new to the group

[chris]

Just found this site and thought I would give it a try.  I will give my apologies if I am posting this to the wrong page.  Still trying to figure it all out. I was diagnosed w/ Sjogren's almost three years ago after being treated for severe allergies for several years.  (my eyes looked like I had been swimming in a chlorinated pool for hours)  It was my dermatologist that suspected Lupus due to a rash on my nose and shoulders.  After testing they confirmed Sjogren's, but are still suspicious of Lupus.  RH doctor now suspects Fibromyalgia as well.  I also have insulin dependent diabetes and hypothyroid.  Dealing w/ lots of pain issues as well as this wonderful brain fog.  Seems to be getting much worse the past several months and I just thought I was going crazy until I read some of the other posts.  I would like to ask if anyone has issues w/ pain deep behind their shoulder blades.  I thought I had pulled a muscle, but it is not getting any better.  Some days are better than others.  Doctor has done blood work and I go back in a week or two for retesting.  My white blood count was high.  Also wondering if anyone uses acupuncture for pain issues.  (I am on Plaqunil 200mg once a day.  I had severe vertigo taking it twice)  I know I have much more to post as well as other questions but don't want to overtake the board since I am new to the group.  Thanks for listening!

[Carebear]

Hi Chris,

Welcome.  I hope you'll find the members of this board as helpful and supportive as I have.   

You ask about pain deep in the shoulder blade.  I have lived with that for more than a few years now.  But because it was near the bottom of my list of health issues, I have only recently addressed it.  I've had two months of physiotherapy and I can tell you that for the first time in ages, I am pain-free (in my upper back) and my flexibility has improved significantly.

So maybe give that a try.  I will warn you, that initially it stirred up a real hornet's nest in the muscles of my back.  But I didn't give up.   

[Cheryl]

Chris,
You are posting at exactly the right site!  One of the moderators may move your post to the Welcome/Social board, though, so that everyone will get to know you.   You are welcome to ask as many questions as you like.  I'm sorry to see that you are dealing with a lot of issues.

Yes, I have the shoulder blade pain, too.   I blame it on fibromyalgia.  As Carebear suggested, a good PT can massage and give you exercises/stretches to help.   In my experience, though, the relief is temporary.   

I hope you find the site helpful.
Cheryl

[Joe S.]

Chris, Welcome to the forum. From your post it sounds like you were run over by the Big AI truck.

Some of us have posted what we are taking in our signatures which is a good place for you to start looking for things to help you manage your conditions. I have problems with a lot of the medications so I use alternative therapies.

I prefer Reflexology to acupressure. With acupressure the challenge is more or less yin, more or less yang, or less stimulation of the curious organs. If you do not do it correctly you unbalance the organs. Most acupuncturist that I have come across do not understand the basics of it. With reflexology you are just triggering endorphin release.

Sorry for my digression.

[bloodless]

Hi Chris!

Welcome! I hope your tests for the other diseases come out negative. You're not alone in the myriad of AI. I've been diagnosed with fibromyalga, sjogrens and lupus. I've also got hypothyroidism. You'll find many of us have overlapping diseases and syndromes as you peruse the site.

I've had the small muscle by the shoulder blade drive me nuts, but not the actual shoulder blade. I get aches and pains everywhere. I'm way past massage therapy. I'm an anti-inflammatory and pain killer gal. Try the drug free route first. You want to get away with that as long as you can.

[Scottietottie]

Hi Chris 

Welcome to Sjogren's world. Post what you want - when you want - and ask any questions you want too!

Take care - Scottie 

[hootyhu1]

Hi Chris,
I have been DX with SjS recently, I do have pain under my shoulder blades, I am not sure if it is SjS related or not. (I am pretty busty) I have general aches ect. and Plaquenil has helped me a lot. I have gotten a lot of answers here on this site than I have from Doc's.....

oh, and Welcome!!!!-hootyhu

[chris]

Thanks for all the post guys.  Doctor ordered a chest xray b/c she suspected a spine issue and sure enough I have spurring on the thoratic spine which is causing the deep shoulder pain.  Doctor wrote a RX for a muscle relaxer.  I sleep great, but pain is still there when I get up.  Still waiting on the results from a second blood lab to see if my white  blood count has come down.  Trying the alternative means for pain seems more appealing at this point.   It is a shame that insurance does not cover some of these things.     
Here's another question.....anyone out there, that has hypothyroid, that also has issues w/ prescription meds screwing up their thyroid?  I am running into that a lot. 

[season]

Hi chris. I don't have an answer for about the thyroid and use of meds but welcome to the board.