Yes, RA can absolutely cause muscle pain, and it's more common than many people realize. While joint pain tends to get most of the attention, muscle spasms, cramps, twitches, and weakness are also very real parts of living with RA.
As one myRAteam member put it: "With RA, you expect joint pain, but what bothers me even Show Full Answer
Yes, RA can absolutely cause muscle pain, and it's more common than many people realize. While joint pain tends to get most of the attention, muscle spasms, cramps, twitches, and weakness are also very real parts of living with RA.
As one myRAteam member put it: "With RA, you expect joint pain, but what bothers me even more are the muscle spasms." There are a few reasons why RA can lead to muscle pain:
- Muscle weakness – People with RA may have significantly less muscle strength due to inflammation and reduced physical activity, which can lead to spasms and cramps
- Medication side effects – Some RA medications can cause electrolyte imbalances, which may trigger muscle twitching or cramping
- Nerve involvement – RA can affect the peripheral nervous system, which may cause muscle weakness or twitching The good news is there are ways to manage muscle symptoms. Options can include:
- Muscle relaxants – Often most effective when taken at night to avoid daytime drowsiness
- Physical therapy – Helps strengthen muscles and improve range of motion
- Heat therapy – Can ease muscle spasms and improve blood flow
It's always worth bringing muscle pain up with your rheumatologist so they can help figure out the cause and adjust your treatment plan if needed.
August 20
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