Hello, I have had quite a lot of trouble with elbows in the past, swollen and inflamed, I had bursa on my right elbow, but thankfully that has dispersed again now. With better control of my R.A. so my elbows have improved too. I still cannot straighten my arms properly, and there is still swelling but they are much better. Hopefully with the increase in mtx, your inflamation will improve and with that your arms should straighten better. I'm just wondering if you have tried applying hot or cold packs, it can help. Hope you feel better soon.Zena x

I suffer with my elbows too. Luckily I can bend and straighten them if I move slowly, but by evening times I cant rest my arms as the pain goes from elbows down my arm to my wrists, hands and fingers. When I mentioned this to my Nurse specialist he said I might have tennis elbow. However, I am hoping that once my RA is better controlled this will be a symptom that improves - like Zena and Julia found.

Hope the scan provides some answers for you.
Tina

Mine started on the right side years ago and in the last 6/7 years the left one has gone wrong, I cannot straighten either.
Hot and cold treatments are key to relief - the gels are very sniffed at at the drs here, basically the rubbing in helps as much as the actual gel!
There are other things to try
I'd ask for hydro therapy
Also learning the full rotation exercises like walking your hand up a wall and doing them daily is a wise move (physio can teach this)
Joint conservation techniques are handy too.

Basically as the joint is going wrong you want it to go wrong in a useful position!
Having ultrasound guided steroid injections can help short term
You get some places that can do manipulation if under anaesthetic
Or there are operations where they take the bones and take some away so the joint moves more freely.

I've met a few people with elbow replacements but you dont hear of them as much as i used to, not sure why this is- or if the people I know who needed them have had them!

Hope it eases up soon

Love

Jenni