On the 14th January I had a total knee replacement - 12 weeks ago tomorrow. For the last 12 weeks I have been virtually free from RA pain and inflammation and just had to concentrate on getting my knee back to normal. At the beginning of this week I started to feel very tired and then had a few niggles. Today I have woken up and feel like I have been run over by a jugonaut. Yes it is back. It is quite common to go into remission following a major operation. I wish it had lasted longer.

To add insult to injury the postman has just delivered a copy of a letter from my Rheumy team to my GP following my appointment to see them on 3rd March. The letter tells my GP how well I am doing and have little sign of active RA. How quickly things change.

We have a new Consultant in Shropshire starting in June so I have been put onto his books and have an appointment to see him. It will be interesting to see what he says. I know my RA is not under control and has caused a lot of damage. I need to have my other knee done at some point. I have failed on Humira and Enbrel.
I wonder where I can go from here.

I am also supposed to be going back to work on the 18th April following the knee replacement so hope I can get this pain under control. I may ask for a steroid injection if things do not improve to keep me going until June. I know one thing for sure, life is never boring with RA.

Jackie
x

Hello

So sorry to hear that you have been experiencing pains etc. again. RA is such
an unknown quantity isn't.

Hope is disappears as soon as it came

Rose

Hi Jackie

I am following with interest your progress on the knee replacement as that is a direction I am heading in. Sorry to hear that the RA has raised its ugly head but unfortunately it has a habit of appearing where it isn't wanted, when it isn't wanted. If it would just learn to keep a low profile none of us would mind too much!

Like you my RA is not well controlled at the moment and some point soon (post op) treatments will have to change. I'm on my second anti-tnf, failed Infliximab after 12 months and have been on Enbrel for about 7 years. I had to stop methotrexate due to neutropenia last year and the Enbrel without its combo isn't too happy! The next treatment for us both would probably be Rituximab, unless your health authority can push for Cimzia.

Hope you are able to get something to settle things down quickly ... June seems a while away yet and the prospect of returning to work must be quite daunting for you.

I wish you well,

Lyn x

Thank you all for your replies. I am dosed up to the eyeballs with Tramadol so feeling a little better today. If only I could sit out in the sun but Methotrexate has made me super sensitive to the sun. I even burn sitting at the dining room table next to the patio window through the glass. I have to plaster myself with Factor 50 each day now that the weather is improving. Oh the joy of RA.

Lyn - As for the knee I think I am on the right road to recovery. Maybe I am impatient but I presumed I would be running around at week 12 and especially up and down the stairs. I must have very lazy muscles as they are still weak even though I am doing my exercises three times a day and on the exercise bike. I shall also let you know what they say about my medication when I see the new consultant in June. Although I hate taking these toxic medications, I have to continue working and cannot retire for another 17 years (not that I am counting ) so I need to be kept going. Our RA service in Telford has moved out of the local hospital and now has its own purpose built premises and seem a lot more organised. I am hoping that when I go in June they will be more forthcoming with ideas about medication than they were when I was first diagnosed.

We are going to York for a day out next Saturday but I think it is going to have to be a wheelchair jobbie. I do not think I could walk very far and I am scared of damaging my knee. It is only £7.50 to hire one for the weekend. The family seem up to the challenge of pushing me but I think they have forgotten about the cobbles. Another exciting time ahead of me.

Jackie
xx