Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Arthritis in the shoulder

I have had AS now for around 8 years.

I seem to have gone much worse over the last year and recently I have noticed that I have pain in my shoulder and what appears to be reduced mobility.

I go to the gym and my husband thinks it could be gym related, but to be honest I think it is the AS.

Does anyone else have limited shoulder movement and pain??

Yes Michelle, AS can cause problems with shoulders. Many of us here have had major shoulder problems and surgeries. Your hubby is right in one respect in that some of the things you could be doing at the gym can make the exsisting problem worse. Have you talked to your doc about this? It is important that you know what you should and shouldn't do at the gym with AS. Please make sure you have someone who knows AS and the proper exercises for your particular situation helping you. Most gyms have trainers but not many have anyone trained in particulars with degenerative deseases. It really is best to start with a trained PT to help you with the proper training program.
Good Luck
Cindy

i do i do
limited mobility in R shoulder. cant raise arm above shoulder level and its become weaker than other arm. elbow stiff too. keep moving that shoulder. learn some stretches to keep the mobility u have and gain back what u have lost. in the meantime, im trying to take my own advice

Hi Michelle, I had ongoing right shoulder problems, pain especially at night and limited ROM for a few years and last year I had surgery and it was quite arthritic they did much more work on it then originally intended, so I do believe it had a lot to do with the AS.

It was after the shoulder surgery that I was diagnosed with AS for ongoing back & hip problems. The shoulder surgery has helped tremendously and I'm also on simponi and I think it all helps with the inflammation.

I'm not saying you need surgery but please have it checked out and seeing a PT would help, they can determine quite a bit and set you up with exercises, etc.

I'm not sure I have AS (sure feels like it but no diagnosis just yet) but have had major problems with my right shoulder freezing up. Last time it got bad I had a really good physiotherapist - they did incredibly gentle mobilisations on it - heat first, then extremely gentle pulling and moving. It totally freed it up in just a few sessions. At the same time they got me to do a full range of stretches on that shoulder. From barely being able to lift the arm, I got so I could put it right up straight. Since then I do have some problems with it feeling like it is stiffening up again, but I keep on doing the stretches and it hasn't got anywhere near as bad. I also use heat or ice (or alternating) if I think it is starting to play up again. The exercises I do are all ones that are recommended for people with AS.

Hi Michelle
I have shoulder problems as well. I had surgery on my left and now my right is acting up. I was told that the shoulder will have to be replaced however the surgery was to to some repairs to hold off the replacement.
I agree with the others you should get it checked.

i tore one of my rotator cuff muscles. the root cause, the inflammatory arthritis, but the immediate cause was pulling up my bed covers, then swimming. i had to go to PT for it, which did heal it.

so sounds like both you and your husband could be right. the AS the underlying cause that is allowing what you are doing at the gym to aggravate it. could be a rotator cuff thing, that's pretty common. could be something else.

my advice: talk to your doctor. maybe some PT. maybe an orthopedist.