Expert Q&A: Tendon and Ligament Pain with Inflammatory Arthritis

Question: I know inflammatory arthritis affects my joints, but my tendons and ligaments are sore, too. What’s going on?

Answer: It’s important to see your doctor to find out for sure, but there are at least a few possibilities. First of all, soreness of tendons and ligaments may be a part of your condition, because the inflammatory process that damages the joints in inflammatory arthritis can also affect the connective tissues (e.g., the tendons and ligaments) in and around the joints. Another possibility is that your pain is related to fibromyalgia, a condition of widespread muscle pain that is common in people with inflammatory arthritis. Although there is no inflammation with fibromyalgia and it does not affect the joints, it may be felt as pain in tissues around the joints.  Finally, your soreness may not be related to your arthritis at all. Major injury or minor repetitive injuries over time can cause inflammation of the tendons, ligaments and bursae.

David Spalding, MD

Rheumatologist

University of Alabama at Birmingham