Hi everyone,
My knee has been painful on and off for a few weeks, but from Friday it has become very swollen, but not red. It's mainly swollen on the inside, and walking is now becoming impossible.
I have an appointment with my rheumy nurse next Tuesday, and am taking my usual pain pills (tramadol, pregabalin and paracetemol) and they help slightly for a while. I also had an mri scan two weeks ago, on the knee, so am hoping they have the results of that.
Any chance it could need aspirating d you think?

Hi Barbara - sorry to hear about your knee. I had an mri scan and xrays on my knee - the scan shows more of the soft tissue whereas the xray only shows the bones. I wouldn't have thought the rheumy nurse can give you the results, as it's usually down to the consultant to provide you with an interpretation and treatment options - when is your followup with him/her? The mri scan can show if there is inflammation in the tissues around the joint which might suggest having a steroid jab, or it could show that there's a buildup of fluid which could be drained off or it could show other issues like damaged cartilage - it all depends!!

The meds you mention don't include any dmards that work on the RA itself. Painkillers will probably not be enough to control the inflammation, are you on methotrexate or hydroxychloroquin or one of the other biologics?

Best wishes - Sylvia xx

Hope you get something done when you go, so it won't spoil Christmas.

I hope the results of your scan are there when you go. When I had my x ray done before starting anti tnf's it took the x ray department took four weeks to do the report. If I was you I'd ring up your nurse to see if they are back and if they aren't she might be able to get them done before you see her.

Paula x

Hi barbara

Sorry to hear about your poorly knee. If there is inflammation on your knee a steroid injection will help and also an ice pack on the knee. If the pain is due to damage to the knee, a steroid injection will be a waste of time. The MRI results should give you a clearer picture. Hope the results come through quickly.

Best wishes
Rebecca

Hi everyone
Thank you for replying. I've given the ice pack a go, seemed to make it worse. Maybe I'll try heat instead, what do you think?
It's just as bad, if not worse to be honest. I'm used too pain, but this is worse than I've had before. I am doing a reasonable amount of walking, taking a 4 year old to nursery every day, its not the nearest school to me, so its a little further away.
I was fine at first, I assumed the Humira was working, but after a month or so I realised that things were the same.
On the plus side I have lost 1st 9lbs with the extra walking and sensible eating
I just hope this pain can be sorted, I can't work like this, it's making me tearful, and sometimes the pain makes me nauseous too
Getting out of a chair or my bed is agony, I lose balance easily and this makes it all the worse as I somehow pitch forward and almost fall as the pain is so bad

I do appreciate you all taking the time to help me. I'll let you know how I get on Tuesday