can't walk

salamander

Hi Gang, saw my rheumy last wed and he put my pred up to 7.5mg as was having a flare (am constantly in a flare but this one worse due to flu jab). My right knee was v painful then but has got substantially worse. I can't walk on it at the moment and pain keeping me awake at night. I emailed the rheumy nurse last night but she prob won't answer til Monday. It's not red but feels a little hot - I think? Doing ice packs when I remember and painkillers.

I think I need a depo injection or one in the knee or both (but my other joints seem to have responded better to increase in pred) but just wondered if anyone here can share their experience and give me some advice about what I should do.

btw I have sero-ve arthritis and have just started hydroxychloroquine.
thanks

dorcas

Hi Sal

I can well empathise with your knee pain. :roll:

I could barely walk a couple of weeks ago and had both my knees aspirated of excess fluid and then injected with steroids (40mg of kenalog in each)

After a few days I began to feel improvement. The left one is much much better and although the right one is still very painful (needs replacing) even that feels more comfortable as it's not as swollen.

Are your knees swollen too? Mine were so swollen with fluid I could not get my trouser leg over them. removing the excess fluid reduces the pressure.

I've got sero neg arther too (PA) but have never been put on oral steroids? curious how we all get different meds..

I hope the rheummy nurse gets back to you tomorrow. Meantime alternating the hot and cold compresses might help?

Iris xxx

salamander

Hi Iris, thanks very much. I don't about the hot and cold compression thing? How does that work? Am slightly worried about putting heat on it in case it is infected. It is quite swollen. I had fluid removed last year and injection into the joint. The stupid thing is I didn't show it to the rheumy on Wednesday. What an idiot! I told him it was bad and he upped my steroids. Suppose we both thought that would do it.

stlucia

Sending hugs and virtual chocolate. I'd persevere with the ice for your own comfort - numb it to within an inch of it's life that pesky knee! At least if it's numb you can't feel the pain as much!!!

xxx

dorcas

Hi Sal,

go with your own instincts and don't do anything you think might make it worse!

by the sounds of it... you definitely need to have that knee seen :roll: but don't be beating yourself up about not asking the rheummy to look at it last visit... he should have examined it anyway!

best to phone rheummy again tomorrow and say you need it looked at and are worried about having a septic joint; can be a serious thing if left untreated... so be insistent!
if you don't get an answer... go down and see your doc.

good luck Sal! rest that poor knee today if you can. Hope you have someone there who's looking after you?

(((hugs)))

Iris xxxx

frogmorton

Hi sal

I have been in this position too both knees ankles and hips and couldny move - but look on here for range of movemnet exercises and try tio do them if you can.

Ice in a teatowel was best for me.

Take some anti-inflams and painkillers as much as is safe - it will pass I am sure.

I have been at the point where the bed sheets hurt me so I totally get you my lovely.

I do hope it settles very soon

sorry for spelling mistakes

Love

Toni xx

salamander

thanks Lu, Toni & Iris, I will take all advice. It's one thing after another these days!
xx

frogmorton

I wish I could give you a hug Sal

It IS dreadful but keep up the smiling and you will make it.

Love

Toni xx

salamander

thanks Toni, we all go through it at times.
Lu, thanks for the chocs!

ironic

Hi Sally,

Sorry to hear that you are in so much pain. Fingers crossed you get an answer from the Rheumy tomorrow. Sorry I cannot add to what others have suggested just hope tonight is a better night for you.

Lv, Ix

salamander

Thanks I!
xx

julie47

Hi sal

Sorry you are having so much trouble with your knees and I hope your rheumy nurse rings you tomorrow with a solution. (or are you seeing her? cant remember :oops: ) anyway good luck

JuliePF x

barbara12

Hi Sally
I am so sorry you are suffering with the flare, has someone mentioned ice on your knee, I find that when my knee is really painful ice works better then heat, then when the swelling goes down the gentle exercises are a bit easier.
I hope the pain eases very soon for you.
Love
Barbara xx

tillytop

Hi Salamander

Just seen your post and, although I can't add anything to what has already been said, wanted to say that I am thinking of you.

I hope that you can get to speak to someone at the hospital tomorrow for some advice.

Love Tilly xxx

salamander

julie47 wrote:

Hi sal

Sorry you are having so much trouble with your knees and I hope your rheumy nurse rings you tomorrow with a solution. (or are you seeing her? cant remember :oops: ) anyway good luck

JuliePF x

Thanks Julie, I emailed her last night so hope she gets back to me tomorrow. Rather hoping for an injection!
xx

salamander

barbara12 wrote:

Hi Sally
I am so sorry you are suffering with the flare, has someone mentioned ice on your knee, I find that when my knee is really painful ice works better then heat, then when the swelling goes down the gentle exercises are a bit easier.
I hope the pain eases very soon for you.
Love
Barbara xx

Thanks Barbara, I have to set my alarm so I remember to do it. It's so easy to forget strategies! I don't heat on my knee in case it is infected.
Sally xx

salamander

tillytop wrote:

Hi Salamander

Just seen your post and, although I can't add anything to what has already been said, wanted to say that I am thinking of you.

I hope that you can get to speak to someone at the hospital tomorrow for some advice.

Love Tilly xxx

Hi Tilly, thanks v much. Seem to be very reliant on everyone at the moment. So glad you are all here. It would be tough without your support.
xx

tillytop

Hi Salamander

Just popped in to say hope you are feeling better today and hope too that you manage to speak to the rheumatology nurse for advice.

Thinking of you.

Love Tilly xxx

salamander

tillytop wrote:

Hi Salamander

Just popped in to say hope you are feeling better today and hope too that you manage to speak to the rheumatology nurse for advice.

Thinking of you.

Love Tilly xxx

Hi Tilly, nothing from them yet. If I don't hear by this afternoon will ring. Still very painful to walk.
xx

joon51

Hi Salamander , hope you hear something real soon sorry you are in so much pain sending positive thoughts.

Take care Junexx

frogmorton

Hi Sal

just me offering my support to you and hoping that you will get some help ever so soon.

Are you managing ok?

Love and hugs

Toni xx

salamander

Thanks June & Toni,

Had to go to the hospital for an injection into my knee. The registrar arranged over the phone to meet me in A&E, which was good but said it was osteo not inflammatory :shock: :shock: :shock: news to me and I think he is wrong. My consultant last week knew it was inflammatory but it just got worse over the days. However, the treatment was going to be the same, i.e. steroid & painkiller injection, so I had it. He couldn't get the needle in the first time and forgot to use a local anaesthetic! He was questioning my rheumy's treatment :shock: and he a mere registrar. His hand washing technique wasn't up to much either so hope I don't get anything nasty!

Fingers crossed this will do the trick.

frogmorton

Oh Sal

You are a brave girl!! a needle and him doing it wrong first go too :shock:

cheeky thing too trying to diagnose like that.

I will be hopping that it works for you - you remember to try to keep as still as pos for a day or so?

Very best of luck with it

Well done

Love

Toni xx

Rainbow77

Hi Sally

I hope that the steroid injection works well and your knee feels better real soon.

Toni's right - make sure you rest it well.

Fayann xxx

salamander

Thanks Toni - are you home yet?
And Fayann too! Yes intend to have a lazy day tomorrow!

salamander

Just reporting back success of injection into my knee yesterday. In considerably less pain today and I was very good and rested all day.

Thanks to everyone for their support over the past few days. It's really hard to get a perspective on things sometimes and I find it difficult to take the decision to get some help. But am glad I rang my rheumy nurse yesterday. Probably should have done it before!

Thanks again everyone.
What would I do without you?