Kickas.org Forums Rheumatoid Arthritis General Discussion #1 RA Web Support Group Tendon calcification

Another possibility is a frozen shoulder. They are common after shoulder surgeries, and people with AS seem to get them anyway.

But one thing I MUST stress to you:

A frozen shoulder feels A LOT like a torn rotator cuff. But the treatment for the two are complete opposite. Treat a frozen shoulder like a torn cuff and it will freeze up more. Treat a torn cuff like a frozen shoulder and you will surely damage yourself. Badly.

Just because you are predisposed to a frozen shoulder, does NOT mean that is what you have. Your only option in my opinion is to have your doctor take a look with ultrasound, x-ray, MRI, whatever he or she feels relevant. Get a proper diagnosis so that you can get on the correct path to getting that shoulder sorted.

I realize I should have clarified in my last post - any tendon calcification I had appears to have reversed itself now and my shoulders are much improved. I guess it just needed time at the lower inflammatory levels.

Ah sorry, I should have made a quote reply post. I was reffering to Callum's recent post. I will go back and edit in the quote.

Wendy,
Is this a factor separating AS and RA = that being occasional reversing of calcification? Are you talking about tendon or bone being calcified- sorry if this is obtuse.

Hi Lon,

When then calcification showed up on the x-rays, my doc said he was hopeful that, over time, it might reverse. he believed it was caused by many months of excessively high levels of inflammation so that, even though my CRP had dropped to nearly normal, I still had shoulder pain. His hope was that, if I could keep my inflammation low for an extended period, there was a chance that the tendons would gradually recover. I haven't had my shoulders re-x-rayed but the reduction in pain makes my doctor believe that the calcification has at least partially reversed.

Hey Wendy,

Very glad to hear that your shoulders have improved - they are fairly useful joints!

I think this is true of AS as well, that a certain degree of calcification can reverse if the inflammation is brought down and back under control for a long spell... there is some ability for tendons and ligaments to heal (but not bone fusion unfortunately), if it isn't past the point of no return. An increase in range of motion (ROM) is a good tell tale that things have really improved.

Really positive to hear that your meds seem to have steadied the course and quieted things for you. It sounds like you are tolerating them well too, thankfully!

Hugs!
mig

Been reading about reverse calcification, and it seems vitamin K2 has a bit to do with this. Worth a deeper look I think!

Hi Mig,

I tolerate the mtx much better since I switched to injecting it instead of taking it orally. I still have one slightly nauseous day each week but otherwise it's pretty good.

Wendy,
Are you on a diet for this?

I wonder if the MS in the brain is part of why I had such a headache taking MXT? I sure felt better, cept for the head.