutes. Do I have fibromyalgia on top of the rheumatoid??? Seeing my rheumatoid nurse next week but afraid they might say it is because I have stopped the methotrexate (little do they know I stopped it LONG before I was "officially" released from having to take it and I felt no difference between then (stopped it over a year ago) until about 3 months ago when the upper arm pains kicked in. I thought they would just go away gradually, but feel like I have had a "dead arm" both sides for months now. Also experiencing an almost "freeze" feeling to my right shoulder when I try to pick up anything slightly heavy (I.e. the iron) and literally have to ease my shoulder socket back into place. Any feedback would be appreciated. Degenerating RA? Fibromyalgia? ??? Just need to know I'm not the only one suffering these weird "extras" to my already flipping awful RA symptoms in my hands, feet and knees. I have just "celebrated" my 46th birthday and feel about 95 in my body! Xxx