Arthroscopy of the Knee and Methotrexate

marielys
marielys Member Posts: 17
edited 12. Jul 2010, 03:19 in Living with Arthritis archive
Hello All :-)

After almost two years of knee pain and being told over and over again that it was my RA, I have finally got a diagnostic of my left knee, thanks to a MRI scan, the meniscus is torn hence the pain, swelling and almost impossible to use the stairs.
My orthopedic surgeon is going to perform an arthroscopy on Friday the 16th. Although I am happy to solve this problem I am worried about taking my 16mg of Methotrexate tomorrow.
I cant ask my rheumy nor my GP because they are both on vacation and the Orthopedic surgeon didnt want to take the responsibility. Does anybody know if i can take methotrexate 5 days before this procedure ?

Thank you once more for your advice:-)
Marielys

Comments

  • barbara12
    barbara12 Member Posts: 21,281
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi
    Sorry I cant advice you, I just want to say good luck with the op, my OH had this done , and he wished they had done it sooner.
    He cant believe the improvement.
    Take care and let us know how you get on.
    Barbara x
    Love
    Barbara
  • marielys
    marielys Member Posts: 17
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    For your good wishes :-) Take care and enjoy your Sunday!
  • dorcas
    dorcas Member Posts: 3,516
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi marley! and good luck fr the 16th!

    I haven't had this procedure but have had two lots of hand surgery and did not have to stop taking the Mtx before or after.....but always under docs instruction...

    ...you really need to ask a doc about this as each procedure is different and what is right for one might not be ok for someone else!!!!

    taking Mtx pre op will also depend on what your blood results are like as certain raised readings would influence whether you take the Mtx before the op.....so please phone your surgery tomorrow and ask to speak to one of the docs in the practice...someone there surely can give you advice on this.!

    Iris xxx
  • elnafinn
    elnafinn Member Posts: 7,412
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Marielys

    That is a very good question to want answered before the arthroscopy. Is there another gp at the surgery you could ask as yours is on holiday along with your rheumy? Or do you have a rheumi nurse that you could ask?

    I wish you well with the arthro and hope that it works well for you.

    Luv
    Elna x
    The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.

    If you can lay down at night knowing in your heart that you made someone's day just a little bit better, you know you had a good day.
  • marielys
    marielys Member Posts: 17
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thank you for your sound advice, Iris. I do agree about the importance of the blood results. The problem is that those results will only be available on Tuesday and I usually take my Mtx on Sundays.

    I will see the anesthesist doc late on tuesday afternoon in order to discuss the drugs I am on i guess.

    Elna, I am living in Brussels now and communication is not like in the UK :roll: docteurs here tend to work in silos. You cant imagine the problems this kind of attitude had on my diagnosis. The rheumy said it cant be OA since I have RA and the orthopedic doc says yes it can and the patient has no idea who is right or who is wrong! I waited so long for this result when they could have talked to each other and come to the right diagnosis. I would have avoided all those drugs and worse then that .. my knee got worse. I dont even mention the pain and the frustation I am been suffering from :( sometimes I think i live in another planet.
    Anyway I shall survive! I am basically strong in my mind even if my body isnt 100% rsrsrsrsrsrs

    Thank you so much for your good wishes and sound advice, I really but really wouldnt know what to do without you all :-)

    Love
    Marielys xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • skezier
    skezier Member Posts: 11,333
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Marlielys,

    I think as Iris said mtx can affect so much you must ask then abut it. Its a fair question it really is. I hope it goes really well for you and please pop back and let us know? If nothing else it will give them a very clear picture of what is going on in there. Nice to see you again and fingers crossed for the 16th. Cris x
  • marion1952
    marion1952 Member Posts: 963
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Marielys

    Just to say I have recently had hip surgery and I was told by the Orhtopaedic Surgeon that I should stay on my methotrexate .. in the event I had rasied liver enzymes after the operation, so had to delay taking my next dose of methotrexate for several days until the liver results settled down, but I didn't suffer any ill effects from delaying that one dose ....

    Hope everything goes OK for you.

    Marion
  • annie_mial
    annie_mial Member Posts: 5,614
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Several of us have had to miss the odd dose for one reason or another, I had to a few weeks ago because I had mouth ulcers badly. Missing the dose made absolutely no difference to me (I was worried, too).

    There is such a difference in the way the doctors deal with methotrexate and the various other situations which arise......during the winter months I was told to continue taking it even though I was on 'heavy duty' antibiotics...........others are instructed to stop taking it the minute they start the antib's.

    I really don't think there is much to worry about one way or the other.

    Annie
  • marielys
    marielys Member Posts: 17
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Marion and Annie thanks for sharing your experiences with Mtx. They confirmed my yesterday's decision not to take my weekly Sunday dose!

    Love you all guys +++++++

    Marielys