Synovectomy

km89

Hi,
Saw my rheumatologist today and she said that starting on anti-TNF and possibly having a synovectomy in my knees (which is when they take the synovial membrane out which produces the fluid causing the inflammation) is probably the next option for me as my knees have been stubborn and fought against numerous knee aspirations and 3 different types of DMARDs and remained very swollen and crap.

So I was wondering if anyone has had this procedure done, if it generally helped with the levels of inflammation and how long it takes to recover from? Any info would be much appreciated as surgery is seeming a little daunting!

Katie x

dreamdaisy

I have had two open synovectomies, one in 2002 and the second eighteen months later. The first one was a nightmare, as was the recovery, because my left knee was 27 inches round thanks to five years of untreated (and ignored by my GP and a rheumatologist I saw) inflammation, the second was a doddle as my knee, despite being swollen, was comparatively small. Did it solve the problems for me? No, but I am not you, I don't have your history with this malarkey and I really hope this works for you. I have no doubt that it can be a successful operation but that was not my experience. I wish you well. DD

skezier

Hi Katie,

I think all ortho surgery is in your favour.... I don't know what the % is for this one but the consultant wil if you ask them. I know with any of my surgery (excluding the back.. I didn't want to know the odds on that one found out after and I was lucky 66% successful was so much better than where I was before it) anyway with all the rest i have asked what the % of failure is and they have always said.

None of it has been 50/50 its always been in the favour and normally by 70%or more.

For me ortho surgery is worth going for cus its not likely to make it worse..... In my case (excluding the back) it was unlikely to leave me worse than the starting point though I could have stayed the same.

I never have but I do think you need to trust the person doing it and actually ask about the success rates etc.

I would go for it but I am am pro ortho surgery.

What ever you decide please let us know cus pocket duties are always available and this lot are so good at support. I hope you get less pain which ever you decide. Cris x

frogmorton

Hi Katie

you ahve been suffering for a good while with those knees and they are not getting any better.

the anti-tnf is surely a good idea as the DMARDs have failed so far.

If l were you l would definitely be giving the synovectomy serious consideration....as Cris said get some figures.

I know that ultimatley it is your decsion, but you are suffering a great deal aren't you?

Love

Toni xx

km89

Thanks for the info, I wasn't aware of the procedure before so I'm glad for the feedback.
You're right Toni! My knees have been a nightmare lately. It was only last week that I had them drained and injected and after about a week they blew up again! So I had them drained yesterday and today I had a steroid infusion. That went a bit wrong because I didn't know it wasn't supposed to hurt and apparently it had come out of the vein and the drip was filling up under my skin but then they moved it to the other arm and that was fine.
I definately want the surgery now. Anything to help the long term problems.
Thanks for the advice. I always like to voice any concerns on here or ask questions because I don't know anyone else who's going through it. Although I feel bad because I don't post much on other threads as I'm not as experienced with all this malarky.

Thanks again,
Katie x

tiggernut

Hi Katie,

I had a synovectomy about 14 years ago before my TKR. As far as I remember the recovery was a quick and the effects lasted about 6 months. However, when the pain came back it came back with a vengence.
This may not be the same for you so good luck.
Anita.